Behind The Art: My Portrait Creation Process
Every portrait begins with precision. I use the grid technique to map your features, ensuring the final artwork feels honest and true to your original photograph.
Accuracy is key to a successful portrait. Here you can see my process, where I use the grid technique to meticulously map out the proportions from the reference photo. This foundational step ensures the final hand-drawn sketch is a true and honest likeness of the person.
This video provides a closer look at my shading technique for a graphite pencil portrait. Capturing a realistic likeness involves more than just lines; it requires careful attention to light and shadow to give the face dimension and character.
Creating a portrait is a patient process of building layers. In this video, you can see me using a blending stump to soften the graphite and create smooth skin tones for the portrait of Shree Bharathi Tirtha Mahaswamiji, ensuring a realistic and respectful final artwork.
About Behind the Art: My Process
When you commission a portrait, you aren't just getting a drawing. I use a strict grid technique to map every feature from your reference photo directly onto the page. This prevents distortion and ensures the final sketch captures your expression exactly as it is in the photo, rather than creating a generic approximation.
A drawing is only as good as the foundation. The grid technique is non-negotiable for my work because it allows me to scale images accurately while keeping the anatomical likeness intact. It is a slow, manual process that requires looking at the reference photo as a collection of shapes and lights rather than a face to be sketched.
For graphite and charcoal portraits, I use heavy 200 GSM archival cartridge paper. This creates a durable base that can handle the deep blacks and subtle grays I create with professional-grade pencils. Once the shading is finished, I apply a matte fixative spray to prevent smudging and preserve the contrast. If you are in Bengaluru, I provide a frame to protect your artwork immediately. For outstation orders, I pack the work in a rigid PVC tube to ensure it reaches you safely.
Whether you choose the classic look of graphite or the vibrant colors of wax-based pencils on 250 GSM mixed media paper, my focus remains the same: capturing the character of the subject. This work is about translating a moment from a digital screen onto paper, making sure the final piece has the same life as the original memory.
Similar work from other experts
Browse through Curated picks from other experts on mytribe
9
Behind the Scenes: My Pencil Sketching Process
7
Realistic Pencil Sketches: My Process from Photo to Art
35Behind the Scenes: How I Create Hand-Drawn Portraits
27The Artistic Process: How I Create Realistic Portraits
The Process: How I Create Handmade Portraits
How I Create Hyper-Realistic Pencil Sketches
Looking for a specific art style?
You can search for different portrait styles or custom art services.
More from Commissioned Art & Portraits by Megha Prashanth
More services by Megha Prashanth