--- title: "Behind the Scenes: Custom Hand-Drawn Portraits by Karishma Delhi" description: "Watch the creative process behind my custom hand-drawn portraits. From charcoal sketches to vibrant color art, see how I bring your memories to life in Delhi." canonical: https://mytribe.in/art_of_karishma/custom-sketches-portraits/behind-the-scenes-the-creative-process last_updated: 2025-09-22 --- # Behind the Scenes: The Creative Process Tribe Verified · Custom artwork created in Delhi, shipped globally. By [Karishma Nain](https://mytribe.in/art_of_karishma) · Ships across India and internationally, made from my studio in Delhi · ₹3,000 per sketch (estimate) Part of [Custom Sketches & Portraits](https://mytribe.in/art_of_karishma/custom-sketches-portraits). [View full gallery](https://mytribe.in/art_of_karishma/custom-sketches-portraits/gallery) Art is a journey of patience. Step into my studio to see how sketches transform from simple pencil lines into detailed, soulful portraits. ## Photos and videos - [Video: Watch as a blank page transforms into a detailed portrait. This video shows the hours of careful shading and detail work that go into a single charcoal sketch, from the first lines to the final, lifelike result.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/dab43f57-137f-44a3-b5e2-d5ca10e04f52) - [Video: A process video showing the painting of Krishna's eyes. You can see the fine brushwork required to bring them to life.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/0f5657ed-b846-4cea-b137-97024d6c5707) - ![A mini tutorial on how I create skin tones with colored pencils. This series of images breaks down my layering process, starting with shadows and building up to the final blended tone.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/8641808e-014f-45f1-ad10-dfce1ba742e6) - ![The family sketch in progress. Here you can see one of the babies fully rendered while the other is still in the outline stage, showing how the image is built up layer by layer.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/e73a4af0-16be-4634-912a-746c8ebbc16c) - ![The Hania Amir sketch in progress. I started with the eyes, as they are the most expressive part of the face, before building out the rest of the portrait.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/6b9eab63-b96f-46de-91a2-451a3275345a) - ![A detailed study of eyes, sketched in 3 hours on Fabriano paper. Practicing individual features helps me perfect my technique for larger portraits.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/ee06ac74-4abe-4dc0-8bd2-9fc2e9d5989e) - [Video: This video shows my personal transformation alongside my artistic one. It's a reminder that taking things seriously and dedicating yourself to your passion can lead to incredible growth.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/64381994-5141-40b8-b4da-9e49c6398300) - [Video: Parties are nice, but this is my peaceful place. A short video showing that my true happiness comes from sitting down with my pencils and creating art.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/722a71aa-0703-4352-a3df-050198b801a8) - ![The very first step: the initial pencil outline for the family portrait. This is the foundation upon which all the shading and details are carefully added.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/f0785ac3-641e-49aa-a73f-b58fbb2bb079) - ![The delicate outline of the maternity portrait. Every piece begins with a careful, light sketch to ensure the composition and proportions are perfect before any shading begins.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/ec81fda0-41da-4a48-860e-0578a57bde8c) - ![An imaginary A5 sketch where I combined two different eye references into one drawing. It's a fun exercise in creativity and technical skill.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/c506b1a5-72ac-4d66-afb8-17236656c731) - ![Another progress shot of the Hania Amir portrait, with more of the face shaded and taking shape.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/340eac1d-6e87-4fca-9bad-52d2233cdc25) - ![The initial outline for the Hania Amir portrait. You can see the basic structure and composition before any of the detailed shading work begins.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/eb0d868d-16b4-406b-894a-2a00beff61a4) - ![A quick, expressive sketch of an eye with a red tear. Sometimes I create these small pieces to explore an emotion or an idea.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/143d81d8-19d7-4f9e-bf38-a9d0f17d3fdf) - ![Part of my skin tone tutorial. After adding shadows and blush tones, I slowly merge the colors with a light yellow pencil to create a warm, natural look.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/8a39bf3a-25d5-44b2-8470-3c0dca0fa9cb) - ![The final step in my skin tone tutorial. I mix everything well with peach and crème colored pencils to get that smooth, realistic finish.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/5eb0a71b-ab28-4be5-ba14-ec0fac423d1c) - ![The first step in my tutorial for creating skin tones. I always start with brown to map out the shadows and create depth.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/dddd1554-b469-469f-821f-8f99ed56f1ce) - ![The next step in the tutorial is to lightly add pinkish and greyish shades for the blush and cooler tones of the skin.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/9219e536-0901-45f5-97b7-5bfecf03d328) - ![Another angle of the eye sketch, showing the detail in the iris and the softness of the surrounding skin.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/b152366a-9406-4d50-8fb2-dded0234c7d9) - ![A close up view of the eye sketch, highlighting the individual lashes and the subtle reflections.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/0fb1f9cb-fb64-4191-ab3b-cd17048cd534) - ![The family portrait sketch after many hours of work. Here you can see the man's face is fully rendered, while the rest of the scene is still in outline form.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/fab5fdc9-86ed-4faa-a147-1c8c06488355) - ![My self portrait in progress. This stage shows the face mostly complete, with the hair and hand still as outlines, giving a peek into my working method.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/96e31d18-1b74-414d-98d1-bae0b5a89260) ## About Behind the Scenes: The Creative Process Every portrait begins as a delicate outline, but the real work lies in the layering. Whether I am sketching eyes in charcoal or building up skin tones with Prismacolor pencils, I share work-in-progress updates with you at each stage. This ensures the final piece is not just a drawing, but a reflection of the specific emotions and details you wanted to preserve. My creative process is built on patience and the right materials. For charcoal portraits, I rely on premium Ivory or Fabriano paper, letting the shadows and light define the depth of the image. When working with Prismacolor pencils for full-color pieces, I use archival-quality Strathmore Bristol paper and a burnishing technique to ensure rich, painterly tones without any paper grain. I believe that art is a form of devotion. When you commission a piece, I often combine elements from multiple photographs to create a composition that feels complete. Whether it is adding a loved one who could not be at an event or bringing together a family that lives apart, I see it as my responsibility to make that vision real. The eyes are always the focus, as they hold the most truth. I dedicate hours to getting the reflections and depth right before I move to the rest of the facial features. After the final shading, I use a professional fixative spray to protect the charcoal work from smudging, ensuring your portrait lasts for years. If you want to see your own memories turned into art, feel free to reach out. ## About Karishma Nain I am Karishma, a Delhi-based artist. When I sit with my pencils and paper, the outside world fades away, and I pour my heart into capturing your stories. Every line I draw is a piece of my own peace, shared with you. [See all of Karishma Nain's services](https://mytribe.in/art_of_karishma) ## More from Custom Sketches & Portraits by Karishma Nain - [Featured](https://mytribe.in/art_of_karishma/custom-sketches-portraits/featured) - [Vibrant Color Portraits](https://mytribe.in/art_of_karishma/custom-sketches-portraits/vibrant-color-portraits) - [Classic Charcoal Sketches](https://mytribe.in/art_of_karishma/custom-sketches-portraits/classic-charcoal-sketches) - [Family & Couple Keepsakes](https://mytribe.in/art_of_karishma/custom-sketches-portraits/family-couple-keepsakes) - [Beloved Pet Portraits](https://mytribe.in/art_of_karishma/custom-sketches-portraits/beloved-pet-portraits) - [Spiritual & Devotional Art](https://mytribe.in/art_of_karishma/custom-sketches-portraits/spiritual-devotional-art) - [From Photo to Masterpiece](https://mytribe.in/art_of_karishma/custom-sketches-portraits/from-photo-to-masterpiece) - [Meet the Artist](https://mytribe.in/art_of_karishma/custom-sketches-portraits/meet-the-artist) ## More services by Karishma Nain - [Custom Paintings & Live Wedding Painting](https://mytribe.in/art_of_karishma/custom-paintings) ## Similar work from other experts - [Behind The Art: My Sketching Process](https://mytribe.in/sketch_e_art/custom-hand-drawn-portraits/the-artist-s-process) by Harsh Kumar · Custom Hand-Drawn Portraits · Ships across India; Visit studio in Nangloi, New Delhi - [Behind the Scenes: How Your Custom Portrait is Made](https://mytribe.in/artist_sidd_/custom-portrait-drawings/the-process-how-your-art-is-made) by Sidd · Custom Portrait Drawings · Ships across India - [Behind the Scenes: My Custom Art Process](https://mytribe.in/arituistic/custom-realistic-drawings-illustrations/behind-the-scenes-my-artistic-process) by Ritika · Custom Realistic Drawings & Illustrations · Ships artwork across India - [How I Create Hyper-Realistic Pencil Sketches](https://mytribe.in/sketches_vintage/hand-drawn-realistic-portraits/behind-the-pencil-the-drawing-process) by Sagar Viradiya · Hand-Drawn Realistic Portraits · Ships artwork across India - [The Creative Journey: From Canvas to Keepsake](https://mytribe.in/painterspallete/custom-portrait-art/the-creative-process-from-canvas-to-keepsake) by Ishika Vishwakarma · Custom Portrait Art · Ships across India - [My Process and Practice](https://mytribe.in/perfect__arts/custom-artwork-illustrations/my-process-practice) by Vishal · Custom Artwork & Illustrations · Ships across India ## Book To book Karishma Nain, message mytribe on WhatsApp: [Chat on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/916360004054?text=Hi%20Karishma%2C%20I%20saw%20your%20creative%20process%20gallery%20and%20would%20love%20to%20commission%20a%20custom%20portrait.%20Can%20we%20discuss%3F)