We never tire of admiring Chicago’s stunning skyline, but just how closely are you looking? British artist Mark Lascelles Thornton highlighted Chicago’s architecture in incredible detail as part of his drawing project,
“The Happiness Machine.”
Lacelles Thornton uses a rotring pen and white paper to bring the intricacy of architectural scenes to life, from fire escape stairs to swirling clouds above the Hancock. His meticulous work is even more impressive given the massive 8 x 5 foot scale of the drawing.
Chicago is one of eight cities “The Happiness Machine” will eventually feature as a commentary on society and consumerism. Each piece is drawn in greyscale and red to recall colors found on stock market graphs as well as anatomical illustrations. Thus far, New York, London, Hong Kong, and Shanghai skyscrapers have also been featured. Watch Lacelles Thornton at work below.
This article originally appeared on Chicagoist.
Jessica Mlinaric founded Urban Explorer in 2010 to inspire curious travelers by highlighting history, culture, and hidden gems in Chicago and beyond. She is the author of ‘Secret Chicago’ and ‘Chicago Scavenger.’ Jessica has visited 20+ countries and 30+ U.S. states. She has more than 16 years of experience as a marketing strategist and works as a freelance writer and photographer.
