30 Sketchbook Drawings By Nicolas V. Sanchez That Show The Power Of Ballpoint Pen Art

Sanchez’s background is steeped in artistic discipline, with a BFA from Kendall College of Art and Design and an MFA from the New York Academy of Art, where he later received a prestigious Post-Graduate Fellowship. Since then, his work has traveled the globe—from residencies in China, the Dominican Republic, and Italy to exhibitions at the Venice Biennale and features in VOGUE Italia, Vanity Fair, and Fine Art Connoisseur.

“I’ve always drawn from memory and observation,” he explains, reflecting on his process. “Much of my work is rooted in family, migration, and identity. It’s about honoring where I came from while constantly evolving as an artist.”

His solo exhibitions, including Belongings and Passing Home, often explore what it means to carry history—whether personal or collective—into the present. The tension between movement and rootedness is a recurring thread, especially in works created during his international residencies. “When I travel, I absorb everything,” he shares. “The cultures, the stories, even the textures of the place—they end up in my sketchbooks, which are like journals.”

Beyond the gallery, Sanchez has made waves in design and education. He collaborated with Liu Bolin on works for the Eli Klein Gallery and even taught at La Escuela de Diseño in the Dominican Republic. He also created a custom ballpoint pen—the NS1—designed specifically for artists. “The pen is about efficiency, yes, but also about accessibility,” he says. “Not everyone can afford expensive tools, and I wanted something that still delivered high-quality results.” A portion of the proceeds go to the Center for Arts Education in New York City, a cause close to his heart. “It is my privilege to be a part of an effort that promotes art education and other opportunities in which everyone can benefit from art.”

His sketchbooks are the stuff of legend—packed with portraits, landscapes, and scenes from everyday life, all rendered in astonishing detail. For Sanchez, they’re more than practice; they’re records of presence. “Drawing helps me slow down,” he says. “It’s a way to connect to my surroundings, to people, and to myself.”