Pencil vs reality... where do you draw the line? The incredible optical illusions created by artist

By Kerry McQueeney
Last updated at 10:05 PM on 24th September 2011

You have often heard about art imitating life, but an artist has taken the saying to a whole new level with an incredible collection of drawings that reveal a masterful eye for illusion. Reality meets fantasy in this amazing series of drawings which are to be exhibited at art shows in London next month. Using expertly-drawn sketches, Belgian artist Ben Heine blends pencil, photography, imagination and reality - and the results are truly astonishing.
Mixed reality: This incredible sketch has captures the boats on the water sitting alongside a mermaid on a rock. A carefully-cut hole in the paper even makes room for the diver as he prepares to launch himself overboard Mixed reality: This incredible sketch has captures the boats on the water sitting alongside a mermaid on a rock. A carefully-cut hole in the paper even makes room for the diver as he prepares to launch himself overboard
X-ray vision: This man is a little more exposed than he should be in this clever drawing X-ray vision: This man is a little more exposed than he should be in this clever drawing
Chain gang: These worker ants have been magnified as they walk across the twig in this piece Chain gang: These worker ants have been magnified as they walk across the twig in this piece

Heine describes himself as a multidisciplinary visual artist who is inspired by people and nature. The 28-year-old grew up in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, where he lived for seven years with his parents and three sisters before moving back to Brussels in 1990. He has become well-known for three art concepts he has been working on, including his Pencil Vs Camera project.
Hitching a ride: An old-fashioned tram is seen rattling through a quiet street... but there's more to this than meets the eye Hitching a ride: An old-fashioned tram is seen rattling through a quiet street... but there's more to this than meets the eye
Trick of the eye: Ben Heine's drawing takes optical illusion to a new level as this floor is turned into a giant chessboard in this image
Trick of the eye: Ben Heine's drawing takes optical illusion to a new level as a hand holds a paper aeroplane in this image
Trick of the eye: Ben Heine's drawing takes optical illusion to a new level as this floor is turned into a giant chessboard and a hand holds a paper aeroplane
Leap of faith: Tiny men are seen jumping from block to block in this sketch. The drawing makes the apartment blocks on the horizon look like the computer game Tetris Leap of faith: Tiny men are seen jumping from block to block in this sketch. The drawing makes the apartment blocks on the horizon look like the computer game Tetris

Up in the air: A female singer clutching a microphone sits in a swing in the clouds, held aloft by two doves over a mountainous landscape
Under attack: A giant dinosaur goes on the rampage in a city landscape brandishing two handguns... but dwellers have nothing to fear from this pencil-drawn monster
Up in the air: A sits in a swing in the clouds, held aloft by two doves over a mountainous landscape while a dinosaur goes on the rampage... but city dwellers have nothing to fear from this pencil-drawn monster




On the box: A quirky take on the BBC Breakfast presenters turn them back into two dimensional figures On the box: A quirky take on the BBC Breakfast presenters turn them back into two dimensional figures

Describing it as 'full of magic, illusion, poetry and surrealism', Ben said Pencil Vs Camera is 'new visual invention' which mixes drawing, photography, imagination and reality.
He said: 'I just make art for people. I want them to dream and forget their daily troubles.
'I used to write poems many years ago, I want to convey a poetic and philosophical meaning into my pictures, each new creation should tell a story and generate an intense emotion, like a poem, like a melody.'
Here's looking at you: This incredible image breathes new life into this snapshot of three smiling children Here's looking at you: This incredible image breathes new life into this snapshot of three smiling children
Artists impression: The proportions of the man in this picture have been captured perfectly in this drawing... with the quirky addition of a Tinkerbell-esque fairy
Oh baby! In this bizarre shot, a foetus is shown nestling next to a woman's face
'Full of magic, illusion, poetry and surrealism': Pencil Vs Camera mixes drawing, photography, imagination and reality

Dual fuel: This drawing splits the vehicle in two and has tiny toy cars driving through the middle of it Dual fuel: This drawing splits the vehicle in two and has tiny toy cars driving through the middle of it


Part of his method involves him ensuring his hand is visible in every picture - to represent the connection between the viewer, the artist and the artwork. He also always makes sure the sketch is in black and white, while the photograph is often brightly coloured to maxmise the contrast.
Great apes: A man is seen turning a camera on human's earliest ancestors, in this humorous take on the theory of evolution Great apes: A man is seen turning a camera on human's earliest ancestors, in this humorous take on the theory of evolution
Balancing act: A tight rope performer walks among the clouds in this moonlit fantasy
Not even tram lines escape the artist's mischievous eye
Balancing act: A tight rope performer walks among the clouds in this moonlit fantasy while not even tram lines escape the artist's mischievous eye
Table for one: One lonely panda, looking for companionship, seeks same... but is he really there? Table for one: One lonely panda, looking for companionship, seeks same... but is he really there?


Illusions: Art, imitating life, imitating art
Illusions: Art, imitating life, imitating art
Illusions: Art, imitating life, imitating art... the artist claims his technique is a 'new visual invention'

Ben's creations have become a internet hit - and has had a significant impact on the graphic design community. The artist said he has been deeply influenced by Belgian Surrealism, German Expressionism, American Pop Art and Social Realism. He has also created two other art projects for which he has become well-known for: Digital Circlism and Flesh and Acrylic.
Delicate steps: Those suffering from vertigo should look away now - this creation turns a pavement into a precarious mass of vertiginous blocks Delicate steps: Those suffering from vertigo should look away now - this creation turns a pavement into a precarious mass of vertiginous blocks
Double vision: You could be forgiven for thinking you were under the influence of alcohol looking at this warped drawing of a cat
A simple coastal road is transformed by this picture, showing a boy pulling an unusual-looking balloon behind him
Double vision: You could be forgiven for thinking you were under the influence of alcohol looking at this drawing of a cat while this simple coastal road has been transformed by Ben's technique




What an ass: These two donkeys are given a Heine makeover, complete with crazy sunglasses and thought bubbles What an ass: These two donkeys are given a Heine makeover, complete with crazy sunglasses and thought bubbles
Global warning: This clever sketch gives a volcano an all together more interesting landscape Global warning: This clever sketch gives a volcano an all together more interesting landscape


Ben's work is to be exhibited at a number of forthcoming art shows in London next month. He will feature at the Art London exhibition, at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea, from October 6 to October 10; the Affordable Art Fair at Battersea from October 20 to October 23 and Affordable Art Fair in Hampstead between October 27 and October 30.


Watch your step! A man with a white stick is seen heading straight towards an open manhole Watch your step! A man with a white stick is seen heading straight towards an open manhole
Fire starter: The flame on this clever drawing is a devil of an illusion
Fire starter: The koala bear could be out of time as the flames creep towards the tree he is clung to
Fire starter: The flame on this clever drawing is a devil of an illusion while the koala bear could soon be out of time as the flames creep towards the tree it clings to
Skin and bones: A horse and bird are given the Heine treatment in the artist's exhibition Skin and bones: A horse and bird are given the Heine treatment in the artist's exhibition


The camera never lies... or does it? The photographer's eye is met with this fantastical scene in this piece
Celestial: Two children are seen climbing up ladders among the stars in this drawing
The camera never lies... or does it? The photographer's eye is met with this fantastical scene (left) while two children are seen climbing among the stars in this celestial drawing (right)
Taking in the view: A woman and child peer at some houses below, oblivious to the fact that one of the buildings has bee given a sketchy makeoverTaking in the view: A woman and child peer at some houses below, oblivious to the fact that one of the buildings has bee given a sketchy makeover.