Behind the Lines – How I Create My Hand-Drawn Art Prints

Every piece of art you see on ArtByArjo.com starts in the same place: a blank page, a pencil, and a bit of obsessive attention to detail.

Whether it’s a packed football stadium, an iconic street corner, or a surreal moment captured in ink, my process is always about taking something real and reimagining it in a way that feels honest, characterful, and worth putting on your wall.

Here’s how it all comes to life.

It starts with research
Before anything gets drawn, I gather references. For stadiums, that’s angles, lighting, old photos, new ones, and plenty of Google Maps. For my more personal pieces—urban scenes, signage, architecture, or more abstract illustrations—I collect textures, colour palettes and key visual features that make something instantly recognisable but uniquely mine.

It’s not just about accuracy—it’s about capturing a feeling. That distinct lean of a stand, or how a tower block shadows the street at a certain time of day—those details matter.

The pencil does the groundwork
Every drawing begins in pencil. This is where I figure out layout, proportions and the overall feel. Whether it's a football ground or a quirky high street, I want it to feel right on the page before the pen touches it.

This part isn’t glamorous, but it’s essential—it sets the tone for everything that follows.

Ink makes it real
Once the foundations are down, I go in with fine liners. These bring clarity and definition, and they’re where the illustration really starts to come to life. I work in sections, focusing on individual lines and textures to give the piece depth and personality.

Then comes the colour
Most of my drawings are full colour. I use a combination of professional-grade markers and pens to layer shades, blend tones, and add energy to each piece. Whether it's the red brick of a famous stadium, the yellow curve of a street sign, or a full technicolour sky, colour plays a central role in my style.

I want the artwork to jump off the page—and your wall. Bold colour choices are part of what makes my prints stand out where necessary or more subtle watercolour style tones are used.

Final steps and print
After finishing the drawing, I scan the artwork in high resolution and clean it up digitally. Nothing gets changed or re-drawn—just small tweaks to ensure everything prints crisp and clean.

The final product is printed on premium fine art paper and made to last—just like the stories behind each piece.

At Art By Arjo, every line, every shadow, every colour is placed by hand. No shortcuts, no filters—just the joy of drawing, and the challenge of capturing something familiar in a way you haven’t quite seen before.

Explore the full collection of hand-drawn prints at ArtByArjo.com and bring a bit of football, culture, and colour to your wall.