Stephen Malkoff uses his God-given talent and a #2 pencil to create works of art that can best be described with one word, “Wow!”

“Dust matters,” Malkoff said, with a smile and a knowing nod. “It’s where I place the graphite dust from the pencil that matters. It’s the softness of the lead. It’s how hard I press the pencil and the angle of the lead. The dust comes off in a million shapes and sizes and it’s where I place the dust that matters.”

Malkoff has been “placing dust” from #2 pencils since he took a leap of faith in 1990 and stopped selling vacuum cleaners and took the road less traveled – that of a professional artist.

Today, Malkoff is a nationally-known pencil artist who has been featured in such noted publications as “Southern Living,” “Country Living” and “Guidepost.” He first gained recognition for his pencil drawings of the nation’s historic trees and now is “dusting” for universities around the Southeast.

He has created works of art for Alabama, Auburn, FSU, Florida and most recently, “The Trojan Warrior” for Troy University.

On Saturday, Malkoff and his family will present the first print of “The Trojan Warrior” to Troy University Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr. of the field of the Troy University/Georgia Southern football game.

“My artwork is about the university and its image,” Malkoff said. “It’s not just about football. It’s about the image of the whole university.”

From the inception of his drawing for Troy University, Malkoff said his desire was to create “a proud warrior.”

“I never thought about a battling warrior,” he said. “I envisioned a proud warrior, a wise warrior – a Troy Trojan warrior.”

Malkoff said he studied the Trojan warrior on the Bibb Graves Quad as inspiration for his pencil drawing.

“I took a 14-foot ladder to the quad and climbed to the top to take photographs of the statue,” he said and added laughing, “The ladder was my tripod.”

A portion of the sales from Malkoff’s “Trojan Warrior” prints will benefit the Troy University Alumni Association.

“When I talked with Faith Ward, director of Troy University Alumni Affairs, she was excited about the idea,” Malkoff said. “My family and I are honored to have the opportunity to present the first print of “The Trojan Warrior” to Dr. Jack Hawkins at Saturday’s game.”

“The Trojan Warrior” limited edition prints will be on sale at the Troy University Alumni House and also online at malkoffgallery.com. The prints are $125 and framed they are $275.

The Trojan Warrior prints are also available at Malkoff’s studio on Main Street in Enterprise along with the limited edition prints from other universities.