John Oliver Working on faded road maps, classic National Geographic magazine covers, and decades-old stationery, London-based artist Mark Powell pulls the wrinkled shapes of the subject’s faces using a normal black Bic ballpoint pen. The weathered portraits of the anonymous and famous men and women symbolize his antiquated canvases both in feel and tone as he traces the topographies of the faces across literal road maps or newspaper materials which have traversed the entire world. Powell’s drawings have increased in both detail and scale through time, magnifying the effect and density of every piece. You may view more of his latest work on his website at which he sells a few prints.
