From Start to Finish: Hand-Drawn Illustration Process
Ever wonder how a blank page becomes a portrait? Here is the raw, messy reality of my work in Bengaluru—no filters, just markers, ink, and a lot of focus. Ashtey.
This is my philosophy on creating. I prioritize the art itself over everything else, ensuring that what you get is authentic and comes from a place of pure creative energy.
Every project starts like this. I use an iPad for the reference photo and begin with a light pencil sketch on paper to map out the composition before committing to ink or markers.
Here you can see the alcohol marker coloring in progress. I'm layering the orange and yellow tones to build up the color of the turban, working directly in my sketchbook.
And here is the final result of that process. From a simple pencil sketch to a fully colored and detailed portrait, this is how a hand-drawn illustration comes together.
About From Start to Finish: The Process
When we start a piece, I always kick things off with a light pencil sketch while we chat about your ideas. It is not about getting every line perfect immediately, it is about capturing the vibe you want, whether it is a marker portrait or a pen sketch. By the time I start layering colours or cross-hatching, we both know exactly where the drawing is headed, and you are part of that flow.
I am not a 'content creator' who worries about studio lights and perfect camera angles. I am just an artist working out of my space in Bengaluru, and my process is as transparent as it gets. We start by discussing what you need—maybe a gift for a friend or a custom piece for your wall. Once we are on the same page, I map it out with a light pencil sketch. This is where the story begins.
For my alcohol marker portraits, I use Ohuhu markers on 150gsm paper. It is all about building layers, letting the colours pop, and dealing with the ink as it sits on the paper. There is no 'undo' button here. For the pen portraits, it is just me and a ballpoint pen, using intricate cross-hatching to find the shadows and texture.
Every piece is hand-drawn. If you want something that feels alive, honest, and comes from a sketchbook rather than a digital filter, this is how we do it. If you have a specific idea or a photo you want me to interpret, hit me up and we can start sketching.
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