The Process: How I Create Handmade Portraits
Every piece is a commitment. From the first pencil stroke to the final fixative spray, here is how I translate your photos into hand-drawn art.
This video shows the 48 hours of hard work that went into creating a hyper-realistic portrait. You can see the careful layering and shading required to bring out the deep textures and emotion in the subject's hands and face.
The final reveal of the hyper-realistic drawing of wrinkled hands. After hours of work, this is the result. It's all about patience and loving the process.
A time-lapse of a couple sketch from start to finish. This shows my process, from the initial outline to shading the hair, beard, and clothes to create a complete portrait.
This is the reality for many artists on social media. A simple video gets millions of views, while a piece that takes 48 hours of hard work gets a fraction of the attention. Dukh. Dard. Peeda.
This image shows a side-by-side of the finished sketch and the original photo it was based on. It helps you see how I translate a photograph into a handmade piece of art.
Here you can see the final sketch next to the reference photo for this child's portrait. It's an A4 sized pencil drawing where I aimed to capture the child's innocent expression.
A comparison of the reference photo and my final sketch for an A4 commission. This shows how I interpret a photo to create a stylized yet realistic pencil portrait.
Another example of a sketch and photo comparison. I enjoy showing how a part of the original photo can be transformed into a complete pencil sketch.
A side-by-side comparison showing the original reference photo and my finished A4 sketch. This is a great way to see the transformation from photo to art.
A comparison of the original photo and my watercolor sketch of a spiritual guru from Surajkund. This shows how I interpret a photo to create a colorful and respectful portrait.
About The Process: Behind the Art
I do not believe in digital shortcuts or quick fixes. When you commission a portrait, you get a handmade piece built on high-quality 200gsm acid-free paper using professional graphite, charcoal, or color pencils. It takes anywhere from 3 to 16 hours of continuous work to build the skin texture, fabric details, and lighting that define the final result. I send you a digital proof of the work before I ship it out, so you know exactly what is coming your way.
From Photo to Paper
My process is simple: you send me a clear, high-resolution photo, and I spend hours studying the features, lighting, and texture to recreate it by hand. I don't use filters or printing techniques.
Each sketch is built in layers. I start with the light outlines to set the proportions, then gradually build up the depth using Faber Castell pencils and charcoal. For couple portraits, I handle the composition merging digitally first to ensure the subjects look natural together before I put pencil to paper.
The Tools I Use
Quality matters because it ensures your portrait lasts.
- Paper: Brustro 200gsm acid-free paper, which holds graphite well without tearing or yellowing.
- Pencils: Faber Castell 9000 series for graphite work and Polychromos for color pieces.
- Finish: Every sketch is coated with a matte fixative spray to prevent charcoal smudging and preserve the details during shipping.
Why Hand-Drawn Matters
A custom portrait is a piece of art that freezes a moment in time. Whether it is an A4 pencil sketch of a child or an A3 premium color portrait of a couple, my goal is to capture the expression that a camera sometimes misses. I treat every commission with the same focus, whether it is for a casual gift or a long-term display piece for your home.
Similar work from other experts
Browse through Curated picks from other experts on mytribe
Behind the Scenes: How Your Custom Portrait is Made
16
From Photo to Portrait: My Sketching Process
44My Hand-Drawn Portrait Process: From Photo to Art
35Behind the Scenes: How I Create Hand-Drawn Portraits
27The Artistic Process: How I Create Realistic Portraits
How I Create Hyper-Realistic Pencil Sketches
More from Custom Paintings by Mahipal Puri
More services by Mahipal Puri