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Amazing Pencil Lead Sculptures

August 24, 2010 by Amanda Formaro

As an artist myself, I get annoyed when I see the emails that circulate containing only photographs of mouth dropping art with no credit whatsoever to the creator. There’s no malicious intent of course, most people just pass things from friend to friend, and whoever copy and pasted it to begin with probably didn’t think anything of it. This is one such instance.

This morning I received an email from a friend containing some incredible images. Tiny little carvings and sculptures all from pencil lead! Oh, the steady hand and patience (not to mention good eyesight) that would be needed for this!

I did a little searching and found that these phenomenal creations were created by artist Dalton Ghetti. Dalton is a carpenter by trade and has been carving these tiny sculptures from graphite for over 25 years. A quote from Telegraph UK:

The 49 year old said: “At school I would carve a friend’s name into the wood of a pencil and then give it to them as a present. Later, when I got into sculpture, I would make these huge pieces from things like wood, but decided I wanted to challenge myself by trying to make things as small as possible. I experimented sculpting with different materials, such as chalk, but one day I had an eureka moment and decided to carve into the graphite of a pencil”

Even more amazing, Dalton doesn’t sell any of his work, only gives it away to his friends. The tools of his trade are a sewing needle, razor blade and a sculpting knife. He even has a “cemetery collection” for those pieces that broke before he could complete them.

Quote:

Dalton has made about 100 carvings, and is currently working on an epic piece inspired by the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. He said: “I decided to make a teardrop pencil carving for each of the people who died in the attack, about 3,000. Since 2002 I have carved one every day, it takes me under an hour. When I’m done they will form one big tear drop. It will take me about 10 years but it will be worth it”

To see the entire slideshow and read about Dalton, go to Telegraph UK. Scroll over each picture and an arrow will appear, or use the next and previous buttons in the upper right side.

There are a few more pictures on Silvermine Guild Art Center’s website and quite a few more, including a photo of the artist, on Buzzfeed.

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Comments

  1. Lakshmi Sadala says

    August 24, 2010 at 2:26 pm

    Hi,
    I too got the email last week but never know the great artist. Thank you for your search and giving the information about the great artist.

  2. Barbara Crawford says

    August 24, 2010 at 5:27 pm

    Absolutely awesome. Thanks for sharing!

  3. meaghan mountford says

    August 25, 2010 at 2:18 am

    Incredible post on this incredible art. Bravo! I had seen these featured elsewhere, too, (credited, luckily), and was stunned by the intricacy as well!

  4. Notebook says

    August 25, 2010 at 6:20 am

    10 years? Wow he must have been really emotionally affected. Too bad you can’t buy any of his work!

Trackbacks

  1. Driftwood Horses · Home and Garden @ CraftGossip says:
    August 26, 2010 at 1:01 pm

    […] Key and Towel Racks10 Fab Photo DisplaysVideo: How to Make a Laundry Chute8 Easy to Build Fire PitsAmazing Pencil Lead SculpturesDIY Video: Decoupage Craft Paper FloorGina's Etsy Success SecretsDIY Lap TrayFabric Covered […]

Have you read?

Building with Nature: My Experience with Natural Birdhouses

If you’re someone who enjoys DIY woodworking projects and has a soft spot for garden wildlife, Natural Birdhouses by Maria and Amen Fisher is a must-read. I picked this book up recently and have been completely inspired by the earthy, sustainable approach it offers to building homes for birds, bats, and even beneficial bugs.

What really drew me in was the focus on using found wood and natural materials—think branches, logs, reclaimed boards, and other bits of nature you can often source from your own backyard or a nearby forest. Not only does this make the projects eco-friendly, but it also gives everything a beautiful, rustic feel that blends effortlessly into any garden or backyard setting.

The book includes 25 step-by-step projects, all clearly explained and illustrated, which makes it accessible for both beginner and seasoned crafters. Even if you don’t have a fully-equipped workshop, most of these can be tackled with just a few basic tools and a bit of patience.

I started with a simple birdhouse design, using some weathered fence boards I had stashed in the shed. The instructions were easy to follow, and I was surprised how quickly it came together. Within a couple of days of putting it out in the garden, a curious little sparrow showed up—talk about instant reward! I’ve since bookmarked the bat box project and one of the insect hotel builds for next weekend.

What I really love about this book is that it’s not just about crafting; it’s about encouraging wildlife and creating a more natural, welcoming habitat right in your own yard. It’s a great way to involve kids, too—mine were fascinated by the idea of building a bug hotel and couldn’t wait to help collect materials.

If you’re looking for nature-inspired DIY garden projects that not only look good but also serve a purpose, Natural Birdhouses is full of ideas that check all the boxes. It’s creative, environmentally conscious, and a great way to spend time outdoors while giving something back to the ecosystem.

I’d definitely recommend this to anyone into sustainable gardening, backyard birdwatching, or rustic outdoor décor. Let me know if you give it a try—I’d love to hear what you build!

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