Mark Powell's Biro Pen Drawings

[bunn]

These are some remarkable portraits, whatever he draws them with, and something about the back of the envelope approach is quite pleasing, too : http://markpowellartist.com/

I particularly liked this one for some reason.

Comments

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

I like that.

[puddleshark.livejournal.com]

What an extraordinary talent! And done with biro!

[mcmurphy79.livejournal.com]

I like that. My dad used to doodle with biro, nothing like this but it reminds me of him x

[ningloreth.livejournal.com]

Those are stunning. I particularly like the way he uses the envelopes.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

I would not have thought of the envelope idea, and I'm wondering if it started by accident, but it definitely adds something to the finished product.

[ningloreth.livejournal.com]

I've actually seen other people do it. Try Googling 'Nicola Hicks drawings'. (If you haven't seen them, you'll love them -- she does animals. Some of them are life size, on brown paper).

ETA I once went to an Open Studio of someone who worked in Biro. The big problem was avoiding blobs. She knew which makes of pen were best, but I think she also said she kept them in the fridge...

[huinare.livejournal.com]

Wow! I find these particularly interesting because ballpoint pen (what we call biro stateside) was my medium of choice for quite a while as I like the texture. I recently decided to try going back to pencil because I'm actively trying to improve technique, and because there are some things shading-wise I didn't think could be done with a pen...yet he's done them there. o.o

[bunn.livejournal.com]

We call them biros too! The shading is amazing, will have to give biros another go I think.

[huinare.livejournal.com]

Sorry, meant we call them ballpoints over here and I wasn't sure if that term is actually in use elsewhere.
I'll have to give them another go too, after I improve my shading with media I can erase.