Behind the Scenes: How Your Custom Portrait is Made
Ever wonder what goes into a hand-drawn portrait? From the first sketch to the final layer, here is a look behind the scenes of how I bring your memories to life in my studio.
Sometimes after hours of work, you need a moment to rest before looking at the artwork with fresh eyes. This is a real part of my process.
Part 1 of a couple's colour sketch for a client in TamilNadu. Here I am starting with the face, carefully laying down the base skin tones with Brustro colour pencils.
The beginning of my Ram Mandir drawing. Starting a big piece like this on a fresh sheet of A2 paper is always exciting.
This was a challenging commission to join 8 people into one family portrait. Here you can see me starting the colour work after laying out the initial sketch.
A time-lapse of a black and white couple portrait. You can see how I build up the shading layer by layer to create depth and realism.
Part 1 of a father and son custom colour sketch. I'm using a special skin tone set of Brustro pencils to get the colours just right.
Part 2 of drawing Shree Ram Lalla. I am trying to make it as detailed as possible, and here you can see me working on the intricate ornaments.
Part 1 of a portrait of a mother and her cute son. I always start with the faces to capture the expressions early in the process.
A time-lapse of a black and white commission work for a client from West Bengal. My phone is set up to record the entire process.
Part 1 of the hyper-realistic pencil sketch of the elderly couple from Kerala. This A2 size work required a lot of patience and attention to detail.
About The Process: How Your Art is Made
Each portrait takes hours of patience, often 15 to 50 plus hours depending on the size and detail. I do not just sketch. I build the image layer by layer, starting with the faces to capture expressions early. Every piece gets a protective fixative spray before it ever leaves my studio, ensuring your artwork stays safe and smudge-free for years to come.
Creating art is more than just drawing, bhai. It is a process that requires focus and the right materials. Here is how I work on your commission.
The Start: Digital Preview
Before I touch the paper, we discuss your needs. If you want a family portrait but only have separate photos, I create a digital composition first. This helps us see how everyone fits together before I start the drawing. Once we are happy with the layout, I begin.
Layering and Detailing
Whether it is a graphite sketch or a hyper-realistic colour pencil piece, I use high-quality Brustro paper and pencils like Kohinoor or Brustro skin-tone sets. For colour portraits, I focus heavily on blending pigments to hide the paper grain. I build the skin tones, jewelry, and clothing details gradually. If it is a graphite portrait, I work on deep shadows and contrasts to give it that timeless look.
Quality Check and Protection
I never rush a piece. Once the detailing is done, I apply a protective fixative spray. This is crucial because it stops the graphite or colour pencil from smudging. Finally, I wrap the artwork in butter paper and secure it in a hard PVC tube or cylinder, ensuring it reaches your home in perfect condition. Whether you are in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, or anywhere in India, I make sure the art is safe until it is in your hands.
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