Incredible Contemporary Pen Drawings on My Modern Met - https://mymodernmet.com/category/art/drawing/pen-drawing/ The Big City That Celebrates Creative Ideas Mon, 20 Jan 2025 18:08:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-My-Modern-Met-Favicon-1-32x32.png Incredible Contemporary Pen Drawings on My Modern Met - https://mymodernmet.com/category/art/drawing/pen-drawing/ 32 32 Flickering Window Lights Transform Architectural Drawings Into Inviting Animated Scenes https://mymodernmet.com/nikita-busyak-glowing-architecture-drawings/?adt_ei={{ subscriber.email_address }} Mon, 20 Jan 2025 14:50:32 +0000 https://mymodernmet.com/?p=714096 Flickering Window Lights Transform Architectural Drawings Into Inviting Animated Scenes

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Nikita Busyak (@citiesandsketches) Architectural sketches are great for capturing a building’s details, but bringing its life and character to the page isn’t always easy. Ukrainian artist Nikita Busyak has found a unique way to do just that—by digitally enhancing his drawings with warm yellow […]

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Flickering Window Lights Transform Architectural Drawings Into Inviting Animated Scenes

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Nikita Busyak (@citiesandsketches)

Architectural sketches are great for capturing a building’s details, but bringing its life and character to the page isn’t always easy. Ukrainian artist Nikita Busyak has found a unique way to do just that—by digitally enhancing his drawings with warm yellow light. This technique makes the windows appear to glow, transforming the sketches into captivating night scenes.

Busyak begins by using Micron pens to craft his cityscapes with intricate linework, hatch shading, and detailed markings. While his black-and-white drawings are impressive on their own, they truly transform when he adds his signature touch of light. While the artist’s earlier works showcase still scenes with static glows emanating from windows and balconies, his latest creations take it a step further. Using digital animation, he brings the scenes to life, making it appear as if someone inside the building is flicking the lights on and off.

Many of Busyak’s artworks are inspired by the architecture found in Kharkiv, a city in northeast Ukraine. Unfortunately, some parts of the region have been damaged due to the current war, but Busyak’s drawings offer a reminder of the city’s beauty. Each window “light” is cleverly animated to illuminate the area’s stunning architectural details, highlighting intricate brickwork and ornate façades.

Busyak showcases a deep understanding of how light shapes a scene—in one piece, the artist creates the illusion of light spilling onto the street, while in another, a warm glow gently illuminates a tree lining the road. Each piece evokes the feeling that hidden lives are unfolding within the pages of his sketchbook after dark.

Check out some of the artist’s latest works below and follow Nikita Busyak on Instagram for more of his incredible work.

Ukrainian artist Nikita Busyak digitally enhances his architectural drawings to add warm yellow light to the building windows.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Nikita Busyak (@citiesandsketches)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Nikita Busyak (@citiesandsketches)

Using clever animation techniques, he brings the scenes to life, making it appear as if someone inside the building is flicking the lights on and off.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Nikita Busyak (@citiesandsketches)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Nikita Busyak (@citiesandsketches)

Each window “light” illuminates stunning architectural details, like intricate brickwork and ornate façades.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Nikita Busyak (@citiesandsketches)

Each piece evokes the feeling that hidden lives are unfolding within the pages of his sketchbook after dark.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Nikita Busyak (@citiesandsketches)

Nikita Busyak: Instagram | Shop

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Nikita Busyak.

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READ: Flickering Window Lights Transform Architectural Drawings Into Inviting Animated Scenes

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Artist Uses Dynamic Strokes of Black Ink To Capture the Essence of Classical Architecture https://mymodernmet.com/antonella-positano-architectural-illustration/?adt_ei={{ subscriber.email_address }} Sun, 10 Nov 2024 13:55:24 +0000 https://mymodernmet.com/?p=701146 Artist Uses Dynamic Strokes of Black Ink To Capture the Essence of Classical Architecture

For Antonella Positano, her passion for art and architecture traces back to her childhood. “As a child, I loved creating imaginary houses with LEGO, and many of my childhood drawings portrayed landscapes and little houses,” the artist tells My Modern Met. Today, this love serves as the foundation of her architectural illustrations, made with dynamic […]

READ: Artist Uses Dynamic Strokes of Black Ink To Capture the Essence of Classical Architecture

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Artist Uses Dynamic Strokes of Black Ink To Capture the Essence of Classical Architecture

Antonietta Positano working

For Antonella Positano, her passion for art and architecture traces back to her childhood. “As a child, I loved creating imaginary houses with LEGO, and many of my childhood drawings portrayed landscapes and little houses,” the artist tells My Modern Met. Today, this love serves as the foundation of her architectural illustrations, made with dynamic streaks of black ink that breathe life into these buildings.

“The purpose when I choose an architectural subject to represent is to highlight its essence through my hand,” Positano says. “I often let myself be guided by the interaction I feel with a particular subject, but it's almost always them choosing me, not the other way around. I don’t have any particular preferences.”

A fan of Giovan Battista Piranesi, she always looks for volume that can translate into strong contrasts and let her play with shadows. “For this reason, I prefer intricate subjects with very dense textures. It’s about capturing what others usually can’t see: I translate geometries and volumes into lines that bring out a drama that would otherwise go unnoticed,” she adds.

Positano, who is about to finish her Architecture degree, uses high-quality photographs as references for her illustrations. “The images allow me to carefully analyze the particulars and work calmly on the composition, reflecting on the final result I want to achieve,” she explains. “I use them as references, but they’re never a guide to follow strictly for completing the work: at that point, it would just be a faithful copy, and I love authenticity.” Still, she hopes to draw en plein air in the future, as it has previously allowed her to breathe in the true atmosphere of a place.

While she has experimented with other tools, Positano confesses that nothing matches the thrill of black ink. “I love the gestural quality of using a pen and the fact that I can modulate the stroke however I like. I use ink in my work because I see it as the link between the past and present,” Positano says. “This way, the work becomes tangible: it transcends time and the ephemeral. Every detail is a symbol of my desire to go beyond, to capture something that others don’t see.”

As for her canvases, Positano explains that using sketchbooks or a single sheet of paper has its perks. “Working in a sketchbook feels like being in a neutral place where I can express myself without exercising total control and without the pressure of needing to achieve a specific result.

Each page is a fragment of an artistic journey that I can revisit, reread, and reinterpret over time. Drawing on a single paper, on the other hand, fills me with a deep, almost visceral satisfaction. It gives me control and discipline, allowing me to refine every single stroke with awareness.”

Ultimately, Positano shares that she doesn’t seek recognition or commercial success but the power to move others through the universal language of architecture. “I know I’ve succeeded when I see emotions like inspiration in the eyes of those who view my works at exhibitions.”

For those hoping to follow her steps, she has a message. “I want people to know that it’s not necessary to have a perfect studio or to use expensive materials to express their creativity. It doesn’t matter where one draws or with what tools: what truly matters is becoming aware of one’s creative process and the power one has in mastering the art.”

Antonella Positano creates architectural illustrations with dynamic streaks of black ink that breathe life into her buildings.

Architectural illustrations in black ink

“The purpose when I choose an architectural subject to represent is to highlight its essence through my hand,” Positano says.

Antonietta Positano working

Positano, who is about to finish her Architecture degree, uses high-quality photographs as references for her illustrations.

Architectural illustrations in black ink

“I prefer intricate subjects with very dense textures. It’s about capturing what others usually can’t see: I translate geometries and volumes into lines that bring out a drama that would otherwise go unnoticed,” she adds.

Architectural illustrations in black ink

While she has experimented with other tools, Positano confesses that nothing matches the thrill of black ink.

Antonietta Positano working

“I love the gestural quality of using a pen and the fact that I can modulate the stroke however I like. I use ink in my work because I see it as the link between the past and present.”

Architectural illustrations in black ink

Positano explains that both sketchbooks and a single sheet of paper have its perks.

Architectural illustrations in black ink

“It doesn’t matter where one draws or with what tools: what truly matters is becoming aware of one’s creative process and the power one has in mastering the art.”

Architectural illustrations in black ink

Antonella Positano: Instagram 

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Antonella Positano. Quotes have been edited for length and clarity.

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READ: Artist Uses Dynamic Strokes of Black Ink To Capture the Essence of Classical Architecture

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Artist Spends Months Creating Detailed Pen Drawings Using Thousands of Tiny Dots [Interview] https://mymodernmet.com/ybz-pen-drawings/?adt_ei={{ subscriber.email_address }} Wed, 30 Oct 2024 14:45:06 +0000 https://mymodernmet.com/?p=700387 Artist Spends Months Creating Detailed Pen Drawings Using Thousands of Tiny Dots [Interview]

Los Angeles-based artist YBZ is known for his detailed pen drawings, created with a stippling technique that requires patience and creative vision. Inspired by pop culture and history, he draws on his Korean heritage to produce imagery that plays on themes of diaspora, identity, and migration. Whether looking to historic Korean paintings or recalling the […]

READ: Artist Spends Months Creating Detailed Pen Drawings Using Thousands of Tiny Dots [Interview]

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Artist Spends Months Creating Detailed Pen Drawings Using Thousands of Tiny Dots [Interview]
Rembering LA by YBZ

“Remembering LA 1992” Ink on paper. 2021.

Los Angeles-based artist YBZ is known for his detailed pen drawings, created with a stippling technique that requires patience and creative vision. Inspired by pop culture and history, he draws on his Korean heritage to produce imagery that plays on themes of diaspora, identity, and migration.

Whether looking to historic Korean paintings or recalling the films of his youth, YBZ incorporates these symbols into a style that is uniquely his own. Producing these intricate drawings while still working a day job, YBZ manages to make his creative voice heard. And though he's put down his pen recently in favor of oil painting, we were intrigued to learn more about his drawings.

Read on for My Modern Met's exclusive interview to learn more about what inspires his work and where he sees his future artistically.

YBZ Pen Stippling

“The Genealogy of LA Galbi” Ink on paper. 2023.

How did you develop your style?

This particular style of stippling or using dots is typically associated with craft-type art, which I think plays into the themes I’m working with such as diaspora, migrations, immigrant communities, and the idea of “making something out of nothing.” It’s accessible and economical: all it takes is a pen, some paper, and putting in the work.

YBZ Stippling Drawings in Progress

How long, on average, does it take to complete a drawing?

For one of them, Yin Yang Final Fantasy / Hwajeopdo, I tell people it took about 700 years. This is because it’s based on a Korean folk painting motif of butterflies and flowers (Hwajeopdo), which was very common in the Joseon Dynasty of Korea (1300-1900). The version I’ve done, however, is re-contextualized in Los Angeles in the year 2024.

So, the original style of painting had to happen some centuries ago. Then, the Korean diaspora to America had to happen throughout the 1970s to 1980s. Then, of course, I had to complete my version of it this past year. So, yes, it took centuries for it to happen. But really, to complete my end of the bargain, it took me about one year—off and on—to complete. I’m not a full-time artist. Unfortunately, I have a job and bills to pay. If I dedicated all my time to these drawings, they might take me two to six months each.

Yin Yang Final Fantasy by YBZ

“Yin Yang Final Fantasy” Ink on Paper. 1300-2024.

What inspires your compositions and the themes you focus on?

In retrospect, some of the themes I’m interested in are “change throughout time” and “the framing of time.” The identity aspect of what I do is sort of a vehicle for these more fundamental themes. So, rather than call these “art” or “drawings,” I like to think of them as “histories,” “documentaries,” and “ciphers.” But instead of presenting facts or “truth,” I rather present a type of transformative truth.

For instance, in Remembering LA 1992, I’m directly referencing the 1992 LA Riots and specifically the infamous “Rooftop Koreans” who armed themselves to protect against the looting and destruction of Koreatown, Los Angeles. I titled it as if I am “remembering” those events in such a way, which is obviously not actually how it happened. But since those events—Ghostbusters (1989) and The LA Riots (1992)—both happened to me as a young kid, my brain tends to mix up the two as sort of a false memory or remembering.

It’s essentially a psychological framing. Really, what I’m pointing to is the inherent error of trying to explain the past (or pretending that one’s explanations are true)—something I felt compelled to do because I didn’t really like how these Korean immigrants were being framed in the sort of binary ways our culture likes to do to push their own ideological agendas. Of course, everyone is free to have their own framing of events, but when those frames are disguised as indisputable truth, it shows a lack of understanding of what history or truth is. In short, I try to tell the truth even when I lie.

Revolutions by YBZ

“Revolutions” Ink on paper. 2021.

What do you hope that people take away from your work?

I once watched a video where the graphic novelist Alan Moore said something like, “When you do something without fear of failure and without expectation of success…this is the most honest thing you can do.” I like this type of mindset. There’s a humbleness about it but also an acknowledgment of this thing that you have to do—like you don’t have a choice in the matter. I do try to stay relative to issues happening today, but I also sometimes think I’m speaking for ghosts and have future concepts where I might be speaking to the unborn. I try to keep an open mind.

What’s next for you?

Unfortunately or fortunately for me, I’ve moved on from this drawing technique. I’ve recently started in larger format oil painting. So, in the next year or two, I hope to complete a series of paintings where these concepts really evolve and take shape. While acknowledging that how we frame the past affects the future, I will be gradually moving towards what that future looks like in the coming years.

YBZ: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by YBZ.

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Artist Spends 10 Years Drawing His Incredible Adventures Onboard a Cruise Ship https://mymodernmet.com/benjamin-sack-pen-drawings/?adt_ei={{ subscriber.email_address }} Thu, 01 Aug 2024 14:45:20 +0000 https://mymodernmet.com/?p=685284 Artist Spends 10 Years Drawing His Incredible Adventures Onboard a Cruise Ship

Many artists take inspiration from their travels, but Benjamin Sack found a unique way to make his way around the world. For the past decade, Sack has been an artist-in-residence on a Holland American cruise ship. This unique opportunity allows him to soak in architectural details from cities worldwide, which he then incorporates into his […]

READ: Artist Spends 10 Years Drawing His Incredible Adventures Onboard a Cruise Ship

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Artist Spends 10 Years Drawing His Incredible Adventures Onboard a Cruise Ship

Benjamin Sack while creating monumental pen drawing

Many artists take inspiration from their travels, but Benjamin Sack found a unique way to make his way around the world. For the past decade, Sack has been an artist-in-residence on a Holland American cruise ship. This unique opportunity allows him to soak in architectural details from cities worldwide, which he then incorporates into his detailed pen drawings.

Sack first approached Holland America—a company known for its round-the-world cruises—after he finished university. He pitched a unique idea: an “artist residency” where he’d give drawing classes and lectures to passengers on art related to the ports of call. He also offered to create a large cartographic-style drawing to commemorate the voyage.

“Long story short, they loved the idea and welcomed me aboard, saying it would only happen this one year. Ten years later, I'm now the court artist to King Neptune himself,” he jokingly tells My Modern Met.

Sack now has his own artist studio on board the ship, where he works on his drawings inspired by the journeys around Africa, South America, Antarctica, and beyond. “I'm lucky in that the room comes with a view that's ever changing,” he says. “Perhaps it’s the best art studio in the world.” At the end of each voyage, he presents the final drawing to the passengers and crew.

The artist meets people from all over the world and from all walks of life while on the ship. “As the ship is very much a city at sea, I feel like a Court Artist of sorts,” he says. “My position onboard is unique in that I'm kind of in the gray zone between passenger and crew member. I have access to both worlds, much like how art is in the real world where all practices and divisions in society overlap.”

Cartography Drawings by Ben Sack

Sack captures the incredible scale and complexity of his journeys, as well as the intricate details that define each monochrome place. His unique situation is woven into all of his drawings. The gentle swaying of the ship inevitably influences the lines he draws with his fine liners. His large-scale drawings feature dizzying details, such as architectural renderings that encapsulate the microcosm of a city. Each piece is reminiscent of the mind-bending lithographs and etchings of M. C. Escher.

The rich details of the cities he visits are also omnipresent in his designs. Florence, in particular, is a favorite destination, and its iconic Duomo has been incorporated into many drawings. “Architecture is merely music frozen in time,” Sack poetically articulates. “It also can represent the human form in a myriad of ways, physically (as per the roman architect Vitruvius) and metaphorically: the body is a temple…So, in essence, each building is a character, portrait, or even a note assembled in a symphony of movement and form.”

Sack spends anywhere from a few months to half a year at sea and loves the adventure that awaits him. These adventures weave into his monumental drawings, which are rife with detail. From the regal architecture of Japan's Himeji Castle to the sleek modern buildings on Singapore's Marina Bay, his works are a magical mirror of world architecture.

“On land, the drawings are fixed to the studio. On the ship, the studio travels, and the drawing literally records the movement of a journey around the planet—as I draw lines, a little bit of the ship’s movement is recorded; this slight nuance repeated a thousand times breathes a whole different spirit into the work,” he shares. “Through my stateroom window, sunsets and sunrises depending on the ship's trajectory from every time zone break across the drawing. Each year, I find the drawings become richer and richer. It's magic!”

Artist Benjamin Sack has spent the last decade as an artist-in-residence on a Holland America cruise ship.

Holland American pen drawing by Ben Sack

This makes his art studio completely unique.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Ben Sack (@ibensack)

He then weaves his travel adventures into his monumental pen drawings.

Cartography Drawings by Ben Sack

Cartography Drawings by Ben Sack

Pen Drawing by Ben Sack

Pen Drawing by Ben Sack

Benjamin Sack Drawing

Benjamin Sack Drawing

Reminiscent of old cartographical drawings, they give an aerial view of cities around the world.

Benjamin Sack Drawing

Benjamin Sack Drawing

Benjamin Sack Drawing

Benjamin Sack Drawing

Pen Drawing by Ben Sack

Benjamin Sack: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Benjamin Sack.

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READ: Artist Spends 10 Years Drawing His Incredible Adventures Onboard a Cruise Ship

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Beautiful Portraits Drawn on Vintage Maps With Brilliant Crosshatching Technique https://mymodernmet.com/ed-fairburn-map-portraits-crosshatching/?adt_ei={{ subscriber.email_address }} Tue, 11 Jun 2024 16:35:34 +0000 https://mymodernmet.com/?p=675617 Beautiful Portraits Drawn on Vintage Maps With Brilliant Crosshatching Technique

@edfairburn #crosshatching a private commission in ink over a unique atlas #map of Paris … #inkdrawing #drawing #portraitart #mapartist #mapart #maps #penandink #artwork #artist #crosshatchingart ♬ Comptine d'un autre été, l'après-midi – Yann Tiersen What does it mean to bring a city to life? This is the question that artist Ed Fairburn explores in his […]

READ: Beautiful Portraits Drawn on Vintage Maps With Brilliant Crosshatching Technique

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Beautiful Portraits Drawn on Vintage Maps With Brilliant Crosshatching Technique
@edfairburn #crosshatching a private commission in ink over a unique atlas #map of Paris … #inkdrawing #drawing #portraitart #mapartist #mapart #maps #penandink #artwork #artist #crosshatchingart ♬ Comptine d'un autre été, l'après-midi – Yann Tiersen

What does it mean to bring a city to life? This is the question that artist Ed Fairburn explores in his work. Through his carefully crosshatched human portraits drawn on top of sprawling maps, Fairburn's art encourages people to consider the complex relationship between how they are shaped by the places they call home.

The UK-based artist starts any creative endeavor by finding the perfect old map to repurpose. The focus of these maps can be topographic, roads, or cities—Fairburn utilizes all of them in his work. Rather than fighting against his canvas, he uses it to his advantage, allowing the predetermined lines and markings to help bring shape to his portraits. Though some of his work has him drawing over the map's features, his most visually arresting work are arguably the ones that allow the streets and waterways to determine his composition. His human figures hug the curves of the winding roads and rivers, using them as a guide for their positions or the angle of his subject's face.

Fairburn also uses roadways and other pathways on the map as borders to carefully fill the empty space within with hatches and crosshatches. Depending on how densely he packs his etchings, he's able to mimic light, shadow, and texture to his portraits. Topographic shapes become the shadow of someone's nose, a highway becomes a brow line, and a body of water separates the face from its surroundings, making it stand out in the vast blueness. Up-close it may just seem like an abstract, repetitive set of lines, but take a step back and you'll be wowed by his artistry.

As for the canvases themselves, Fairburn uses maps from all over the globe, including locations in the United States, Canada, and Europe. He tends to stay close to home, though, as much of his work focuses on locations around England and Scotland, including iconic landmarks. His unique art style has also caught the attention of entertainment producers, and Fairburn has been commissioned to create specialty movie posters for a variety of film and television productions, including the Indiana Jones and John Wick franchises.

To keep up with the artist's latest work, you can follow Fairburn on Instagram. If you are interested in owning one of his map portraits for yourself, you can check out the artist's online store.

UK-based artist Ed Fairburn is known for using maps as canvases for hand-drawn portraits.

@edfairburn “Do you see faces in maps?” THANK YOU all for the love on my last upload! I'm blown away. I'm new to tiktok but will be sharing more here. You can see my older work via the links in my bio. Audio is from geomob podcast episode 90. #drawing #map #artist #artwork #penandink #art #crosshatching #ink ♬ Glass – Hania Rani

@edfairburn I rarely work on just one map at a time, from start to finish… I like to rotate things in the studio and have several drawings on the go. This week I've been chipping away at a giant map of Stockport, as well as progressing a 19th century map of Washington DC. #contemporaryartist #contemporaryart #crosshatchingart #crosshatching #penandink #fyp #drawing #art #map #maps #inkdrawing ♬ Idea 22 (Slowed + Reverb) – Gibran Alcocer

By allowing himself to be inspired by the curves and shapes on the maps, Fairburn masterfully uses space to illustrate soulful faces.

@edfairburn ✨ Brooklyn, NY ✨ crosshatched in ink over an original 1896 atlas page. The blocky layout of Brooklyn couldn't be more different to the spaghetti-on-a-plate of European cities, and as with lots of other US locations it's a welcome challenge for my process. I'm excited to announce that I'll be releasing this brand new map later this week as a limited edition print! It'll be limited not just in quantity, but also time, as the print will only be available for a few days. Once it's gone, it's gone forever. The run goes live this Thursday, 28th March, unless of course you're on my mailing list… in which case you'll receive an early access link 24 hours before the drop! This will allow you to bag the earliest edition numbers in the size of your choice. During my last time-limited print drop the largest print size sold out before general release, so it's definitely worth signing up for early access. You can find the sign-up link on my website, linked here in my profile on TikTok. #contemporaryartist #contemporaryart #portrait #crosshatchingart #crosshatching #penandink #fyp #drawing #art #map #maps #inkdrawing ♬ green to blue (Sped Up) – Aurenth

@edfairburn Crosshatching compilation – even more of the good stuff! I added an audio excerpt from a recent feature recorded for Turkish TV network TRT2 – this part of the conversation was mostly about my technical process, how and where I start each portrait, and why. #inkdrawing #portraitart #mapart #maps #drawing #artwork #artist #penandink #crosshatchingart #crosshatching #art #portraitartist ♬ original sound – Ed Fairburn

Fairburn uses a mixture of topographic, road, and city maps for his work; and often opts for a crosshatching technique to complete his work.

@edfairburn I've drawn lots of lines this year. Here's a few of my favourites, and here's to a few more next year thanks for being here #mapart #inkdrawing #maps #map #art #drawing #fyp #penandink #crosshatching #crosshatchingart #portrait #contemporaryart #contemporaryartist #mapartist ♬ Idea 15 – Gibran Alcocer

Portrait Of Woman Drawn Over City Map

Portrait Of Woman Drawn Over City Map

Portrait Of Woman Drawn Over City Map

Depending on his choice of map, his artwork ranges from simple black pen drawings to beautiful etchings highlighted by colored rivers and roads.

Portrait Of Woman Drawn Over City Map

Portrait Of Woman Drawn Over Topographic Map

Ed Fairburn: Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

My Modern Met granted permission to feature images by Ed Fairburn.

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READ: Beautiful Portraits Drawn on Vintage Maps With Brilliant Crosshatching Technique

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Artist Brings Joy to Restaurant Employee by Drawing His Portrait on a Receipt https://mymodernmet.com/artist-draws-portrait-on-a-receipt/?adt_ei={{ subscriber.email_address }} Mon, 27 May 2024 16:35:58 +0000 https://mymodernmet.com/?p=669849 Artist Brings Joy to Restaurant Employee by Drawing His Portrait on a Receipt

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Akash Selvarasu (@imaginelife_official) A thoughtful interaction brought the biggest smile to this employee’s face. Artist Akash Selvarasu‘s viral video tells the story of a restaurant worker doing his daily tasks. He is filmed walking around, checking on customers, and cleaning up any items to […]

READ: Artist Brings Joy to Restaurant Employee by Drawing His Portrait on a Receipt

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Artist Brings Joy to Restaurant Employee by Drawing His Portrait on a Receipt

A thoughtful interaction brought the biggest smile to this employee’s face. Artist Akash Selvarasu‘s viral video tells the story of a restaurant worker doing his daily tasks. He is filmed walking around, checking on customers, and cleaning up any items to discard in the trash. The frame quickly flashes to a receipt folder, that opens to the first markings of an intricate ink portrait.

The artist begins to pen an image of the worker with blue and red pen on the reverse side of a receipt. Selvarasu's portrait is rich in detail, from the folds of the man's collared shirt to his facial hair to the logo on the right breast of his top. Thoughtfully crafted, this image seems like it leaps right off the page.

After completing the composition, the sketch artist hands the receipt to the worker. Turning over the small piece of paper, the illustrator reveals his work of art. The employee instantly breaks out into a smile that radiates happiness.

The pure joy that exudes from this man’s heart dances like a twinkle in his eyes. He then interacts with a coworker to admire the portrait. They glance at the receipt, smile, and exchange a laugh as they soak in this joyful moment. This simple sketch is a thoughtful act that makes an average day much more special.

Selvarasu's Instagram and YouTube are filled with similar interactions, as the artist uses his skill to brighten up the day of strangers. From an office worker to a girl riding on a train, it's incredible to see how Selvarasu easily captures their essence in his simple pen drawings.

Moments like these restore the heart with cheerfulness, challenging viewers to find simple ways to brighten someone else’s day.

Artist Akash Selvarasu is known for drawing portraits of strangers.

He then surprises them, bringing a bit of joy to their day.

Akash Selvarasu: Instagram | YouTube
h/t: [reddit]

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READ: Artist Brings Joy to Restaurant Employee by Drawing His Portrait on a Receipt

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Artist Restores Shattered Plates With Spectacular Pen and Ink Drawings https://mymodernmet.com/rob-strati-fremin-gallery/?adt_ei={{ subscriber.email_address }} Mon, 13 May 2024 20:15:19 +0000 https://mymodernmet.com/?p=671976 Artist Restores Shattered Plates With Spectacular Pen and Ink Drawings

After accidentally breaking a plate, most people would throw it away; however, artist Robert Strati takes a different approach. He transforms shattered plates into imaginative pieces of art. With pen in hand, the gifted creative lays the fragmented pottery on his canvas and fills in the empty spaces between them with swirling ornate designs that […]

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Artist Restores Shattered Plates With Spectacular Pen and Ink Drawings

Fragments by Rob Strati

After accidentally breaking a plate, most people would throw it away; however, artist Robert Strati takes a different approach. He transforms shattered plates into imaginative pieces of art. With pen in hand, the gifted creative lays the fragmented pottery on his canvas and fills in the empty spaces between them with swirling ornate designs that match the patterns already printed on the ceramic shards.

Strati started this work in 2020 after accidentally dropping and breaking a porcelain plate that belonged to his late mother-in-law. Rather than throwing it away, he devised a plan to restore the piece of dishware and give it an artistic touch. After placing the broken remnants on a piece of paper, he uses a pen to fill in the gaps, replicating the designs on the plate with his own meticulous ink drawings.

Strati matches the color of paper with the pigmentation of the porcelain, making the transition between the plate and the canvas seamless. The result is an enthralling effect in which his drawings make it look like the designs have been blown off the porcelain and dispersed across the page by the wind.

Those interested in seeing Strati's work in person will be fortunate enough to do so for one more week alongside the world famous bronze sculptures by Swedish artist Johannes Nielsen in a dual exhibition titled Fragments. The art show will be on display at Fremin Gallery in New York City until May 19, 2024.

To keep up with Strati's work, you follow him on Instagram.

Robert Strati fixes broken plates by drawing beautiful ornate designs to fill in the cracks.

Fragments by Rob Strati

Fragments by Rob Strati

He starts all of his pieces by setting the plate shards on a piece of paper, before carefully drawing around them with pen.

Fragments by Rob Strati

Fragments by Rob Strati

Fragments by Rob Strati

The result is a continuous drawing that looks like the design has burst out of the plate.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Robert Strati (@robstrati)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Robert Strati (@robstrati)

Rob Strati: Website | Instagram
Fremin Gallery: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Rob Strati / Fremin Gallery.

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READ: Artist Restores Shattered Plates With Spectacular Pen and Ink Drawings

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Incredible Urban Sketches Celebrate the Historical Architecture of Paris https://mymodernmet.com/stephen-travers-urban-sketching/?adt_ei={{ subscriber.email_address }} Tue, 23 Apr 2024 14:45:47 +0000 https://mymodernmet.com/?p=667081 Incredible Urban Sketches Celebrate the Historical Architecture of Paris

Inspired by the light, color, shapes, and texture of the world around him, artist Stephen Travers creates stunning urban sketches. The Australian artist is particularly fascinated by Paris, with many of his sketches capturing the city's charm. Using pen and ink, he expertly captures the architectural environment. Interestingly, Travers began his artistic journey as an […]

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Incredible Urban Sketches Celebrate the Historical Architecture of Paris
Architectural drawing by Stephen Travers

Rue du Gros Horloges, Rouen. (Drawn from original photography by @cbuiron)
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, My Modern Met may earn an affiliate commission. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Inspired by the light, color, shapes, and texture of the world around him, artist Stephen Travers creates stunning urban sketches. The Australian artist is particularly fascinated by Paris, with many of his sketches capturing the city's charm. Using pen and ink, he expertly captures the architectural environment.

Interestingly, Travers began his artistic journey as an adult, first creating oil paintings of Australian wildlife and nature. He transitioned to sketching in 2018 during a trip to Paris with his children. A simple exercise drawing Notre-Dame with his family transformed his life and set him on track to a full-time career as an artist.

Thanks to a collaboration with Parisian photographers, who allow him to use their work as reference photos, Travers has been able to continue his love affair with the city from a distance. His drawings have garnered him a large following on Instagram, where he posts his sketches, which are done with a pencil underdrawing and then finished with ink.

Travers' work is distinguished by his skillful perspective and his ability to capture the rich details of historical architecture. Whether drawing the bustling interior of Palais Garnier or the Gothic exterior of Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, he is able to create an intriguing visual story that transports us to Paris.

Church of Saint-Étienne-du-Mont

Church of Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, Paris (Drawn from original photography by @vmphotographe)

In developing a scene, Travers creates a focal point around what first attracted him to the scene. “It may be an object in itself, or it could be the play of light and shadows, or contrasts of various surface textures, or any combination of these and other possibilities,” he tells My Modern Met. From there, he builds out the sketch, favoring COPIC multiliners and COPIC sketch markers to build out the ink values.

Fans of his work are grateful not only for the finished product but also for the wealth of drawing tips that he shares. Travers' YouTube channel is filled with informational videos on everything from how to improve your drawing process to the pros and cons of social media as an artist. For more in-depth instruction, he also has an online drawing class with over nine hours of instruction.

“I hope people are drawn into my work when they see it and that it connects in some significant way—whether their own memories of the location or more visually through the effects of angles, marks, and values,” he shares.

“Although the amount of detail is often commented on, I hope most people see the whole before individual details start to push forward.  And I like it when people realize that I haven't, in fact, even drawn all the detail they had supposed at first.  My technique is to draw the effect of the detail rather than the precision of it.”

Australian artist Stephen Travers is known for his architectural sketching.

Sketch of the interior of the Pantheon in Paris

The Pantheon, Paris. (Drawn from original photography by @cbuiron)

Architectural drawing by Stephen Travers

View from St. Paul's, London

Urban Skteching by Stephen Travers

Interior of Palais Garnier, Paris.

He is particularly enamored with Paris and its urban environment.

Urban Skteching by Stephen Travers

Paris (Drawn from original photography by @hifromalix)

Urban Skteching by Stephen Travers

Place du Terte, Paris (Drawn from original photography by @parisvisuals)

Architectural sketch by Stephen Travers

Staircase in Chateaux de Chantilly, Chantilly. (Drawn from original photography by @parisvisuals)

Using pen and ink, his work is filled with detail and visual interest.

Architectural drawing by Stephen Travers

Napoleon's Tomb, Paris (Drawn from original photography by @jbperraudin)

Sketch of the Staircase of the Princes, Palace of Versailles

Staircase of the Princes, Palace of Versailles, Versailles. (Drawn from original photography by @jbperraudin)

On social media, he provides tips and tricks on how to successfully sketch the built environment.

Drawing of Hotel Russell in London

Hotel Russell, London.

Sketch of the Australian bush by Stephen Travers

Australian bush.

Stephen Travers: Website | FacebookInstagram | YouTube

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Stephen Travers.

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READ: Incredible Urban Sketches Celebrate the Historical Architecture of Paris

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Imaginative Nature Doodles Fill Countless Pages https://mymodernmet.com/nature-doodles/?adt_ei={{ subscriber.email_address }} Mon, 04 Mar 2024 05:30:36 +0000 https://mymodernmet.com/?p=657654 Imaginative Nature Doodles Fill Countless Pages

There is a special kind of beauty that goes along with nature artwork. Many find harmony and peace in the magical symmetry of the natural world, with every petal and leaf mapped out flawlessly. The art created by the Instagram user Licosmoss, who goes by Anna, is no different. The artist fills page upon page […]

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Imaginative Nature Doodles Fill Countless Pages
Drawing Of Multicolor Mushrooms Filling In Cat Silhouette

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, My Modern Met may earn an affiliate commission. Please read our disclosure for more info.

There is a special kind of beauty that goes along with nature artwork. Many find harmony and peace in the magical symmetry of the natural world, with every petal and leaf mapped out flawlessly. The art created by the Instagram user Licosmoss, who goes by Anna, is no different. The artist fills page upon page with repeating natural patterns and designs.

“[My] main inspiration is nature, childhood memories [and] geometry,” Anna said. A quick glance at her account shows that the artist has a particular interest in flowers and mushrooms, as she regularly fills entire pages with them. Many of these repeating designs often fill in a silhouette of an unrelated object, including cats, lightbulbs, and celestial bodies, beautifully linking all of her work to the natural world.

Whether the focus of her piece is a furry feline or loveable ladybugs, they all radiate love. Many of her animals are drawn with smiles on their faces in a style reminiscent of what you might see in a children's storybook. She uses vibrant colors and vivid hues to make her pieces even more visually interesting, often placing bright colors next to one another in order to draw the viewer's attention.

To keep up with Anna's creative journey, follow her on Instagram. If you are interested in purchasing work from her, be sure to check out her Etsy.

Anna, who is known as Licosmoss on Instagram, is a Netherlands-based artist known for her doodle-filled silhouettes.

Drawing Of Flowers Filling In Lightbulb Silhouette Drawing Of Multicolor Flowers Filling In Cat Silhouette Drawing Of Ladybugs Filling In Heart Silhouette

She is drawn to the natural world and many of her drawings are nature-themed.

Drawing Of Two Cat Silhouettes Filled In By Mushrooms
Drawing Of Moon Silhouette Filled In With Multicolor Flowers
Circular Silhouette Of Blueberries

By making the absolute most of her space, Anna is able to stack drawings to create a repeating pattern.

Multicolored Miniature House Drawing
Drawing Of Smiling Black And White Cats Filling In Heart Silhouette
Drawing Of Red And Orange Houses Filling In Oval Silhouette

In addition to her repeating nature doodles, Anna also draws beautiful portraits of plants and greenery.

Drawing Of Blue Flower
Drawing Of Gingko Leaves On Stem With Golden Disk Behind
Drawing Of Leaves On Stem

Licosmoss: InstagramEtsy

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Licosmoss.

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Illuminating Architecture Drawings Feature Gorgeous Glowing Windows https://mymodernmet.com/nikita-busyak-glowing-drawings/?adt_ei={{ subscriber.email_address }} Sat, 02 Mar 2024 06:39:11 +0000 https://mymodernmet.com/?p=658784 Illuminating Architecture Drawings Feature Gorgeous Glowing Windows

There is nothing quite as magical as seeing a city come alive at night. This experience is precisely what Nikita Busyak captures in his ongoing glowing city sketch series. Busyak draws beautiful cityscape scenes with Micron pens, using precise linework and shading techniques, before digitally modifying the drawings by filling them in with light. This […]

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Illuminating Architecture Drawings Feature Gorgeous Glowing Windows

Glowing Pen Drawing Of Building

There is nothing quite as magical as seeing a city come alive at night. This experience is precisely what Nikita Busyak captures in his ongoing glowing city sketch series.

Busyak draws beautiful cityscape scenes with Micron pens, using precise linework and shading techniques, before digitally modifying the drawings by filling them in with light. This effect makes the windows look like they are glowing, and golden light emanates from them onto the nearby sidewalks and balconies. His artwork is incredibly intimate, and it is hard to look at Busyak's drawings and not be reminded of the last great evening walk you had.

Busyak is Ukranian, and drawings are based on the sights around his native country. However, the longer his series has gone on, the more the artist has begun to experiment with lighting and setting. Some of the most recent pieces feature color-changing lights rather than strictly yellow ones. Another piece features an old sailing vessel illuminated by the lanterns on the deck.

Scroll down to see more of Busyak's art, and follow the artist on Instagram to keep up to date with his latest projects.

Artist Nikita Busyak is known for his glowing pen drawings of buildings.

Glowing Pen Drawing Of Building
Glowing Pen Drawing Of Building
Glowing Pen Drawing Of Building

The artist illuminates his drawings by digitally editing in glowing light, adding to the intimate feel of his work.

Glowing Pen Drawing Of Building
Glowing Pen Drawing Of Building
Glowing Pen Drawing Of Building

Busyak is Ukranian and often draws buildings from around his country.

Glowing Pen Drawing Of Building
Artist Holding Glowing Pen Drawing Of Building In Front Of Real Building

As incredible as Busyak's architectural illustrations are, his talent is not limited to drawing buildings.Glowing Pen Drawing Of Ship
Glowing Pen Drawing Of Ship

Nikita Busyak: Telegram | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Nikita Busyak.

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