Amazing ballpoint pen drawings

Yes, I can see what you mean about respecting Silva's skill, yet there's something about the realism and exactness of his work that I don't like. I wonder what his work is like when (if this is the case) he does not work purely from photos. I suppose I'm saying I like the originality of daubs of paint on canvas - whereas with these it's the medium used that has an originality, not the content. Too much like photos.

Think I'm having a grumpy Sunday morning.

I agree, butty, that there's something about these drawings that is, to my eye, not quite right, and it is to do with the exactness and almost over-sharpness of details. However, I am truly amazed at the drawing skills. And ballpoint pen is not an easy medium, I should think. You can't paint over your mistakes or rub anything out.

I'd like to see what he could do in oils or watercolours or pastels or charcoal....

His skill is to be admired although I'm not a fan of photo realism. I feel it's rather cold and unemotional, I quite like daubs of paint if the end result 'speaks' to me.