A STUNNING portrait made with standard Bic ballpoint pens on paper took its Portuguese creator 30 hours to complete: and he is not even a professional artist.

An amazing detailed drawing of a Russian model by 29-year-old lawyer Samuel Silva has been praised by readers of the popular online community deviantART.

The picture, titled Redhead Girl, has received more than 3000 comments, ranging from amazement to incredulity.

"Just a lawyer? You're far much more", commented prittySmiles. "I love seeing people use their talents in unconventional ways, and this beauty is proof that you don't need fancy supplies to make art. Thanks for the inspiration."

See more of Silva's pictures here

In his profile on DeviantART, Silva describes himself as "just a self taught patient hobbyist person."

The part-time artiest has been drawing, sculpting and painting since he was two years old.

As he has developed his ballpoint technique, his pictures have won an increasingly passionate following.

"Ballpoint pen is not my only medium, it's just the one I'm currently trying to master," said Silva.

"At this point in my life I'm proficient with chalk, pencil, color pencil, pastels, oils and acrylics."



"It takes me forever to do my works. The only thing that makes me keep going is my love for what I do and the ambition to go further and further."

Silva employed seven Bic ballpoint pens of the kind found in any good office supply store to make the artwork, six colours plus black.

The colours are not mixed nor blended.

"Ballpoint pen ink dries instantly and can not be erased," said Silva.

"I just cross hatch the different colors in layers to create the illusion of blending and the illusion of colors I don't actually have."

View more Samuel Silva artworks at deviantART



