When most people take a pebble in their hand, they do so with the intention to throw it as far as they can. When British artist Justin Bateman does it, he becomes one step closer to creating an ephemeral masterpiece.
Bateman creates astonishingly detailed celebrity portraits with pebbles he finds in nature. He manages to capture the likeness of actors, musicians, and historical figures, in such a way that it is hard to believe you are just looking at a bunch of perfectly arranged stones.
To make this fascinating art, Bateman goes through a painstaking process that requires sourcing hundreds and sometimes thousands of pebbles in different colors and arranging them in a perfect sequence to display a recognizable image. He does this despite knowing that his creation won’t be intact for too long and will surrender itself to rain, wind, or tide.
“My nomadic existence would not be compromised by easels, oils, chisels, or any other equipment necessary for conventional processes. I could work anywhere, anytime and maintain consistent practice, even whilst on the road… as long as I could find stones,” Bateman shared in a recent interview with Forbes.
Continue scrolling to check out more of Bateman’s pebble portraits.
