Bosnian Artist Jasenko Turns Ordinary Pencils Into Miniature Works Of Art

Due to their erasable ability, pencils are often the first tool artists use when sketching out a drawing, painting, or sculpture. But Bosnian artist Jasenko turns this essential tool for making art into the art itself. His impressive pencil sculptures feature miniature three-dimensional works of art carved out of the delicate graphite at its very core. Each pencil is transformed into a masterpiece in its own right, giving this basic tool a new place in art.

Clay, stone, wood, metal, plaster, wax – these are the most common media used in sculpture. But other sculptors prefer to think outside the box by using unorthodox materials including bird feathers, rice straw, rolled newspapers, and even old CDs. Jasenko, on the other hand, uses a material that is extremely familiar with artists. However, his approach on utilizing pencils in creating sculptures is truly remarkable. Using the thin graphite core embedded in the wooden shell, he painstakingly carves miniature subjects with surgical scalpels.

Pencil Sculptures

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Jasenko creates the sculptures either on the tip or on the side of the pencil where the graphite is exposed. Depending on the design, he chooses the right type of pencil with the perfect edge profile (round or square). After cutting the wooden shell to expose the graphite, he starts the carving process by making rough outline of the subjects. This process usually takes him around 5 – 10 hours to finish.

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Apparently, pencil lead is so thin and fragile. Carving all the details in a breakable and limited medium would require more than a careful hand and a keen eye. So, he usually uses a microscope to zoom into his creation. This meticulous phase typically takes him up to 2 days to complete.

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Jasenko finds inspiration in pop culture, nature, architecture, and famous masterpieces. He also works on commission so his subjects often depend on his client’s preferences. Like most sculptors specializing in miniature sculptures, Jasenko has been fascinated with small-scale art since he was a kid. But he began making pencil sculptures in January 2010 when he saw the works of Dalton Ghetti who is believed to be the founder of this form of art.

The road to perfection wasn’t easy for Jasenko as he admits that his first creations weren’t so good. But the challenge that comes with microscopic art ignited his interest even more.

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Follow the talented sculptor on Instagram to see his entire archive of wonderful pencil sculptures. If you have a custom request, you can contact the artist through their website.

Source: Instagram | Website