Art: Robert Lansdale's fabric drawings take ballpoint pens to their limit

Date
27 June 2013

There’s something about the process of drawing big pieces of work with ballpoint pens which is endlessly fascinating to us; the combination of the intricacy involved and the final, awe-inspiring effect seems completely impossible. How long can that have taken? How did the artist have the patience? HOW?

Robert Lansdale’s impressive drawings are no exception to this mystery. Painstakingly drawn over sheets of paper as big as 40 × 30 inches they resemble long, flowing lengths of fabric, and yet they’re actually created from a series of tiny lines, all joined in an infinite-seeming web of ink. Robert, we salute your patience; these huge pieces are compelling in both their infinite repetition and the fluidity of the finished image.

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Robert Lansden: Nothing to See Nothing to Hide No. 5

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Robert Lansden: Being

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Robert Lansden: Nothing to See Nothing to Hide (Sebatiane)

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Robert Lansden: Self

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Robert Lansden: Nothing to See Nothing to Hide No. 2

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Robert Lansden: Axis

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About the Author

Maisie Skidmore

Maisie joined It’s Nice That fresh out of university in the summer of 2013 as an intern before joining full time as an Assistant Editor. Maisie left It’s Nice That in July 2015.

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