Family and Group Portraits: Custom Handmade Sketches
Preserve your most precious family moments with realistic, hand-drawn sketches. Every piece is crafted with graphite and charcoal, capturing the bond between you and your loved ones.
The bond between a father and his child is special, and I aimed to capture that here in this A3 size graphite sketch. These kinds of portraits are about preserving a feeling, not just an image.
A beautiful family selfie turned into an A3 black and white portrait. I take care to position each person to create a cohesive and loving family portrait from any reference photo.
A family portrait commission on A3 paper. This piece took 16 hours, focusing on the interaction between the parents and their son to create a unified artwork.
A special commission of a son and his mother on A3 paper. It's an honor to create pieces that celebrate family bonds, and I focused on the traditional details of the mother's attire.
A portrait of a young child, with the reference photo included to show the accuracy. This A4 piece was done in 3 hours, focusing on the innocent expression.
An A4 graphite pencil sketch of a baby. Capturing the soft features and large eyes of an infant requires a delicate touch with shading.
A creative piece combining the original photo with my sketch. This shows how I can transform a colorful picture of a child into a timeless black and white drawing.
A full-body portrait of a baby, drawn with graphite pencils. I worked on the clothing folds and the cute expression to make this a realistic and cherished memory.
An A3 commission work showing a candid moment between two men. This type of drawing captures personality and relationships, going beyond a simple headshot.
About Family & Group Portraits
I don't just trace photos; I recreate the connection between people on paper. For family and group portraits, I spend hours layering graphite and charcoal to ensure that a specific smile or the way a child holds their parent's hand feels real. It takes patience to get the likeness right, but that is the only way to turn a simple photo into a drawing you will actually want to keep.
The Art of Preserving Memories
A photograph captures a second, but a handmade sketch captures a feeling. Whether it is a candid family selfie, a mother and son, or a multi-generational group, I focus on the details that make the image human. I avoid shortcuts, preferring to spend 14 to 16 hours on larger A3 pieces to get the skin texture, clothing folds, and expressions exactly right.
My Process
- Reference Sharing: You send me your best photo. I study it to understand the composition.
- Hand-Drawing: I use Faber-Castell 9000 graphite and charcoal on 200 GSM Brustro paper. No digital filters, just physical pencils.
- Digital Proofs: I share work-in-progress shots. I want you to see the sketch developing so we can adjust details if needed before I add the final fixative spray.
Practical Details
I handle commissions for families, couples, and groups of friends. While I am based in Mumbai, I ship all my work across India in weather-resistant, crush-proof mailing tubes to ensure they reach you safely. Please note that frames are not included, allowing you to choose a frame that matches your home decor.
Mahipal Puri
Main hoon Mahipal. For me, art is a way to escape and create something real. If you want a family portrait that doesn't look like a computer printout, I am ready to put in the hours to draw it for you.
Looking for a different art style?
Browse my other portrait categories and drawing styles to find exactly what you need.
More from Custom Portraits & Sketches by Mahipal Puri
More services by Mahipal Puri