Lifelike Custom Portraits: Hand-Painted Art for Your Home
I create portraits that aim to capture the personality behind a face. Using oil and acrylic, I focus on fine details—from the reflection in an eye to subtle skin tones—to build a painting that feels truly alive.
The finished color version of the 'Dewdrops' portrait. My focus was on capturing the child's curious gaze as they look through the rain-streaked window, with the city lights creating a soft, colorful bokeh effect in the background.
This is a grayscale study for the 'Dewdrops' painting. Working in monochrome allows me to focus entirely on light, shadow, and form, ensuring the composition has depth and impact before I introduce color.
A close-up from the 'Dewdrops' painting in progress. Capturing the photorealistic water drops requires careful attention to how each droplet reflects and refracts the light and the image behind it.
A macro view of the eye in the 'Dewdrops' portrait. The challenge here is to paint the illusion of a wet surface over the detailed portrait, making the eye appear both clear and partially obscured.
This detail of the lips and chin shows the realism of the water droplets. Each one is individually painted with its own highlights and shadows to create a convincing 3D effect on the canvas.
An early stage of the 'Dewdrops' commissioned portrait. Here, I am blocking in the main features and establishing the warm skin tones before moving on to the finer details and the water droplet effect.
Titled 'Drip', this oil on canvas portrait was a quick study in realism. The focus was on capturing the dynamic quality of water flowing over the face, and the way it distorts light and features.
While surreal in its setting, 'Awaiting' is grounded in realistic portraiture. I focused on capturing a gentle, genuine smile and the thoughtful expression in the model's eyes, making the fantastical scene feel emotionally resonant.
About Lifelike Custom Portraits
I use a rigorous grid method to guarantee anatomical accuracy before applying a single drop of paint. My process is built on over 30 hours of meticulous glazing layers, which allows me to achieve the depth and subtle skin textures that standard photos often miss.
Every portrait commission begins with a conversation. We will start with a 30-minute consultation to select your reference photos, lighting, and mood. I believe that a good painting is built on a strong foundation, which is why I always start with a monochrome underpainting. This ensures the lights, shadows, and form are perfectly balanced before we introduce color.
For these pieces, I use artist-grade heavy body acrylics or oils on triple-primed cotton or linen canvas. I focus heavily on the nuances of the human face, specifically skin tone gradations, eye reflections, and fabric folds. Whether it is a single subject or a couple, I aim to create a piece that feels timeless.
Throughout the process, I share 2 to 3 work-in-progress digital images so you are part of the journey. The final artwork is sealed with an isolation coat and UV-protective varnish, then gallery-wrapped or rolled for safe shipping. If you are in Bengaluru, you are also welcome to visit my studio in Gubbalala to see my work in person.
Tejesh
Architecture taught me that everything needs a strong foundation, and my paintings are no different. I’m Tejesh, and whether I’m capturing a portrait or designing a home, I’m obsessed with the details that give a piece its character. I treat every commission as a shared project to uncover the unique story you want to see on canvas.
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