Usually, intricate paintings or portraits are made with paint brushes or drawing pencils. But have you ever thought of making a realistic portrait out of tiny nails found in a tool box? Well, Cairo-based artist Amal Salah, founder of Shuffle Designs, is efficient in creating incredible movie-inspired portraits using hundreds/thousands of nails.

Stippling nails on a canvas, Salah makes realistic illustrations of famous movie characters that need no introduction. From the Joker to the Godfather, this brilliant artist has made detailed illustrations that appear to be made out of actual drawing tools from a certain distance. But as you get closer, you’ll realize that these art pieces are the result of stippling technique.

In the method of stippling, the artist usually makes a pattern simulating varying degrees of solidity or shading by using small dots. Generally, these dots are usually made of ink, while Salah creates artworks with nails hammered on the canvas. Each nail must be carefully positioned in order to create such realistic gradients. Just imagine the amount of dedication that’s required to make such detailed illustrations with tiny nails.

Take a look at Salah’s fabulous artworks in the following images. Also, check out more art pieces made from nails on the Facebook page Shuffle Designs.

The Joker

Elkitkat

Fight Club

Vendetta Mask

The Godfather