Custom Hand-Drawn Color Pencil Portraits
I turn your favorite photos into detailed, lifelike art using professional-grade color pencils. Whether it is a family memory or a tribute, I focus on capturing the expressions that make the moment real.
A beautiful family portrait is a treasure. I created this piece using color pencils to capture the distinct personalities and the connection between them. It’s a wonderful way to freeze a moment in time for your family.
Here you can see a finished baby portrait alongside the tools of my trade. The rich pigments of the Polychromos pencils allow for deep layering to achieve that soft, lifelike skin tone. It’s a delicate process that brings so much joy.
A commissioned color pencil portrait on A3 paper. I focused on capturing her bright smile and the soft waves of her hair, using careful layering to create depth and realism. These individual portraits make for very personal and heartfelt gifts.
This commissioned portrait of former Indian badminton player Pullela Gopichand was my first artwork after an eye surgery, making it very special to me. Created with color pencils, it was a joy to work on this piece for an event at Walmart Global Tech India.
It was a proud moment to present my finished color pencil portrait to the man himself, Pullela Gopichand. Seeing a client's reaction to their portrait is the best part of my job.
This is a close-up of a portrait from my series dedicated to my nephews and nieces. Using color pencils allows me to focus on the subtle expressions of children, creating a piece that the family can cherish as they grow.
A happy moment seeing my nephew holding his finished portrait. Creating art for family is always extra special, and it’s wonderful to see the final piece framed and ready to be displayed.
About Color Pencil Portraits
I use professional-grade Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils on heavy, acid-free A3 paper. This specific medium allows for intense layering, which is how I capture the realistic skin tones and soft highlights that flatter your features better than other sketching methods.
When you commission a color pencil portrait, you are getting a piece created with 170-200 GSM paper, which provides a smooth, durable surface for the pigments. The Polychromos pencils are oil-based, meaning they layer smoothly and do not smudge easily once blended.
My Process
Once you send me your photos, I review them for lighting and clarity. If you are sending photos of different people to be combined, I will sketch a layout to ensure the composition feels natural. Because this is a manual process, I prefer working on A3 paper as it gives me enough space to get the fine details like eyes and hair texture right.
Preservation
After the drawing is complete, I apply a layer of clear fixative spray. This is a crucial step that protects the work from dust, prevents the colors from fading, and stops any smudging during shipping. Your portrait will be delivered either in a hardboard envelope or a secure tube, depending on your location, ready for you to frame.
Why Color Pencils?
While I work with digital and acrylics, there is something unique about the tactile nature of pencils on paper. It creates a warm, timeless finish that works exceptionally well for family gifts or personal tributes. If you have a specific photo in mind, share it with me, and we can discuss the best approach to bring it to life.
Varun N Rao
I am Varun. By day, I am an engineer, but my evenings are spent at my desk with a set of color pencils. I taught myself how to draw because I could not imagine life without it, and there is nothing I love more than turning your favorite memory into a piece you can actually hold in your hands.
Looking for a different art style?
You can explore other mediums I work with or search for specific commission types.
More from Custom Portraits by Varun N Rao