Pencil Artist of the Week: Kelvin Okafor

This week’s featured pencil artist is Kelvin Okafor, a pencil artist based in the UK. Kelvin describes himself as a “passionate penciled artist… highly interested in detail and precision” and, judging by the work he does with a pencil, we’d have to say his description is, well, precise.

The subjects of Kelvin’s drawings are mostly people, though he has tackled a number of still life drawings in his time as an artist. His portraits are incredibly lifelike, showing a range of skills too numerous to list. He depicts his subjects from a variety of angles, putting his mastery of light and shadows on display. The faces of his subjects are detailed and textured, a nuance that escapes many artists who depict the human face.

Kelvin’s recreation of human hair, however, is perhaps his most impressive feat. From glossy, black strands, to voluminous, golden locks, to short, tight curls, Kelvin seems to be able to recreate every hair type, texture and style in the book. If you’re wondering how he accomplishes such stunning realism, each image he posts on his blog is accompanied by a series of step-by-step instructional images that walk the viewer through his creative process.