This Stunning Jesus Portrait Is Made From 24,790 Thumb Tacks (Really!)
- Posted on February 24, 2012 at 10:07am by
Billy Hallowell
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Thumb tacks typically assist people in hanging papers on cork boards or walls. But one artist has taken this basic home and office tool and used it in a unique way — to create a portrait of Jesus Christ. Red, black, white, yellow, green, blue, magenta and purple pushpins were strategically merged together to create a stunning picture.
Artist Rob Surette (Image Credit: AmazingHeroArt.com)
The Huffington Post has more about how the project took form:
Up close, this work of art may seem like an ambiguous blob, but take a step back and you might just have a divine vision.
Self-described “artistic superstar” Rob Surette used 24,790 colored thumbtacks to create his pushpin portrait of Jesus.
Here’s the portrait:
Image Credit: OddityCentral.com
The project took six months to complete, with Surette working on it one hour per day, seven days per week. After all, the massive portrait is quite large at 22-square feet (5.5 feet by 4 feet).
Image Credit: OddityCentral.com
Oddity Central continues, describing what drove Surette’s decision to create the intriguing portrait:
Rob Surette has been fascinated by pointillism ever since he discovered the art of Georges Seurat, who invented the dot painting technique during the late 1800s. He became a master of it himself and now creates incredible works of art that always has viewers asking how he achieves such elaborate visual illusions…
Before starting work on this portrait, Surette set a record for the world’s largest Lite Brite creation(513,000 pieces), and wondering what other objects he could use to create a portrait out of dots, he settled on push pins.
Image Credit: OddityCentral.com
The Jesus portrait is currently valued at $250,000.
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Comments (88)
michael from Ga.
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 1:40pmMankind was let off the hook for a “death sentence” that entered via the man Adam [8th. day formation]. The “death sentence” was satisfied in accordance to the law-the law that said “If You touch[become intimate], you will surely die. All blood Ord. and Statutes were nailed to the Cross with Christ Jesus. Any leader that states that We are no longer under the Law, without explaination, is out of control, or perhaps is a Progressive leader who moved past Christ.
Report Post »rt elms
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 12:42pm…he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. (Isaiah 53:2b)
I don’t think Jesus was that pretty, but who can say what the 1st century definition of pretty was?
Report Post »SquidVetOhio
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 12:48pmIsaiah 53. Probably the most beautiful chapter in the Bible. To think it was written centuries before Jesus was born proves the validity of the Bible.
Report Post »irmatvep
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 6:33pmPsalm 44/45:3,5
Thou art beautiful above the sons of men: grace is poured abroad in thy lips; therefore hath God blessed thee for ever.
With thy comeliness and thy beauty set out, proceed prosperously, and reign.
Isaiah 53:2
And he shall grow up as a tender plant before him, and as a root out of a thirsty ground: there is no beauty in him, nor comeliness: and we have seen him, and there was no sightliness, that we should be desirous of him:
Some assert that the person of Christ was not beautiful, while others think that his wounds prevented it from being discerned. Salmeron would supply a negation from the first number: “We have not desired him.”
St. John Chrysostom—– He was most excellent in all sorts of gifts. St. Augustine had trouble reconciling the two descriptions of Christ. I can be argued that physical perfection or beauty is indeed a gift from God. I personally believe that since Christ being the God/Man was perfect in all his attributes including physical perfection. Jesus was the most handsome male who ever walked the earth.
Report Post »hugecatfish
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 12:38pmValued at $250,000!!! Really? I’ll talk to you guys later. I’m going to Office Depot!
Report Post »rangerp
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 12:43pmIt is not a portrait of Jesus. This is a recreation, of a picture that an artist painted hundreds of years after the resurection of Jesus. If you want to see a picture of Jesus, read the Gospels.
Report Post »9111315
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 12:44pmThey don’t have the proper blue pins — but Staples does.
Report Post »givemelibertyorgivemedeath
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 2:15pmHugecatfish: that is funny!
Report Post »RabidPatriot
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 6:41pmLooks like Eliza Dushku with a beard but whatever floats your boat.
Report Post »Snidely
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 8:21pmI think it looks like Lt Dan.
Report Post »Gumbercules
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 6:14amYou guys are missing the point. He tooked hundreds of hours to create this masterpiece so in the end he could show of his bulging muscles.
Report Post »majasdad
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 12:36pmWhat a silly gimmick. People will do anything to get attention.
He was basically just painting by numbers. Now if he had done that live in front of a model, then I’d have been impressed.
Report Post »MooseyStuff
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 1:04pm“Silly Gimmick”? Maybe if he took a dump on it afterwards and smeared his fecal matter all around the picture, that might be considered a “Silly Gimmick” attention grabber. I hardly believe this is nothing more than a “silly gimmick”, it ceases to amaze me the level of ignorance people have towards the accomplishments of others. If you have such a negative opinion toward what this guy has done, I challenge you to do one twice the size, and much better. For I would bet my life savings that you would lose patience after 20 push pins. What a complete @SSHOLE you are.
Report Post »majasdad
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 4:19pm@MOOSEYSTUFF
Wow, my comment really got your goat didn’t it?
Sorry man, but silly gimmick was the most diplomatic term I could come up with, so I actually think I was being quite nice.
The only original thing about the piece is that he was fool enough to spend days on end pressing in those tacks …stupid…but original (unless he paid someone to press in the tacks for him).
The motif itself is a well-known mass-produced Christ portrait. One would think the ”tack artist” would put some effort in creating a pre-sketch of his own instead of ripping off someone else’s.
It sounds like the way you judge the quality of the work is based solely on the number of tack he used and the choice of motif, and as though it somehow reflects his devotion to Christ and therefore automatically makes him a good artist.
Sorry dude, but being a good artist takes a little more effort than 25000 thumb tacks, and the fact that you don’t understand that is your loss not mine. But hey, to each is own, as they say, so feel free and buy the thing. I‘m sure it’ll look great next to your moose head.
PS: and who, one wonders, has currently valued the piece at $ 250,000? I noticed the article didn’t list its source.
Report Post »christos
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 12:19pm…Outstanding — looks like +JESUS+GOD+ you must know what +JESUS+GOD+ looks like,,,maybe you are Angel or a Disciple just guessing…
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 12:45pmIt’s just an artist rendering /concept. Nothing to get upset about.
Report Post »Now if it had been mu ham d he would have to have his head chopped off by the “religion” of “peace” (actually islam translates “submit”).
schroeder123
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 12:05pmHey. That’s not Jesus.. It’s that guy on the off ramp with the card board sign.
Report Post »AmbroseTurdside
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 2:05pmYou mean Jesus didnt look like the Home Depot stock car racer? I thought he wore wife beaters, like the 12 deciples, while cleaning their rifles.
Report Post »piper60
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 11:41amI wonder how much he invested in the push pins? Great return on his investment.
Report Post »raspberrytea
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 11:41amCool.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 11:38amyou can’t buy that kind of talent from some obamacommunist program. it comes from GOD.
Report Post »MooseyStuff
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 1:06pmNo I don’t think we will give you a break MAJASDAD you human paraquat.
Report Post »IMCHRISTIAN
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 11:20amGod knows what is in our heart (good or evil) in whatever we do. By the look of his finsihed goal I believe him to be a man with feeling.
Report Post »Wakeup Maggie
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 4:39pmVery cool
Report Post »NewLife56
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 11:05amSquidVetOhio Said:
Oh no, you got me. I believe I just quoted the SECOND COMMANDMENT. That’s where is says not to make graven images. Just because you call it a “depiction” doesn’t change what it is.
We are no longer under the old law, but the new one, we have been saved by Grace, Christ dies for our sins.
Report Post »SquidVetOhio
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 11:23amI’ll reply with this
“Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. ”
Roman 3:31 (New Testament)
Report Post »SquidVetOhio
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 11:35amI know what you are saying though. But surely you’re not saying that I can steal, murder or covet my neighbor’s cattle are you? Because he has a nice cow. :)
Report Post »RamonPreston
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 11:47amThe ceremonial laws are done away with (they pointed to Christ); not the ten commandments.They still exist. 1 John 3:4
Report Post »RamonPreston
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 11:55amOnly the ceremonial laws pointing to Christ were done away with. The Ten Commandents still exist or we would not have sin. I John 3:4
Report Post »Just_Us
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 12:10pmI would be surprise to see a scripture from the new testament that says we are still under the ten commandments. The old law punished actions. The new law punishes thoughts. The sermon on the mount restates most of the commandments and takes them further.
Gal 3:10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” 12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
Report Post »SquidVetOhio
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 12:39pmAgree with me or not, look how many people are talking about the Bible! That’s gotta be a good thing. Thank you thumb tack man!
Report Post »SquidVetOhio
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 12:47pm@RAMONPRESTON
You are right on. The OT laws was meant to reveal man’s sin to himself and his inability to keep the law thus, his need for a saviour. Christ brought the era of grace and the Holy Spirit that freed us from sacrifices and ceremony. The point He made when the pharisees wanted to stone Him picking corn during the sabbath. Christ Himself replaced the sabbath and the law. But sin is still sin.
Report Post »LimaBean
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 10:57amlooks like pointillism. cool.
Report Post »nappy
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 10:53ampathetic. That’s just bad art. I don’t care who the subject is.. Any child could have done that.
Report Post »LouC57
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 11:08amNappy darlin’, you’re nuts! “any child could do it”. Doubtful. Very doubtful.
Of course art is entirely subjective. One persons “bad art” is another persons 2,000,000 painting.
Report Post »MittensKittens
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 11:15amI bet they call you Nappy for a reason…I bet YOU couldn’t have done this.
Report Post »G-WHIZ
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 11:59amto: NAPPY: 3yr-old children can learn the violin…but which one designed and built a Stratavarious?
Report Post »majasdad
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 12:46pmYou’re right Nappy. He’s just “painting by numbers” so to speak. Scan a Jesus portarit that soemone else has painted. Make a low resolution pixeled image in photoshop, and just put a tack where the corresponding pixel is. Couldn’t be easier. What a total phoney. Trust the Blaze fans to be impressed.
Report Post »nappy
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 7:16pmActually.. this is HARDLY a Strat.. more like a LEGO version of art. So bad it hurts to look at it. Yes.. I could do that.. it is simple, easy .. lazy ‘art’. To be appreciated by talentless, lazy people.
Report Post »AB5r
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 10:45amDoes he cheat, using a computer to generate the pixelated image then just put the pins together like a paint by numbers?
Report Post »majasdad
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 12:47pmYup.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 10:34am.
Report Post »It’s Cool, but I don’t think Jesus is that happy with us about right now……
bankerpapaw
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 10:33amNeat!!
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 7:42amBANKERPAPAW, I agree. At least it wasn’t tackie……………or was it? Regardless I think it looks great.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 10:26amPretty talented and a lot of tacks.
Squid, were in the Bible does it say we can’t make portraits of Jesus and two it is called a depiction. He based it on other portraits. Apparently, you lived underwater too long, it has made your brain mush.
Report Post »SquidVetOhio
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 10:49amOh no, you got me. I believe I just quoted the SECOND COMMANDMENT. That’s where is says not to make graven images. Just because you call it a “depiction” doesn’t change what it is. I guess Aaron should have told Moses, “Hey it’s a depiction of a golden calf based off of previous portraits of golden calfs. It’s not really an idol.” Yea, I’ve got the mushy brain.
All of that said, I’m not offended by it and the guy is seriously talented. I was just making a broader point about how people have an image in their mind of what Jesus looks like and NO ONE knows and according to the commandments, we probably aren’t suppose to be making images of Him. That is, if you believe He is God. I don’t think the artist was trying to be, or is disrespectful.
As for a point earlier made by another person, according to the Bible, Jesus probably did not smile a whole lot. He was called “A man of sorrows” for a reason. His was heartbroken over the sinfulness of His creation.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” – Matthew 23:37
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 10:59amI think as long as nobody is worshiping the tacks, it’s all OK Squid. Now if some weird cult pops up and forms a new religion based on tack worship…let ‘em have it.
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 11:02amThe graven image / idol worshiped in Mecca is what the Second Commandment warns against.
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 11:05amSquidVetOhio – a graven image is an idol. Jesus is not an idol. He meant that for golden calfs, etc.
Report Post »SquidVetOhio
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 11:15am@GONZO
I agree. Idolotry is worshipping an idol. My comments where partly tounge in cheek, as is most of my comments. I find it fascinating how when see an image of Christ (or His mother for that matter), be it in a painting or a potato chip, we identify it a Jesus (or Mary) when none of us have seen Him or even a good description of Him. I obviously do it too. It goes to show the power of an image.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 11:27amOh Ok Squid, I missed your humor, sorry.
Report Post »SquidVetOhio
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 11:30am@NHWINTER
SquidVetOhio – a graven image is an idol. Jesus is not an idol. He meant that for golden calfs, etc.
That shalt not make unto ME any graven image.
If you know jewish culture, they don’t even write the word God (they use G-d) because His name is too holy to be written. It’s under the same principle. Jesus said God is to be worshipped in Spirit and Truth. Pagans worship at idols. He was clearly talking about Himself. THe possesive pro-noun is ME.
The golden calf would have been covered under.
Report Post »“Thou shalt not have any other gods before Me.”
SquidVetOhio
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 12:37pm@NHWINTER
I’m sorry, it’s “make unto thee” no ME. I misquoted. My point is still the same but I have enough sins to answer for without misquoting the Bible.
Report Post »BassChick
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 10:20amGlad he made Jesus look happy at least….most of the portraits of Jesus have him looking pathetic.
Report Post »AB5r
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 10:44amWarner Sallman’s “Head of Christ“ is excellent.
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 10:19amOn a somewhat related note, “The Brick Testament” website illustrates the entire Bible using Legos. It is pretty cool.
Report Post »SquidVetOhio
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 10:17amI hate to be the party pooper and I admire this guys talent BUT…
1. How does ANYONE know what the Lord Jesus looks like?
2. Thou shalt not make unto ME any graven image.
Just sayin…..
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 11:07amPlease do research on what graven images really are or read the posts above!
Report Post »SquidVetOhio
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 12:33pmOne more time, I’m not offended by any of this. Actually, I don’t believe christians should ever let themselves get offended. But, as a matter of theology,
Exodus 20: 4-5
4Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
5Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Report Post »Locked
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 10:17amSeems a bit tacky!
Report Post »SquidVetOhio
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 10:58amNice. Love the wit.
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 10:16amAs an artist myself, this is “AWESOME!”
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 10:15amPretty cool.
Report Post »TEARS FOR AMERICA
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 10:11amToo absolutely cool!
Report Post »Zcat
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 10:09amLove it!
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