Pen Strokes Noir, Toyin Odutola

The fact that artist Toyin Odutola can capture the true beauty and essence of Black skin using only a ball point pen is simply amazing. “Where some may see flat, static narratives, I see a spectrum of tonal gradations and realities,” the artist says. “What I am creating is literally black portraiture with ballpoint pen ink.”

The strokes of her pen paired with a cross-hatching technique creates depth on all of her drawings, ultimately making the portrait seem to come to life. Most of Toyin’s renderings are black and white, but she often utilizes strokes of color for a vibrant flair. I can almost see the soul of the person through this artist’s pen strokes! Check out more of Toyin’s work here.