This Artist Draws Insanely Detailed Illustrations Using Just A Ballpoint PenSkip To ContentHomepageSign InSearch BuzzFeedSearch BuzzFeedlol Badge Feedwin Badge Feedtrending Badge FeedCalifornia residents can opt out of "sales" of personal data.Do Not Sell My Personal Information 2022 BuzzFeed, Inc PressRSSPrivacyConsent PreferencesUser TermsAd ChoicesHelpContactSitemapPosted on 23 Feb 2017 This Artist Draws Insanely Detailed Illustrations Using Just A Ballpoint Pen Andrew Browne draws inspiration from pop culture to create his contemporary idols. by Sian ButcherBuzzFeed Staff, UKFacebookPinterestTwitterMailLink Andrew Browne is an artist who splits his time between Minneapolis and Tokyo. His latest series, Idols, combines traditional Japanese Buddhas with the modern-day concept of idolising people, brands, and lifestyles. He used only a ballpoint pen to complete the illustrations. BuzzFeed caught up with the illustrator to talk about the process and inspiration behind Idols, and what it's like creating art in Japan: What inspired the concept for your Idols series Andrew Browne: Watching people around me – both in the US and in Japan – so many people have something they idolise. This series started taking shape after I saw several old Japanese Buddha statues at a museum in the United States in 2015. There was one that was chipped and cracked that caught my eye. I wanted to draw a similarly broken statue as a one-off. As I drew, I started coming up with ideas for other possible statues (What if this were a salaryman instead?). I wanted to play with the idea of idolisation. I find that obsession fascinating. Our desire to be idolised, too, as well as our encouragement of that idolisation of ourselves. These are the ideas that inspired this series, the concept of the "contemporary idol". Andrew Browne Salaryman Buddah / Schoolgirl Buddah Andrew Browne Hell Buddah / Buddha Statue Living in both the United States and Japan do you find that your work often merges culture beyond this specific project br AB: I do. When I'm sketching new ideas, I find myself unconsciously using lots of Japanese imagery – and living in Tokyo means I see certain things on a daily basis that end up inspiring me. I pay careful attention to the elements and imagery that I use. I don't like to use Japanese imagery just for the sake of it – it has to be conceptually meaningful. And I of course include elements from American pop culture. That's the most fun for me – mashing the two together. Andrew Browne When creating the Idols series was there a particular way you wanted them to be perceived AB: I guess I wanted them to be understood purely as comments on contemporary society and people in general, rather than as a push to return to any sort of religion. That's not something I considered, nor is it something I wanted to touch on. What are your creative influences and what impact has living in Japan had on these AB: My biggest creative influences have been film and printmaking. I grew up in awe of Kurosawa and Japanese ukiyo-e prints. Then it was contemporary lithographs by Motoda Hisaharu that inspired me to create art. I started drawing when I was little, so I think I came into contact with those influences at an important time. Living in Japan also makes me appreciate aspects of American culture more – film, pop, art, etc. I can take a step back and think critically. Andrew Browne Ballpoint pen is an interesting media choice What made you choose it AB: There's definitely a "wow" element to ballpoint pen. That you can draw such detail and achieve such a variety of tones with such a simple, everyday tool. I've always enjoyed working with ink. I like the permanence of it, that challenge. I really try to avoid digital interference as much as possible when it comes to my work. The unpredictable side of drawing is inspiring, I think.Ballpoint pen is slower than other media, but that slowness makes it a meditative process. Andrew Browne Andrew Browne continues to work in Tokyo, and you can follow him on Twitter or on his website for updates on his work. Share This ArticleFacebook PinterestTwitterMailLink BuzzFeed DailyKeep up with the latest daily buzz with the BuzzFeed Daily newsletter!This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.