visualsbypoonam

— About me

The hand behind visualsbypoonam

Poonam Mandloi — Self-taught pencil portrait artist drawing in sketchbook

I'm Poonam Mandloi, a self-taught professional pencil artist and software engineer based in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

What began as filling the margins of school notebooks gradually turned into a passion for drawing faces -capturing the way light falls on a cheekbone, the character in an expression, and the emotion behind a smile.

Everything you see here is drawn by hand in graphite and charcoal on archival paper. No filters, no tracing, no AI. A single A4 portrait usually takes between ten and eighteen hours spread across a few days, because the detail is the whole point.

Alongside my art, I'm also a software engineer, building modern digital experiences and exploring the intersection of technology and creativity.

I also take on custom commissions — from anniversary gifts and memorial portraits to family groups, pets, and devotional artwork.

If a moment matters to you, I'd love to turn it into something you can keep forever .

Start a commission

How a portrait is made

  1. 01

    The reference

    We start with your photo. Good light and a sharp face make the biggest difference to the final drawing.

  2. 02

    The block-in

    Proportions are mapped lightly in 2H graphite before a single dark tone touches the paper.

  3. 03

    The layers

    Ten to twenty tonal passes build depth in the skin, hair and eyes. This is where the likeness appears.

  4. 04

    The finish

    Final darks, highlights lifted with a kneaded eraser, then fixative, packing and safe delivery.