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Mostafa Khodeir is an Egyptian hyperrealist artist from Port Said, now based in Cairo. He grew up in a family of artists, his father is a famous calligrapher in the Arab world. But Khodeir chose his own path, drawn to the hard craft of pen-and-ink realism.
He begins each piece with a pencil sketch, then builds realistic portraits using only ballpoint pens and sometimes colored pencils. A single drawing can take anywhere from 50 to 70 hours to complete, with every stroke carefully controlled. He says he practiced alot to reach the level he is at now.
His subjects range from icons like Mohamed Salah and Princess Diana to everyday people and animals. His portraits are so realistic they are often mistaken for photographs. He first went viral in 2018 when a portrait of a baby he posted on Twitter recieved over 200,000 likes.
“I enjoy drawing with a ball point pen. The first time I saw drawings with this type of pen I was stunned. It gave me the idea to use this style as well.”
His work demands deep knowledge of shades, patience, and intense concentration. Any small mistake can ruin an entire piece. He rejects merging technology with painting, believing that traditional drawing is the strongest expression of human feeling.
He has a massive following on Instagram and other platforms today. His drawings have been shared thousands of times across the world. He continues to push his skills further, proving that a simple pen in the right hands can create something truly extraordinary.
Q: What makes Mostafa Khodeir’s dry ink drawings unique?
A: His ability to create realistic portraits using only ballpoint pens, a medium that offers no room for error. His work combines technical precision with deep patience, and his hyperrealist style has earned him international recognition.