This Man Helps Pens To Make Self-Portraits And It Is Beautiful

Meet David. He draws pens, using the pen he's drawing. (And some other stuff...) Find his work over at pensbypens on Tumblr.

Here's a clear one to start. (All descriptions in quotation marks are David's.)

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"I like this pen. It’s unassuming. It’ll just sit there on the desk. Maybe you’ll pick it up without even looking at it. And the you’ll feel it in your hand. That neat grip. And you will smile. And you will write. And you will write well."

And a chewable one. We've all got one of these lying around somewhere.

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"I have so much love and affection for these pens. They sit well in the hand, they make smart clear marks, and they are just so much fun to chew."

And this. I remember this. It was the best thing, even though I don't think anyone ever used it upside-down.

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"I didn’t draw it upside-down. But I could have done. I could have done."

One from an airline. Aren't we all jet-set?

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"I was hitherto unaware of the difference between a rollerball and a ballpoint, but was informed by this Wikipedia article.

Now I know everything."

David isn't allowed to go to the bank any more.

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"I had to work quickly. The bank employees were giving me looks."

Much retro. Very feather.

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"This one is by popular request. The ink used is from a squeezed Parker cartridge.

There are many guides to making quills on the internet. I suggest ignoring them and making it up as you go. After all, improvisation can be a good feather in your cap."

A bit of colour from the MOST IMPORTANT THING IN A PENCIL CASE.

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"Thanks for this pen, parents."

It's not just pens. There's these odd objects.

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"I had no idea these existed. The world is full of surprises."

WANT. 'Holly' has taste.

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"Thanks for these, Holly! They are the best.

Look at them!"

You'll find pen-residue everywhere.

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"The glitter is EVERYWHERE. I can’t even- Oh the glitter."

David likes Sharpies (don't we all?).

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"Do I favour Sharpies too highly? No, it is not possible to do so.

(Bronze. I wonder where I could be going with this.)"

I mean, really likes them.

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"What a fox."

I see what you did there.

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"It was inevitable, really. We had come this far."

Then there's the high-concept pens.

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"Do not carry this pen in your breast pocket.

Do not let it anywhere near your heart."

David - u ok?

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"Write with your gut."

What is this odd ganglion? Why would you carry it around?

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"I made friends with a fellow audience member at a show at the Gate Theatre, London.

This pen is rubbery and makes a noise like a baby’s rattle. It’s nice to make friends."

Or THIS. Why would you buy this?

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"The weirdest thing I’ve ever done to a pen is to buy this one.

It’s such a shame, this was a family-friendly place before I lowered the tone."

Tipp-Ex! And a pun! Of sorts!

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"This drawing took an awful lot of correction (fluid)."

Also not a pen, but included here for the AWESOME.

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"This is a stapler. I drew it with a stapler. This is fine, right? I don’t have a problem. Stop looking at me like that."

And now ... wait for it ...

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THE MOST RECURSIVE THING! A "pensbypens" pen penned by a "pensbypens" pen. YES.

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"Matt and Sam, this is just the best. I like it so much I broke my own rule and posted a photo too.

The fact that you made it left-handed for me too - unbelievable.

Big shout out to AnyWordPens on Etsy who 3D print these. Awesome."

Great work, David. Pen on.

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