--- title: "My Watercolor Process: See How I Create Custom Paintings" description: "Explore my creative process, from initial sketches to finished watercolor masterpieces. Get a custom hand-painted portrait or landscape on 300 GSM paper." canonical: https://mytribe.in/shnkyart/custom-artwork/from-blank-page-to-masterpiece last_updated: 2025-10-01 --- # From Blank Page to Masterpiece: My Creative Process Tribe Verified · Hand-painted on 300 GSM archival paper By [Shashank Shukla](https://mytribe.in/shnkyart) · Ships across India · ₹3,500 Per Artwork (A3 Size, Single Face) (estimate) Part of [Custom Artwork](https://mytribe.in/shnkyart/custom-artwork). [View full gallery](https://mytribe.in/shnkyart/custom-artwork/gallery) Every artwork begins as a simple sketch. Watch my process from the first pen stroke to the final layer of watercolor to see how I build a painting. ## Photos and videos - [Video: This video shows the creation of a watercolor illustration of a market scene. I start with a quick pen sketch to establish the composition and then add layers of watercolor to bring it to life.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/e0232c6a-2cb1-4aa5-8b44-8ee33e02c936) - [Video: Watch me paint a boat on the water using watercolors. This demonstration shows how I build up the texture of the water and the weathered details of the boat layer by layer.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/bc0ffcfe-70ed-4f44-884c-29086061b1ed) - [Video: A process video of a watercolor landscape featuring a riverside dwelling. This piece demonstrates how I paint reflections in the water and create lush, green foliage.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/b7ed38eb-365b-41ae-8255-e48a262e7fa2) - [Video: Capturing the reflection of a boat in watercolor requires careful control of the paint and water. This video shows my technique for creating a realistic water surface and reflection.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/51913713-5c0c-41df-8152-be883128817a) - [Video: A quick tutorial on painting watercolor figures. This video shows how to simplify the human form into basic shapes and use color to suggest light and shadow.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/10b1c638-c5c2-4797-8639-e65e761a707c) - [Video: This video captures the process of creating a small watercolor sketch of an artist at his easel. It's a quick study in capturing posture and form with minimal detail.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/a1e9bb38-cd47-4701-9622-39dd43a44a57) - [Video: A simple watercolor sketch showing figures on the street. This is a great exercise for practicing composition and learning to paint people in motion.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/9cde9150-be07-43bf-97f5-e91be2945221) - [Video: Here are a few short videos demonstrating how I paint different types of trees in watercolor. Mastering foliage is a key skill for any landscape artist.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/adc7aca5-dfbe-44b5-9c67-93200529c7f9) - [Video: Here are a few short videos demonstrating how I paint different types of trees in watercolor. Mastering foliage is a key skill for any landscape artist.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/1c156ff7-669e-40d3-a552-671c023798c0) - [Video: Here are a few short videos demonstrating how I paint different types of trees in watercolor. Mastering foliage is a key skill for any landscape artist.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/21a8a8e3-b476-40eb-89b5-1e3e55bb177f) - [Video: Here are a few short videos demonstrating how I paint different types of trees in watercolor. Mastering foliage is a key skill for any landscape artist.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/976f4081-db47-4122-9276-ce04dd37e376) - [Video: Here are a few short videos demonstrating how I paint different types of trees in watercolor. Mastering foliage is a key skill for any landscape artist.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/3b989c3c-f046-4d03-89fc-58a7b4080a53) - [Video: Painting clouds in watercolor can be challenging, but it's also very rewarding. These videos show my techniques for creating soft, atmospheric skies and dramatic, stormy clouds.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/af0579e4-6a07-419c-910d-b3063c1e3116) - [Video: Painting clouds in watercolor can be challenging, but it's also very rewarding. These videos show my techniques for creating soft, atmospheric skies and dramatic, stormy clouds.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/d6e442e0-4866-4e91-830f-8330e4cddf35) - [Video: A collection of my watercolor process videos. Each one offers a glimpse into how I approach different subjects, from landscapes and cityscapes to still life and figures.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/29b7af8c-355c-4432-95be-bdf73ba5593c) - [Video: A collection of my watercolor process videos. Each one offers a glimpse into how I approach different subjects, from landscapes and cityscapes to still life and figures.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/2dd1d5d8-3070-402a-a78d-55f28e50cbb1) - [Video: A collection of my watercolor process videos. Each one offers a glimpse into how I approach different subjects, from landscapes and cityscapes to still life and figures.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/599a662a-0970-4069-8c7d-d4ef040b4d95) - [Video: A collection of my watercolor process videos. Each one offers a glimpse into how I approach different subjects, from landscapes and cityscapes to still life and figures.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/1a25d9a1-6f0f-4b8c-8f53-3aeb34137898) - [Video: A collection of my watercolor process videos. Each one offers a glimpse into how I approach different subjects, from landscapes and cityscapes to still life and figures.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/3025c5bf-e0ff-42ff-b729-8a893f42100c) - [Video: A collection of my watercolor process videos. Each one offers a glimpse into how I approach different subjects, from landscapes and cityscapes to still life and figures.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/1648a1b1-f067-462d-b53f-ef71b3887706) - [Video: A collection of my watercolor process videos. Each one offers a glimpse into how I approach different subjects, from landscapes and cityscapes to still life and figures.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/5177b032-1dd9-499d-9737-54c15e505d1f) - [Video: A collection of my watercolor process videos. Each one offers a glimpse into how I approach different subjects, from landscapes and cityscapes to still life and figures.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/5f1229f8-c22a-48d2-9e9d-10b0f73c4a2d) - [Video: A collection of my watercolor process videos. Each one offers a glimpse into how I approach different subjects, from landscapes and cityscapes to still life and figures.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/9e84ab87-3c79-493c-804d-296242bcb60d) ## About From Blank Page to Masterpiece I don't believe in magic, I believe in layers. When I start a piece, whether it is a portrait or a market scene, I focus on the structure first, using archival ink liners or graphite before touching a drop of paint. For watercolors, I use 300 GSM paper, which allows me to work wet-on-wet to get those soft, atmospheric edges without the paper buckling or yellowing. It is a slow, intentional process that makes the final piece durable and vivid. ### Why Process Matters Many people see the final painting and think it happened in an instant. The reality involves planning and patience. * **The Foundation:** Every painting begins with a composition study. I sketch the core structure—reflections on water, the posture of a figure, or the lines of a house—before applying any color. This eliminates the uncertainty midway through. * **Material Matters:** I strictly use 300 GSM cotton paper. Lesser paper creates frustration as it won't hold the heavy washes needed for deep shadows or rich skies. For ink work, I rely on waterproof archival liners, so your drawing does not bleed when I add layers of paint. * **My Technique:** My go-to is the wet-on-wet method. By keeping the paper damp, I can blend light and shadow seamlessly. This creates the atmospheric effect you see in my landscape and seascape work. * **The Anti-Clutter Rule:** When painting real locations, I often remove visual distractions like stray wires or trash from your reference photos. You are paying for a memory, not a mirror image of a messy street. * **Why Originality?** I see a lot of copying in the art world. When we work together, I paint your memories, your photos, and your ideas. You get a piece of work that is genuinely yours, not a reproduction of someone else's style or a copy of a viral image. ## About Shashank Shukla Hi, I am Shashank. For me, art is about honesty and connection. I love teaching my students how to observe the world, and I bring that same patience to every commission I take on. [See all of Shashank Shukla's services](https://mytribe.in/shnkyart) ## More from Custom Artwork by Shashank Shukla - [Featured](https://mytribe.in/shnkyart/custom-artwork/featured) - [Custom Watercolor Portraits](https://mytribe.in/shnkyart/custom-artwork/custom-watercolor-portraits) - [Lifelike Pencil Portraits](https://mytribe.in/shnkyart/custom-artwork/lifelike-pencil-portraits) - [Watercolor Landscapes & Cityscapes](https://mytribe.in/shnkyart/custom-artwork/watercolor-landscapes-cityscapes) - [Expressive Figure & Scene Sketches](https://mytribe.in/shnkyart/custom-artwork/expressive-figure-scene-sketches) - [The Art of Still Life](https://mytribe.in/shnkyart/custom-artwork/the-art-of-still-life) - [My Journey: Workshops, Exhibitions & Awards](https://mytribe.in/shnkyart/custom-artwork/my-journey-workshops-exhibitions-awards) ## More services by Shashank Shukla - [Art Workshops and Classes](https://mytribe.in/shnkyart/art-workshops-and-classes) ## Similar work from other experts - [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 Art: My Sketches & Timelapses](https://mytribe.in/the_moonwake/custom-portraits-illustrations/behind-the-art-sketches-timelapses) by Rachita Burjupati · Custom Portraits & Illustrations · Available online & ships art across India - [Behind the Scenes: My Custom Art Process & Tips](https://mytribe.in/artistparvesh/custom-wedding-caricatures-illustrations/the-creative-process-tips) by Parvesh Goswami · Custom Wedding Caricatures & Illustrations · Available online and ships across India - [From Sketch to Masterpiece: My Custom Caricature Process](https://mytribe.in/caricaturesbyromil/custom-caricature-commissions/from-sketch-to-masterpiece-the-creative-process) by Romil Sharma · Custom Caricature Commissions · Ships framed artwork across India; digital caricatures delivered online - [Behind the Scenes: The Creative Process](https://mytribe.in/art_of_karishma/custom-sketches-portraits/behind-the-scenes-the-creative-process) by Karishma Nain · Custom Sketches & Portraits · Ships across India and internationally, made from my studio in Delhi - [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 ## Book To book Shashank Shukla, message mytribe on WhatsApp: [Chat on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/916360004054?text=Hi%20Shashank%2C%20I%20saw%20your%20work%20on%20the%20%22From%20Blank%20Page%20to%20Masterpiece%22%20page.%20I%20have%20a%20custom%20artwork%20idea%20I'd%20like%20to%20discuss.)