--- title: "My Painting Process: Custom Oil & Watercolor Commissions" description: "Explore the artistic process behind my custom oil paintings and watercolor portraits. From concept to finished canvas, I create art with discipline and soul." canonical: https://mytribe.in/sanket_thorat_07/fine-art-commissioned-paintings/the-process-from-blank-canvas-to-final-piece last_updated: 2026-10-05 --- # My Painting Process: From Blank Canvas to Finished Work Tribe Verified · Trained at Sir J.J. School of Art By [Sanket Thorat](https://mytribe.in/sanket_thorat_07) · Ships across India · ₹18K per artwork (estimate) Part of [Fine Art & Commissioned Paintings](https://mytribe.in/sanket_thorat_07/fine-art-commissioned-paintings). [View full gallery](https://mytribe.in/sanket_thorat_07/fine-art-commissioned-paintings/gallery) I don't believe in magic; I believe in discipline. This is how I build a painting, from the first sketch to the final layer in my Mumbai studio. ## Photos and videos - [Video: In this artist talk, I discuss my process for creating a large 7x5 feet canvas, from the initial idea to the final execution.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/78019139-8cbe-4857-ace1-a9176df68cea) - [Video: A behind-the-scenes video of me working on a large mural-style painting, showing the model, the studio setup, and the painting in progress.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/5f6749d0-e70f-4831-8d6a-5ea25cb899e6) - ![Here I am in the studio at Sir J.J. School of Art, working on the large canvas for "Knitting her thoughts." You can see the scale of the piece.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/8d554487-5595-43ab-ad00-76b66b1fa9b0) - ![Painting outdoors in the campus of J.J. School of Art. I often find inspiration in my immediate surroundings.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/d3f14aed-2128-4c7a-911e-378b65cc99d9) - ![A shot of me working on the "Confused" painting, showing how I build the composition directly on the canvas.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/9de4424e-d267-4731-a7ba-f6ec28ac000d) - ![The studio setup for the large mural painting, showing the light coming in through the beautiful arched windows of the J.J. building.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/a47f742b-b61b-47f3-bbfd-89a3f69e7773) - [Video: A work-in-progress video of my painting "Contrast of life," showing the early stages of blocking in the figures.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/dcffce40-1066-4639-bcbc-f10febb4e33a) - ![An in-process shot of a monochrome oil painting, with the live model sitting in the background.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/34093998-7add-4203-860a-13a56ff7f9d7) - ![The empty studio space at J.J. School of Art, where my large painting "Knitting her thoughts" was created. The atmosphere of this place is a huge inspiration.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/4f6e4e40-413e-46c8-bba2-6cb2810c93a6) - ![A close-up of my oil paint palette next to a flower. The thick, buttery texture of the paint is part of the impasto technique I love to use.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/94c0c279-7fc7-4dd0-894d-b1984339f420) - [Video: A short video showing the process of painting a temple scene in watercolour, from the palette to the paper.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/5f77584f-4284-47c4-aabc-81bebc53c90d) - ![A black and white photo of the mural painting in progress, highlighting the composition and tonal structure.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/c627cf20-9de9-46a2-9113-6f92a701565f) - ![A candid shot of my paint-stained hands holding my palette. This is the reality of an artist's 'kaam' (work).](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/16cfddac-0d92-4e82-8f21-6bf6edcead24) - ![Sharing my sketchbook with fellow artist Tarun Chouhan at an exhibition. It's always great to connect and share the process.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/44a53359-898d-40df-96bd-5b6101413ffd) - ![Looking at and discussing artwork with other artists. The community and exchange of ideas are very important to me.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/67946e7b-b7fb-4d0a-b1f8-bdd6b5cf3a99) ## About The Process: From Blank Canvas to Final Piece You won't find a rigid, automated formula in my studio because I prefer to let the work evolve. Sometimes I start with a detailed pencil study, and other times I jump directly onto the canvas with oils to let the composition breathe. If you commission me, I document the layers as they grow, so you see the piece evolving rather than just receiving the final product. At the Sir J.J. School of Art, I learned that painting is physical labour. My process begins with intent but always leaves room for intuition. When I start a 7-foot canvas, I am not just applying paint; I am solving a spatial puzzle. I often use impasto—thick, textured applications of oil paint—to build depth that looks different under changing light. Whether it is a delicate watercolour of a temple or a complex oil portrait, my approach remains the same: accuracy first, emotion second. I use archival materials, like 300 GSM cotton paper for watercolours or museum-grade linen for large commissions, ensuring the work stands the test of time. Clients often ask why I do not use sketches for everything. It is because the adjustments made while painting directly are often where the soul of the work lives. If you commission a piece, we start with a consultation to define the vision, then I share regular updates from the studio. You are part of the journey, not just a buyer waiting for a result. This is about capturing a moment or a personality, not just filling a wall. ## About Sanket Thorat I am Sanket, a Mumbai-based artist trained at Sir J.J. School of Art. For me, painting is a daily practice of discovery, whether it is a portrait or a large conceptual mural. I just focus on the work, and the rest follows. [See all of Sanket Thorat's services](https://mytribe.in/sanket_thorat_07) ## More from Fine Art & Commissioned Paintings by Sanket Thorat - [Featured](https://mytribe.in/sanket_thorat_07/fine-art-commissioned-paintings/featured) - [Commissioned Portraits: Capturing Your Story](https://mytribe.in/sanket_thorat_07/fine-art-commissioned-paintings/commissioned-portraits-capturing-your-story) - [Large-Scale & Conceptual Canvases](https://mytribe.in/sanket_thorat_07/fine-art-commissioned-paintings/large-scale-conceptual-canvases) - [Landscapes: Places & Atmospheres](https://mytribe.in/sanket_thorat_07/fine-art-commissioned-paintings/landscapes-places-atmospheres) - [Academic Studies: The Foundation of My Craft](https://mytribe.in/sanket_thorat_07/fine-art-commissioned-paintings/academic-studies-the-foundation-of-my-craft) - [Sketchbook & Rapid Studies](https://mytribe.in/sanket_thorat_07/fine-art-commissioned-paintings/sketchbook-rapid-studies) - [Exhibitions, Awards & Community](https://mytribe.in/sanket_thorat_07/fine-art-commissioned-paintings/exhibitions-awards-community) ## More services by Sanket Thorat - [Live Painting & Art Demonstrations](https://mytribe.in/sanket_thorat_07/live-painting-art-demonstrations) ## Similar work from other experts - [Behind the Canvas: My Painting Process](https://mytribe.in/flourishartbypalak/custom-canvas-paintings/the-creative-process) by Flourish Art by Palak Mehta · Custom Canvas Paintings · Studio in Mumbai; Ships across India - [Behind the Brush: An Inside Look at My Creative Process](https://mytribe.in/fxz.01/custom-artwork-portraits/behind-the-brush-the-creative-process) by Mohammad Faizan · Custom Artwork & Portraits · Ships custom artwork across India - [Behind the Brush: How My Paintings Come to Life](https://mytribe.in/megvinart/original-fine-art-paintings/behind-the-brush-my-creative-process) by Megha Vinod · Original Fine Art Paintings · Ships across India & Bengaluru - [Behind the Scenes of My Art](https://mytribe.in/digitalartbyyashika/custom-artwork-commissions/my-creative-process) by Yashika Khattar · Custom Artwork Commissions · Available online - [Behind the scenes of my creative process](https://mytribe.in/themoodbox.in/mural-wall-art/the-creative-process) by The Mood Box · Mural & Wall Art · Travels across India for mural and wall art projects - [Behind the Scenes: My Artistic Process](https://mytribe.in/brushtler/commissioned-fine-art-paintings/behind-the-scenes-my-process) by Sanaya Irani · Commissioned Fine Art Paintings · Painted at studio in Mumbai; Ships across India ## Book To book Sanket Thorat, message mytribe on WhatsApp: [Chat on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/916360004054?text=Hi%20Sanket%2C%20I%20saw%20your%20process%20on%20mytribe%20and%20have%20an%20idea%20for%20a%20painting.%20Would%20love%20to%20discuss%20it%20with%20you.)