Moon Defender Drawing

Self-taught artist Eli Helman (b. 1978) grew up in the Boston area before attending college in Washington, DC. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Tucson, Arizona where, motivated by blank walls in his apartment and a fascination with the landscapes and wildlife of the American West, he began experimenting with pencil sketching. Upon returning to New England a few years later, he discovered Micron pens. Since then he has spent thousands of hours meticulously crafting highly detailed ink drawings. Emphasizing intricately drawn lines and patterns, he explores eclectic subjects through a blend of whimsical and thought provoking imagery. Inspired by music, humor, travel, nature, science and history, he hopes viewers will find something new — or at least have a good chuckle — every time they gaze upon his work. All original works are drawn by hand with Micron pens on paper. Some pieces take over 100 hours to complete. Since 2010 he has been a full-time artist traveling around the country showing his work at art festivals. He lives in Western Massachusetts.