Up close
Tea Time with Suriel
This drawing is being made of words that people send me.
About 257 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. Available only through my wife's shop, A Little Crafty Fox, which is officially licensed.
- 1,000+ peoplesent the words this angel is made of.
- 1 of 1Every original is the only one. Six months to draw this one.
Where the work has been seen.
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.
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 US shipping on prints over $100. Pay over time with Shop Pay. Have a question? Send me a note.
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.
69 of 100 left
White Tiger 2024 — Limited Edition Print
24 by 24 inches. Only 20 prints.
18 of 20 leftFree US shipping on prints over $100. Pay over time with Shop Pay.
Looking for a gift?
Find one by price.
Tap a price. Only what fits stays.
Print
From the Ashes, We Rise: Signed Art Card
From $5See it →Print
From the Ashes, We Rise: Signed Print
$50See it →
Print
Charlie Chaplin: The Great Dictator Speech
$150See it →
Limited edition
White Tiger 2024 — Limited Edition Print
$150See it →
Print
Nevermore: Edgar Allan Poe
$150See it →Limited edition
From the Ashes, We Rise — Limited Edition Print
$200See it →
The original
Vox Populi, Obama Edition
$7,500See it →
The original
The Eye of Truth
$10,000See it →The original
From the Ashes, We Rise
$15,000See it →
Commissions
A portrait made of their words.
From $320 for an 8 by 10. Sizes, prices and how it works →Free US shipping on prints over $100. Layaway or installments: ask me.
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.
See The Eye of Truth
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.
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.
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.
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. Available only through my wife's shop, A Little Crafty Fox, which is officially licensed.
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.