Up close
Tea Time with Suriel
This drawing is being made of words that people send me.
About 250 people have sent words. Goal: 1,000 people.
Drawings made of words. Handmade by Michael Volpicelli.
Their darkest words, made into something beautiful.
More than 1,000 people wrote to me about PTSD, addiction and the worst days of their lives. I drew every word into this angel. Lead into gold. A lotus out of the mud. Click the picture to see the words.
Want a portrait made of someone's words? Commission one
- Fourth Wing 2027My drawing is the December page of the official calendar, licensed with Rebecca Yarros.
- 1,000+ peoplesent the words this angel is made of.
- 1 of 1Every original is the only one. Six months to draw this one.
Happening now
Being drawn right now
These drawings are still open. Send a word and it goes into the picture, by hand. When it is done, I email you and show you where your words are.
Up close
A Place to Run Word Art Project
with Becca Lynn Mathis, author
Michael and Becca are turning A Place to Run into a hand-drawn word art piece, made from the names, moments and feelings readers share about the book.
Prints
Take one home. Signed and numbered.
Each limited edition print is signed and numbered by me and comes with a certificate of authenticity. When a run sells out, it is not printed again.
From the Ashes, We Rise — Limited Edition Print
24 by 36 inches. Only 100 signed prints.
70 of 100 left
White Tiger 2024 — Limited Edition Print
24 by 24 inches. Only 20 prints.
20 of 20 leftFree shipping in the US. Pay over time with Shop Pay.
Original drawings
One of each.
The words are the picture. When a drawing sells, there is no other.
From the Ashes, We Rise
Made of words from more than 1,000 people. It took six months. 24 by 36 inches.
The Eye of Truth
My wife's eye, drawn with micron pens. The ohm is in the pupil. 38 by 24 inches.
Vox Populi, Obama Edition
About 1,000 people wrote the words. 32 by 26 inches.
These drawings travel with me to shows, so they are priced to stay. Prints are how most people take one home. Free shipping in the US. Pay over time with Shop Pay. Have a question? Send me a note.
Look closer
From far away it looks like a photograph.
Up close, different words jump out.
As you are looking at truth, truth is looking back at you.
In print
December in the Fourth Wing 2027 Calendar.
My drawing I Will Not Die Today is the December page of the official Fourth Wing 2027 calendar. Licensed with Rebecca Yarros.
I Will Not Die Today
Violet and Tairn, drawn in ink from the words of more than 1,000 people. Not for sale right now.
December
Me with the calendar open to my page.
Fourth Wing 2027 Calendar
Officially licensed fan art, based on the New York Times bestseller.
Commissions
A portrait made of their words.
A portrait shows a face. It does not tell you anything about the person. I draw with their actual words: their thoughts, their feelings, their memories, the things that made them who they are.
This one is made of words about the first five years of my daughter's life. A wedding drawing can be made of the vows and the guest book. A memorial, of the stories everyone tells. In fifty years, someone can stand in front of it and still read everything that made that person special.
Commissions are priced by size, below my exhibition pieces, because they are made for one person. From $320 for an 8 by 10.
Made for other people
Portraits I have made for others.
Families, a leadership program, a memorial. People send their words, their memories, what made someone special. The drawing holds all of them.
About me
Why I create
I am a veteran. After I served, I went through depression myself. I wrote down what I went through, and it helped.
Then I shared my work online and asked other people for their stories.