I’m sure most of us heard of these memorable saying that goes like "A good sketch is better than a long speech" or "A picture is worth a thousand words". Sometimes, even the most complicated issue and matter can be simplified and expressed over a single image. That’s just how incredible images are; but today I want to show you something different, a hybrid of both.

Here’s a showcase of a very unique approach to portrait illustrations. These images below are mixtures of both images and typography, where the latter is used to shape the portraits while the words within have messages to deliver. It is just amazing how manipulation of font types, sizes and keywords can form a great portrait artwork with inner meaning. Full list after jump.

Burdened Barrack Obama | Dylanroscover

Self Portrait | Saluum

Mother Teresa | Dencii

Mahatma Gandhi | Dencii

John Lennon | Dencii

Martin Luther King, Jr | Dencii

Self Portrait | Stacy Benson

Self Portrait | Stacey Grove

"Screaming" | Goblina

Self Portrait | Vic198x

Self Portrait | Le0arts

Mos Def a.k.a Dante Terrell Smith-Bey | DilsJ

Lady Gaga | Skye Shettle

Scott Weiland | CaliburlessSoul

Erik Spiekermann | Steve Butabi

Nelly Furtado | Steve Butabi

Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails | Maxdoming

Bono of U2 | CaliburlessSoul

Self Portrait | Laemmen

Self Portrait | Hworangi107

Self Portrait | Fostic-Popcorn

Self Portrait | EclecticPhoenix

E.B. Portrait | Akeiron

Morgan Freeman | Straye-Close

Marilyn Manson | CaliburlessSoul

Thom Yorke | tbwachiat

Lil Wayne | tbwachiat

humans | Miss–Dee

More:

• Create your own Typography Portrait with Photoshop
• Typographic Portrait like Grammy’s Posters