Using fine-tipped pens, Muthahari Insani (also known as @sweeneypen) creates intricate drawings of animals that are often cloaked in beautiful blooms. Silhouettes of bears, birds, and rabbits are shaped with winding branches, layers of petals, and growing toadstools. It’s a fantastical take on the typical portrait, and Insani’s additions are a unique and imaginative way to combine two facets of the natural world.
To build form and imply depth in his drawings, Insani makes tiny marks that produce hatch and cross-hatching textures. Depending on how close the lines are to each other, they appear more or less dark. This meticulous pen technique creates a variety of shadows, giving his surreal designs a three-dimensional feel that looks incredibly lush. It’s as if the visible vegetation is just a small hint of what lies beneath the surface.
Check out Insani’s Instagram for more impressive pen drawings, including a peek at his works in progress.
