Nicolas Sanchez
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Memories Rendered in Ballpoint Pen and Oil Paint by Nicolas V. Sanchez Recall Moments of Belonging

Through ballpoint pen drawings and hazy oil paintings, Mexican-American artist Nicolas V. Sanchez (previously) conjures childhood memories, instances of intimacy, and a sense of yearning. Sanchez, whose works vacillate between the incredibly realistic and the dreamlike fog associated with recollection, finds his subject matter in the unassuming and every day. He fixates on the texture of a horse's short coat and wrinkled neck, the way sleeping children hang their limbs haphazardly off the edge of a couch, and…
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Color Ballpoint Pen Drawings by Nicolas V. Sanchez

Artist Nicolas V. Sanchez fills entire sketchbooks with drawings of the world around him rendered in precise color ballpoint. Portraits of families page by page, sprawling scenes of rugged farms and livestock, and near photographic recollections of people and places from residencies in the Dominican Republic and China. Sanchez often explores the roots of his own identity, delving into a bi-cultural upbringing that spans from the American midwest to his family's rural history in Mexico. In addition to his exacting pen work, Sanchez is also a painter and works in a distinct style that's quite different from his ballpoint pen…
Read MoreNicolas V. Sanchez On His Relationship to Family, Memory, and Identity

Colossal managing editor Grace Ebert spoke with artist Nicolas V. Sanchez via email. This conversation has been edited for clarity. Grace: Can you tell us about your childhood growing up in the Midwest and how it relates to your work? It seems like you’ve done a lot of projects that feature cows, sheep, and horses, so I’m wondering if that’s where your interest in farm animals stems from. Nicolas: I was born of immigrant parents from Guanajuato, Mexico, that migrated to the U.S. to start a family. I grew up in mid-Michigan, the Lansing area, with my parents and two…
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Interview: A Conversation with Artist Nicolas V. Sanchez Explores His Relationship to Family, Memory, and Identity

Known for his unbelievably realistic drawings rendered in ballpoint pen, New York City-based artist Nicolas V. Sanchez discusses his technique and subject matter, which ranges from domestic scenes to farm animals. In the latest interview for Colossal Members, Sanchez draws connections between his family, memories of his childhood, and how those have shaped his identity. Left: "El Colorado" (2020), colored ballpoint pen, 10 x 14 inches. Right: "El Giro de Oro" (2020),…
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Sketchbook-Based Ballpoint Pen Drawings by Nicolas V. Sanchez

New York City-based artist Nicolas V. Sanchez (previously) creates masterful drawings with only the aid of a few ballpoint pens, rendering unbelievably realistic portraits and still lifes in his many sketchbooks. Due to his precise application of highlights and shadows several of his works seem three-dimensional, such as the fruit bowl seen below which looks placed on the page and not drawn. Sanchez is also a talented painter, working with oil to create blurred familial scenes on canvas or linen. You can see more of his sketchbook-based ink drawings, and browse his collection of paintings, on his Instagram and Facebook.
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Mother & Child Vol. II Raises over $15,000 to Support Separated Immigrant Families

A heartfelt thanks to the 60+ contributing artists and hundreds of attendees all helped make Mother & Child Vol. II a huge success. The benefit gallery show, which we co-produced with Sugarlift, has raised over $15,000 and counting. 100% of proceeds will be split between three non-profits who provide direct aid and legal support to separated children and families at the U.S./Mexico Border. We are proud to help further the causes of Kids in Need of Defense, The Young Center, and The Florence Project, and couldn't have done it without the…
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Highlights below. For the full collection click here.