A Peek Into My Creative Process
Art isn't just about the final frame. It’s about the paint on my hands, the hours of layering, and the honest mistakes that make a piece truly yours.
Me, enjoying the process of painting. I'm surrounded by some of my other works, like the leopard painting and a landscape.
Art is my therapy. Here I am in my creative space, with a landscape painting on the easel and a mandala mural I painted on the wall behind me.
A short video showing me at work. Whether I'm holding my brushes or drawing a mandala mural directly on the wall, I'm always creating.
A side profile of me working on a vibrant landscape painting. You can see my paint-covered hand, a true sign of getting lost in the work.
My "messy hand" is a signature part of my process. Every painting has a little bit of me in it, quite literally.
A close up shot of my hand, covered in paint, as I work on a landscape. This is what the creative process looks like for me.
Working with oil pastels to create a still life of lemons. This top-down shot shows the colorful pastels and the artwork coming to life.
Adding the final touches to my first soft pastel portrait. This medium requires a lot of layering and careful blending with pencils and fingers.
Working on the details of the portrait. Using soft pastel pencils allows for fine lines and textures, which is crucial for a realistic piece.
Here you can see me referencing the photo on my phone while working on the portrait. It's a slow process of observing and translating details onto the paper.
About Behind the Artwork
You might see a clean finished painting, but my studio is where the real work happens—usually covered in splatters, sketches, and half-finished ideas. I don’t believe in rushing the process; every commission I take on starts with a conversation and evolves through careful, manual layering until it feels completely right.
Every piece I create has a journey. When you order a commission, you aren't just getting a file or a canvas—you're getting a slice of my daily practice.
My Method
Whether I am working on digital portraits on my iPad Pro, stippling fine-liner ink for a mandala, or layering oil pastels on paper, my hands are always part of the toolset.
- For Digital Work: I use an Apple Pencil for 100% manual drawing. No AI shortcuts here, just detailed shading and line work that we refine together.
- For Physical Media: My soft pastel portraits are a labor of love that can take up to two weeks of layering. Acrylics and oils on canvas are about blocking in shapes and letting the textures build up.
The Reality of Custom Art
I work out of my studio in Delhi, and I like to keep things transparent. If you choose a hyper-realistic pastel portrait, it is going to take time to layer and set properly. If you want a custom wall mural, we will need to align on the space and the design before I pick up a brush. I send progress photos along the way so you can see your idea taking shape.
If you see a style you like in these photos, let’s talk about how to adapt it to your space. Whether it is a blank wall, a canvas for your living room, or something personal like a custom portrait, I am here to help you translate that idea into something tangible.
Similar work from other experts
Browse through Curated picks from other experts on mytribe
Behind the scenes of my creative process
Behind the Canvas: My Painting Process
Behind the Scenes: My Artistic Process
Behind the Scenes: My Artistic Process
Behind the Brush: The Art Process
Behind the Art: My Creative Process
Looking for something specific?
Search for specific art styles or custom commission types.
More from Custom & Commissioned Artwork by The Messy Hand
More services by The Messy Hand