Thursday, September 3, 2026 · Updated Thursday, September 3, 2026
Jos, Nigeria
Fine-line illustration often finds its strength in simplicity, but a recent series of ballpoint pen drawings takes the medium into a hyper-detailed exploration of modern iconography. Using standard blue ink on plain white paper, these portraits command attention through a meticulous layering of texture and high-contrast accents. The focus remains entirely on the raw execution of the pen, elevating a humble everyday tool into a vehicle for precise, high-concept gallery art.
The video is a close-up shot of a pen-and-ink drawing of a person. The person is depicted wearing large sunglasses made of hundred-dollar bills, with more hundred-dollar bills framing their head like a headdress. The lips are colored red. A hand holding a pen is visible on the right side of the frame, adding details to the drawing. The drawing is done in shades of blue and red ink.
The central motif of the work revolves around sunglasses constructed from meticulously drawn United States hundred-dollar bills. Positioned at striking angles across the face, the currency serves as both a physical barrier and a conceptual lens. Every line of the engraving on the bills is recreated with fine hatching, contrasting sharply with the soft, voluminous curls of the hair surrounding the face.
The image is a close-up, pen-and-ink drawing of a person's face, depicted in blue ink with red accents on the lips. The person is wearing oversized sunglasses made from two $100 bills, with the numbers "100" clearly visible on each. The bills also show depictions of buildings and the inscription "IN GOD WE TRUST". The sunglasses themselves are outlined with a textured pattern and a black band. The person's hair is drawn with numerous fine blue lines, suggesting a tousled or voluminous style. The lower half of the face, including full lips colored red, is visible below the sunglasses. A thick, chain-link necklace is also visible around the neck. The background is plain white, indicating the drawing is on paper. There is no identifiable context suggesting the location is in Jos, Nigeria; the image is purely a stylized portrait.
Adding a singular splash of color to the monochromatic blue composition, the lips are rendered in a deep, saturated red. This deliberate focal point breaks the cool temperature of the blue ink, drawing the eye downward to a heavy, chunky chain collar. Inscribed on a central link is the word "Dior," anchoring the piece firmly in the dialogue between street culture, luxury branding, and monetary value.
A close-up, high-angle, pen and ink drawing depicts a person's face, covered by two hundred-dollar bills, acting as makeshift sunglasses. The drawing is rendered in blue ink, with red ink used for the lips. The hair appears to be stylized and flowing. The background is a plain white surface. There is a purple pen with a green tip extending into the frame from the right, appearing to be in the process of drawing or highlighting the lips. The style of the drawing is expressive and somewhat abstract, with visible pen strokes creating texture and form. There is no discernible location in the city of Jos, Nigeria; the image is a studio drawing.
A close-up shot of a drawing shows a face with sunglasses made of hundred dollar bills. A pen is in the process of drawing the sunglasses, adding detail and shading. The drawing is done in blue ink, with red lipstick accentuating the lips. The background is a swirl of blue lines, creating a sense of movement and texture.
What makes the process particularly compelling is the tactile nature of the creation. Watching the ballpoint pen glide across the textured paper reveals the patience required to build such depth. Each stroke of shading adds weight to the chain and dimension to the hair, proving that high-impact contemporary art requires nothing more than a steady hand and a singular creative vision.
A close-up, overhead shot shows a person's face covered by two US hundred-dollar bills that are positioned to look like glasses. Another hundred-dollar bill is visible on the person's forehead. The person's lips are painted red. A black marker is being used to color in the portion of the hundred-dollar bill that is covering the person's eye. Below the face, a thick chain is visible, with the letters "Dior" inscribed on it. The artwork is rendered in blue ink, with some red coloring on the lips. The background is plain white.
The video shows a close-up view of a pen drawing being created on white paper. The drawing depicts a person's face, focusing on their eyes and neck area. The person is wearing large sunglasses, which are styled to look like hundred-dollar bills, with the number 100 clearly visible on the lenses. The person also has red-painted lips. Around their neck, they are wearing a thick chain with a pendant that reads "Dior." The artist's hand is visible, holding a purple pen and actively shading the neck area of the drawing, creating texture and depth with cross-hatching lines. The drawing is done in blue ink.
A close-up shot of a drawing depicts a person wearing oversized sunglasses made of US hundred-dollar bills. The sunglasses are black with textured rims. Red lipstick is visible on the person's lips. A thick, diamond-encrusted chain with a "Dior" pendant rests around the person's neck. The drawing is rendered in blue ink, with some red coloring on the lips. A pen is being used to add details to the drawing. The background is a plain white surface.
A blue ink drawing on white paper depicts a stylized portrait of a person wearing sunglasses made of $100 bills. The bill on the left is positioned vertically, while the one on the right is angled diagonally. The person has voluminous, wispy hair, also rendered in blue ink. Their lips are colored red and appear full and sensually shaped. Around their neck, they wear a thick, chunky chain with the word "Dior" inscribed on one link. The background is plain white, showing the texture of the paper. The drawing is presented without any specific location in the city of Jos, Nigeria.
The image is a pen and ink drawing on white paper, depicting a stylized portrait of a person wearing sunglasses made of US $100 bills. The subject has a full head of textured hair drawn with numerous fine lines. The sunglasses are prominent, with the bills forming the frames and lenses, featuring the number "100" on each. The person's lips are painted red and detailed with fine lines. A thick, braided chain necklace is shown around the neck, with the word "Dior" visible on a pendant. The drawing style is sketchy and uses hatching for shading. The background is plain white. There is no indication of a specific location in Jos, Nigeria.
The video is a close-up shot of a pen-and-ink drawing of a person. The person is depicted wearing large sunglasses made of hundred-dollar bills, with more hundred-dollar bills framing their head like a headdress. The lips are colored red. A hand holding a pen is visible on the right side of the frame, adding details to the drawing. The drawing is done in shades of blue and red ink.
A close-up shot shows a person's hand holding a clear pen with a green tip. The pen is drawing on a piece of paper. The drawing depicts a person's head and neck, with long, wavy hair drawn in blue ink. A hundred-dollar bill is placed over the person's eyes, and another hundred-dollar bill is visible near the neck. A thick, braided chain is also drawn around the person's neck. The background is a plain white surface. The lighting suggests an indoor environment.
The image is a close-up, pen-and-ink drawing of a person's face, depicted in blue ink with red accents on the lips. The person is wearing oversized sunglasses made from two $100 bills, with the numbers "100" clearly visible on each. The bills also show depictions of buildings and the inscription "IN GOD WE TRUST". The sunglasses themselves are outlined with a textured pattern and a black band. The person's hair is drawn with numerous fine blue lines, suggesting a tousled or voluminous style. The lower half of the face, including full lips colored red, is visible below the sunglasses. A thick, chain-link necklace is also visible around the neck. The background is plain white, indicating the drawing is on paper. There is no identifiable context suggesting the location is in Jos, Nigeria; the image is purely a stylized portrait.
The video shows a close-up of a drawing made with a blue pen. The drawing depicts a person's face with their eyes covered by dollar bills. One dollar bill is placed over the forehead, and two others are shaped like sunglasses over the eyes, with the number "100" visible on each. The lips of the person are colored red. A hand holding a pen is seen in the upper right corner, in the process of adding details to the drawing. The drawing appears to be on white paper.
A close-up, high-angle, pen and ink drawing depicts a person's face, covered by two hundred-dollar bills, acting as makeshift sunglasses. The drawing is rendered in blue ink, with red ink used for the lips. The hair appears to be stylized and flowing. The background is a plain white surface. There is a purple pen with a green tip extending into the frame from the right, appearing to be in the process of drawing or highlighting the lips. The style of the drawing is expressive and somewhat abstract, with visible pen strokes creating texture and form. There is no discernible location in the city of Jos, Nigeria; the image is a studio drawing.
The video shows a close-up of a ballpoint pen drawing of U.S. $100 bills. The drawing is done in blue ink on white paper. The bills are stacked and held together by a white band. The pen is visible in the frame, actively adding details to the drawing. The background is a blurry, textured surface.
A close-up shot of a drawing shows a face with sunglasses made of hundred dollar bills. A pen is in the process of drawing the sunglasses, adding detail and shading. The drawing is done in blue ink, with red lipstick accentuating the lips. The background is a swirl of blue lines, creating a sense of movement and texture.
The image is a drawing rendered in blue ballpoint pen on white paper. It depicts a person's face, partially obscured by sunglasses made from US hundred-dollar bills. The eyes are covered by the bills, and the sunglasses frame them. The person has styled hair, and their lips are colored red. A thick, rope-like chain with "Dior" inscribed on it is visible around the neck. A purple pen with a green tip is positioned over the lips, appearing to be in the process of drawing or being held. The drawing style is sketch-like, with visible hatching for shading and texture. There is no discernible location within the city of Jos, Nigeria, or any environmental context provided by the artwork itself.
The image is a close-up, artistic rendering of a face with 100 dollar bills covering the eyes and lower face, with the lips prominently visible and colored red. The drawing is done in blue ink, with some red accents on the lips. A blue ballpoint pen is visible in the lower right corner, seemingly used for the drawing. The background is plain white paper. There is no depiction of the city of Jos, Nigeria.
Jos, Nigeria
