When you decide to order a custom pencil portrait from Passion Drawing, you are investing in more than just a piece of paper; you are commissioning a portrait—a deeply personal artistic endeavor that transforms a fleeting memory into a timeless heirloom.
As Artist April Suwichai, I understand that the process of handing over a cherished photo and trusting an artist to capture its soul can feel daunting. That’s why I emphasize fast communication and complete transparency at every stage.
Here is a detailed, step-by-step guide to my personal workflow, ensuring you feel confident and informed from your first inquiry to the final delivery of your treasured custom drawing.
Phase I: The Vision & The Foundation (The Commissioning Portrait Stage)
The first phase is all about establishing a clear vision and providing the highest quality material needed to ensure the success of your custom pencil portrait.
Step 1: Choosing Your Style and Placing the Order
The process begins when you visit the Passion Drawing website and browse the custom options (like Custom Pencil Portraits, Pet Pencil Portraits, or Figure Pencil Drawings).
- Select Product and Size: Simply choose the size of your portrait (A5 to A2) and the desired style. This clarifies the scope of the project, including the number of subjects and the overall complexity.
- The Power of Size: As noted in our guide, “Choosing a Size & Pose,” your selection dictates the detail. For example, smaller sizes (A5 and A4) are dedicated exclusively to capturing the intimate detail of the face and head only, ensuring the likeness is sharp and expressive. Larger formats (A3, A2) allow for more expansive compositions, including the full torso or multiple subjects.
- Complete the Order: Once your selection is made, you complete the order, and this officially places you in the queue for a custom drawing.
Step 2: Submitting Your High-Quality Reference Photo
The quality of your photo is the single most critical factor that determines the quality of the finished artwork. Your custom pencil portrait can only be as good as the photo it is based on.
- The Original File is Key: Please send the original, unedited, high-resolution digital file. Avoid screenshots, photos from social media (which often degrade quality), or prints that have been re-photographed.
- Lighting Check: We look for photos with good, natural lighting that clearly defines shadows and highlights (the depth of the face), especially around the eyes. If the light is too dim or too harsh, essential details are lost.
- Final Review and Approval: Upon receiving your photo, I conduct a mandatory quality check.
- If the photo is excellent: We proceed directly to scheduling.
- If the photo needs improvement: I will contact you promptly to discuss alternatives or specific artistic adjustments we can make. I will never start a commissioning portrait if I feel the reference photo will compromise the quality of the finished piece.
Phase II: From Photo to Paper (The Artistic Execution)
Once the vision is set and the photo is approved, the physical process of creating your custom drawing begins. This is where the magic happens—transforming carbon and graphite into a vibrant representation of life.
Step 3: Preparation of Materials and Surface
To ensure your portrait lasts for generations, I use only the highest quality, archival-grade materials. This is an investment in longevity.
- Acid-Free Paper: I select thick, acid-free drawing paper. This specialized paper is crucial as it prevents the drawing surface from yellowing or degrading over time, preserving the brilliance of the graphite or charcoal.
- Choosing the Medium: Based on your order (or consultation), I prepare the appropriate tools:
- Graphite Pencils: A wide range of high-quality pencils (from the hard H series for fine lines to the soft B series for deep shadows) for a clean, precise custom pencil portrait.
- Charcoal Powder/Pencils: For a high-contrast, atmospheric custom drawing, I prepare the rich, matte black tones of charcoal powder and compressed charcoal.
Step 4: The Initial Sketch and Tonal Mapping
The first lines on the paper establish the foundation of the likeness and the composition.
- Accurate Proportions: I use precise measuring and grid techniques to transfer the subject’s proportions from the photo onto the drawing paper. This step is critical to achieving an accurate, life-like likeness. Every feature—from the distance between the eyes to the width of the nose—is carefully plotted.
- Tonal Mapping: The initial sketching phase also includes tonal mapping. I lightly mark where the deepest shadows and brightest highlights will fall. This road map guides the rest of the drawing, ensuring the final piece has true three-dimensional depth and form.
Step 5: The Intensive Drawing Period (Mid-Process)
This is the most time-consuming and focused part of creating the custom pencil portrait. My concentration is solely on transforming the two-dimensional photo into a vivid, textured work of art.
- Layering and Blending: The drawing is built up slowly, layer by layer. I start with light tones and gradually introduce darker values. I use blending tools to smooth out transitions for skin tones and fine-point pencils to create minute textures.
- Focus on the Eyes: The eyes are always the last and most critical part of the face to finalize. They are the window to the soul, and I devote intense focus to ensuring the catchlights, reflections, and expression are perfectly captured. This is the moment when the subject truly comes to life on the paper.
- Refining Textures: Whether it’s the flow of hair, the subtle wrinkles around the eyes, the smooth texture of skin, or the rough texture of pet fur—every surface requires a unique application of pressure and technique to render it realistically in graphite or charcoal.
Phase III: Review, Finalization, and Delivery
The final phase ensures your complete satisfaction and prepares the artwork for its journey to your home.
Step 6: Client Review and Approval (The Guarantee)
I believe the client should be thrilled with their commissioning portrait before it leaves the studio.
- High-Quality Scan/Photo: Once the drawing is near completion, I take a high-resolution photograph or scan of the finished artwork.
- The Review: I send this image to you for your careful review. This is your opportunity to check the likeness and provide feedback.
- Minor Adjustments: If there are any minor details you would like adjusted (e.g., a slightly darker shadow, a change in hair texture), I will happily make those refinements at this stage. My goal is for you to be 100% satisfied with your custom drawing.
Step 7: Final Finishing and Archival Sealing
Once you have approved the final image, the drawing is made permanent and prepared for shipment.
- Fixation (Crucial for Charcoal): If the portrait was created using charcoal, it requires a mandatory application of a professional fixative spray. This invisible layer prevents the charcoal particles from smudging and protects the integrity of the artwork. Even graphite portraits benefit from a light coat.
- Final Inspection: I perform a final, rigorous inspection under different lighting conditions to ensure the quality is perfect.
Step 8: Packaging and Fast wordlwide Shipping
Handling and shipping original art requires specialized care. I ensure your piece is protected against moisture, bending, and impact.
- Protective Sleeves: The finished custom pencil portrait is placed in a clear, acid-free protective sleeve.
- Rigid Packaging: The drawing is then sandwiched between two pieces of rigid backing (or rolled and securely packaged for larger sizes) to prevent bending during transit.
- Delivery: I am proudly based in Slovenia but specialize in serving my valued clients across the USA, UK, Europe, Australia with reliable and fast shipping options. You will receive a tracking number so you can follow your custom drawing all the way to your door.
Step 9: Digital File Option
For clients who prefer instant access or local printing flexibility, digital files are also available:
- Instant Download: A high-quality digital scan of the finished portrait is delivered instantly via email, ready for you to print locally to your desired specifications.
Your custom pencil portrait is a collaboration between your cherished memory and my artistic skill. I am dedicated to making the entire commissioning portrait process clear, engaging, and above all, rewarding, resulting in a piece of art that you and your family will treasure forever.
Ready to see your cherished photo transformed into a timeless custom drawing?