Many of us can’t even draw a decent manga portrait on paper, but there are talented individuals who manage to replicate character illustrations on food, and some using just their bare hands and sand.
Chinese sand artist Zhao Ying Li creates portraits of manga characters from titles such as Slam Dunk and Detective Conan that are so detailed it’s hard to believe they were drawn with sand. See the creation process after the break!
Sand drawing is appreciated as a form of performance art, unlike conventional drawings or paintings. Every single dot, line and gradient is drawn with nothing but sand by the nimble, artistic hands and fingers of the artist, and in the case of a live performance, drawn precisely within a timed session in sync with background music and illumination arrangements.
I’ve seen sand drawing performances by different artists on television several times. Each artist had their own style; some specialized in drawing animals, while others painted stories of romance. Hangzhou-based sand artist Zhao Ying Li is probably capable of all that too, but it was Li’s impressive replication of famous manga and anime scenes that won the loudest applause from fans online. Check out these breathtaking masterpieces!
▼ Detective Conan
▼ Vagabond
▼ Slam Dunk
The way one frame transitions into another is simply mesmerizing. Being a huge fan of Slam Dunk, I could watch this all day! Which piece did you like the most?
Source: Zhaizhai News
Top image: Youku
Leave a Reply