NOV 2014 ~ NOV 2015
The Ballpointer: A Year in The Pen 2015
PICKS of the Litter・No Slim Pickings
A-Z directory of artists working predominantly in ballpoint pen and/or excelling in the medium, worldwide. Having received recognition regionally or internationally, their work is a matter of public record. This directory is revised regularly to reflect currency and lasting contributions to the medium.
Juan Francisco Casas Spain. Casas' use of the internet to promote his ballpoint drawings worked to his advantage, achieving "viral" status in 2005 for his blue-BIC photorealist replications of so-called "selfie"-style snapshots. Since 2015 Casas has been utilizing more ballpoint color.
website B. Neufeld's thINK piece May 2015
Shirish Deshpande Belgaum, India. Along with abstract paintings in oil and acrylic, Deshpande uses multicolored ballpoints to create bucolic, atmospheric scenes of his homeland, and more.
The Ballpointer PENNAME feature Jan 2015
Serhiy Kolyada Kyiv, Ukraine. Kolyada's black ballpoint penwork laid bare the political & societal topics of his homeland. In an era of political correctness & censorship, artwork such as his may be most important of all, though it is mostly swept under the rug.
website The Ballpointer PENNAME feature Nov 2014
IL Lee South Korea-born, Brooklyn-based. Lee creates abstract expressionistic doodles on a grand scale, known to go through hundreds of pens in the process. Lee has earned well-deserved blue-chip credentials, albeit through elitist press coverage, and/but although naysayers may think "I can do that", they can't. website
Nathan Lorenzana Guatemala. From the school of ballpoint photorealism in blue, Lorenzana reproduces the female form in more tastefully alluring depictions than at least one of his ballpoint contemporaries. website
Pepe Lozano Spain. This ballpoint elder's hyperrealist use of blue ballpoints doesn't even require that descriptive. They simply are. Ballpoint PEN ting at its rarest level.
Lennie Mace New York-born, Tokyo-based Mace is among the most versatile of ballpointers. Name it, he's done it: varying degrees of high- & low-brow art for commerce & exhibition, graphics, portraiture, temporary tattoos for film & fashion shoots, architectural design and more.
website 'goods' website The Ballpointer PENNAME feature FEB 2015
Shane McAdams American Southwest-born, Brooklyn-based. McAdams' ballpoint "Pen Blows" are among the most innovative use of the medium as yet to be found, placing him in a class by himself. website The Ballpointer PENNAME feature DEC 2014
James Mylne London. Gained attention in the UK for his ballpoint photorealism. Internet exposure took his artwork worldwide, with continuing presence. Respected among fellow ballpointers, Since mid-2015 Mylne is taking his ballpoint work in new directions via mixings of mediums. website The Ballpointer PENNAME feature APR 2015
Andrey Poletaev Lugansk, Ukraine. Poletaev's photorealist "Cityscape" series shows skilled handling of architectural detail and atmospheric perspective. His relaxed depictions belie the daily hardships of war in his homeland. website The Ballpointer PENNAME feature JUNE 2015
Peter Ross Hong Kong. Ross' artworks in ballpoint pen show his architectural background and influences mixing architecture and his inherited southeast Asian homeland.
website The Ballpointer PENNAME feature AUG 2015
Aquirax Uno Tokyo, Japan. Uno, well-known simply as "Aquirax", is from a 1960s group of Japanese artists which included names such as Tadanori Yokoo. Keeping a lower profile these days (and never fully given the credit he deserves) Aquirax's ballpoints are simple but elegantly thoughtful masterpieces. website
Rebecca Yanovskaya Toronto, Canada. Scenes of sensual fantasia are her realm. Yanovskaya details her black ballpoint figures with gold-leafing in the form of head-dresses and wings. website
A-to-Z directory of artists working predominantly in ballpoint pen and/or excelling in the medium, worldwide. Having received recognition regionally, nationally and, in some cases, internationally, their work is a matter of public record and worthy of further notice. This directory is thorough but by no means 'complete', and revised regularly to reflect currency and lasting contributions to the medium.
thINK by O. Lebron posted June 16, 2020
book review: Ballpoint Art
László Bíró・Waiting・Ballpoint pen on paper, circa 1940.
Private collection; Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Published by Mahozawari Unlimited
Ronald Bell・Publishing partner, USA
Orlando Lebron・Publishing partner, JAPAN
Contributors:
R. Bell, O. Lebron・Feature contributors
Bruce Neufeld・thINK columnist
E. Lee / Points East・ASIA
Kaji Rie・CULTURE / starPOINTS
Susan May USA・Art Director
Correspondence: theballpointer@gmail.com
The Ballpointer is published bi-monthly ...
MAYBEMAYBE NOT While these 'artists' were fortunate enough to attract the attention of less-learned eyes, if their work was ever worthy of any actual attention, it was either flash-in-the-pan or as-yet unproven... have shown some measure of contribution to the greater good of the medium, and their talent should not go unrecognized.
Jack Dillhunt Wisconsin, USA. Known regionally in midwest USA as "Sheet Man" for his obsessive, stream of conscious ballpoint meanderings on bedsheets. Dillhunt purports to be working on some kind of multi-media extravaganza but all we've ever seen are social media postings.
Asuka Satow
Samuel Silva Portugal-born, London-based. Ballpoint drawings by the so-publicized "lawyer who draws" went viral in 2012; photo-copying in multicolor pens. That's. About. It. No proof Silva is actually a lawyer, as the media so blindly reported, and he cut us off mid-interview when we asked for proof.
Andy Warhol (1928-1987) Christie's online auctions
offered ballpoints by Warhol. Click on the art image...
INMEMORUM While no longer with us, these artists who made names for themselves using other mediums also employed ballpoints to great effect during careers.
Boetti (XX-XX) Wisconsin, USA. Known regionally in midwest USA as "Sheet Man" for his obsessive, stream of conscious ballpoint meanderings on bedsheets. Dillhunt purports to be working on some kind of multi-media extravaganza but all we've ever seen are social media postings.
Luciano F (XX-XX) Italy. This 'Futurist' artist
Giacometti (XX-XX)
Cy Twombly (XX-XX)
Andy Warhol (XX-XX) Portugal-born, London-based. Ballpoint drawings by the so-publicized "lawyer who draws" went viral in 2012; photo-copying in multicolor pens. That's. About. It. No proof Silva is actually a lawyer, as the media so blindly reported, and he cut us off mid-interview when we asked for proof.
HONORABLEMENTION These artists have shown some measure of contribution to the greater good of the medium, and their talent should not go unrecognized.
Allan Barbeau France-born, Ireland-based. Barbeau's usage of available oil-based ballpoint inks to create full-color photorealism is among the earliest of its kind. Barbeau self-published a fully illustrated How-To instructional book in French in 2014. The ballpoint world awaits its English edition. website The Ballpointer PENNAME feature May 2015
Claudio Ethos Known primarily for large scale street art murals in paint, most of those very same murals were borne of more modestly scaled ballpoint pen originals, often exhibited alongside during gallery installations.
Jan Fabre Belgium. In the early 1980s, when drawing an actual picture was considered uncool, 'multidisciplinary' artist Fabre used ballpoints to scribble on ballerina shoes, the walls of a full room and even the exterior of a castle somewhere. A 'viral' equivalent of its day.
Ler Huang Taipei, Taiwan. Huang's fashion illustrations gained the support of the O Kin Kon ballpoint pen company in his home country, creating package designs for the company's ballpoint products, using company pens. Huang teaches ballpoint drawing workshops in Taiwan.
Toyin Ojih Odutola Nigeria-born, New York-based. Earlier mixed-media artworks which utilized ballpoint pen brought Odutola publicity (2012~). Recent artworks more often than not mix mediums other than ballpoint pens (2015~). website
Shohei Otomo Tokyo, Japan. Latest in a tradition of culture-jamming Japanese illustrators; imagine pierced and tattooed geisha, over-accessorized schoolgirls and rock'n roll samurai with electric guitars. Eye-candy in black-&-white anime style. Played the "indie" card via viral blog exposure circa 2015, but no proven track record otherwise. Currently MIA. website
Dave Warshaw San Diego-based Warshaw is a tattoo artist whose ballpoint artwork bridges the gap between the two remotely-related mediums. He works mostly in black ballpoint ink, mostly on wood, creating artwork you might be happy to wear forever. website
Although his product can be found in every household, László Bíró is not a household name. His name remains indelibly connected to that product, which in some countries is known simply as a biro instead of the descriptive ballpoint pen known to others. In his adopted homeland Argentina, Bíró's birthday (September 29) is observed as Inventors' Day. Bíró may not have "invented" the idea of using a "ball point" device as an ink delivery system, per se, but ballpoint pens as we know them today are the direct offspring of Bíró's patented design and his brother György's solutions to ink viscosity.
For as long as there have been ballpoint pens, artists and laymen alike have been utilizing them creatively at either end of the spectrum, whether producing museum-quality artistic masterpieces or scratching out mindless doodles phone-side. Unsurprisingly, Bíró himself was among the earliest to test drive his pens' artistic applications; a 2005 mechanical engineering exhibition in Argentina, focussing on the invention of the ballpoint pen, printed in its brochure a ballpoint pen drawing titled Waiting (pictured) credited to Bíró (along with original patent drawings bearing Bíró's signature). Looking as much like a page out of an Old Master's archive, Biro's simple, etching-like sketch commands as much intrigue as that of any such predecessors. In blue ballpoint ink, Bíró hastily recorded what seems to be a trio of nuns, judging by Flying Nun-like head gear. The enigmatic drawing's backstory, or existence of others like it, was unfortunately not reported in the brochure. Artists either aspiring or accomplished, to whom ballpoint pens make a difference in the creation of "art", have Bíró to thank for providing what's proven to be a valid and versatile art medium alternative. Bíró himself would undoubtedly be humbled to witness the quality, quantity and artistic capabilities of his now-ubiquitous writing instrument.
Bíró's ballpoint patent was bought by Marcel Bich in 1945, introducing another name which would go on to become synonymous with ballpoint pens: BiC™. The Ballpointer will inform and educate about the likes of Bíró and Bich, the engineering and manufacture of the instrument they perfected, and, most of all, the artists currently pushing its limits・
LászlóBíró by E. Lee posted October 27, 2014
Founding Father?・Tokyo
Founding Father
Since 2014
The A-List. First, let's give some chronology perspective. The following artists and the work they've created define that which constitutes 'Ballpoint Pen Art'. Timeless, standard-setting work which will not soon, if ever, be surpassed. There may be more 'popular' ballpointers with work which may be more recognizable via instagram, et al, but there's something a bit more important going on here ...
Alighiero e Boetti (1940–1994) Italy. 1960s Arte Povera (outsider art) movement in Italy. Boetti's work is almost unclassifiable, looking back at it, but his minimalist use of ballpoints (during a certain stage of his career) at a monumental scale (the key word being 'mental') stands as the first monument to ballpoint art.
IL Lee 1980s~ South Korea-born, Brooklyn-based. Lee creates abstract expressionistic doodles on a grand scale, known to go through hundreds of pens in the process. Lee has earned well-deserved blue-chip credentials, albeit through elitist press coverage, and/but although naysayers may think "I can do that", they can't. website
Lennie Mace 1980s~ New York-born, Tokyo-based Mace is among the most versatile of ballpointers. Name it, he's done it: varying degrees of high- & low-brow art for commerce & exhibition, graphics, portraiture, temporary tattoos for film & fashion shoots, architectural design and more.
website The Ballpointer PENNAME feature FEB 2015
Shane McAdams American Southwest-born, Brooklyn-based. McAdams' ballpoint "Pen Blows" are among the most innovative use of the medium as yet to be found, placing him in a class by himself. website The Ballpointer PENNAME feature DEC 2014
Juan Francisco Casas Spain. Like it or not, Casas' 'viral' status circa 2005 helped bring 'ballpoint art' to the public consciousness. for his blue-BIC photorealist replications of so-called "selfie"-style snapshots. Since 2015 Casas has been utilizing more ballpoint color.
website B. Neufeld's thINK piece May 2015
James Mylne London. Gained attention in the UK for his ballpoint photorealism. Internet exposure took his artwork worldwide, with continuing presence. Respected among fellow ballpointers, Since mid-2015 Mylne is taking his ballpoint work in new directions via mixings of mediums. website The Ballpointer PENNAME feature APR 2015
Rebecca Yanovskaya Toronto, Canada. Scenes of sensual fantasia are her realm. Yanovskaya details her black ballpoint figures with gold-leafing in the form of head-dresses and wings. website
All artwork © Respective Artists.
The A-List. First, let's give some chronological perspective. The following artists and the work they've created define that which constitutes 'Ballpoint Pen Art'. Timeless, standard-setting work which will not soon, if ever, be surpassed. There may be more 'popular' ballpointers with work which may be more recognizable via instagram, et al, but there's something a bit more important going on here . There were also surely other brand-name artists 'using' ballpoint pens the same time as these artists, but the key word there is 'using'. ...
Alighiero e Boetti (1940–1994) Italy. 1960s Arte Povera (outsider art) movement in Italy. Boetti's work is almost unclassifiable, looking back at it, but his minimalist use of ballpoints (during a certain stage of his career) at a monumental scale (the key word being 'mental') stands as the first monument to ballpoint art.
IL Lee 1980s~ South Korea-born, Brooklyn-based. Lee creates abstract expressionistic doodles on a grand scale, known to go through hundreds of pens in the process. Lee has earned well-deserved blue-chip credentials, albeit through elitist press coverage, and/but although naysayers may think "I can do that", they can't. website
Lennie Mace 1980s~ New York-born, Tokyo-based Mace is among the most versatile of ballpointers. Name it, he's done it: varying degrees of high- & low-brow art for commerce & exhibition, graphics, portraiture, temporary tattoos for film & fashion shoots, architectural design and more.
website The Ballpointer PENNAME feature FEB 2015
Shane McAdams American Southwest-born, Brooklyn-based. McAdams' ballpoint "Pen Blows" are among the most innovative use of the medium as yet to be found, placing him in a class by himself. website The Ballpointer PENNAME feature DEC 2014
Juan Francisco Casas Spain. Like it or not, Casas' 'viral' status circa 2005 helped bring 'ballpoint art' to the public consciousness. for his blue-BIC photorealist replications of so-called "selfie"-style snapshots. Since 2015 Casas has been utilizing more ballpoint color.
website B. Neufeld's thINK piece May 2015
James Mylne London. Gained attention in the UK for his ballpoint photorealism. Internet exposure took his artwork worldwide, with continuing presence. Respected among fellow ballpointers, Since mid-2015 Mylne is taking his ballpoint work in new directions via mixings of mediums. website The Ballpointer PENNAME feature APR 2015
Rebecca Yanovskaya Toronto, Canada. Scenes of sensual fantasia are her realm. Yanovskaya details her black ballpoint figures with gold-leafing in the form of head-dresses and wings. website
All artwork © Respective Artists.
Deshpande
THE BALLPOINTER Published by Ronald Bell & Orlando Lebron / Mahozawari Unlimited・Contributors: R. Bell, O. Lebron, Bruce Neufeld, E. Lee, Kaji Rie・Art Direction Susan May, USA・Correspondence: theballpointer@gmail.com
Casas