A Day in the Studio: How Tejasvi Patel Creates a Handmade Painting

When you see a finished painting hanging on a wall, it's easy to admire the color and texture without thinking about what it took to get there. Behind every piece at Lavanya Art Studio are hours of planning, hands-on craftsmanship, and a process that hasn't changed just because it's slower than mass production. Here's what a typical day in my studio actually looks like.

Where Every Painting Begins: Morning Inspiration

Every day starts with a quiet moment of reflection before I begin painting. Inspiration comes from different places — Indian architecture, ancient temples, nature, or spiritual symbols, sometimes just the colors of a sunrise or a conversation with a client about their home and their story. Before I touch the canvas, I spend time visualizing the finished piece. A successful painting starts with a clear idea of where it's headed.

Planning Before the First Brushstroke

No painting starts without planning. Depending on the project, I work through several things before picking up a brush or knife: canvas size, the space where it'll hang, color palette, composition and balance, how much texture depth it needs, and the lighting it'll live in. For custom commissions, I also talk through dimensions, colors, and design ideas directly with the client, so the finished piece actually fits their space.

The Materials Behind Every Piece

The quality of a painting comes down to what it's made with. I work with pure linen canvas, premium acrylic paints, professional texture mediums, palette knives, gold leaf for select pieces, high-quality brushes, and protective finishing materials. Using professional-grade materials throughout is part of what keeps a painting looking the way it should for years, not just for the first few months. You can read more about the standards I hold every piece to on the Commitments page.

Building Texture, Layer by Layer

This is one of the most enjoyable parts of my process. Unlike printed artwork, a handmade textured painting has depth you can actually see and feel. Using palette knives and a few specialized tools, I build up multiple layers on the canvas by hand — every movement done directly, which is part of why no two pieces come out exactly the same. Some textures stay subtle and elegant; others create dramatic dimension, depending on the design. This stage takes patience, because every layer has to dry properly before the next one goes on.

Where Color and Composition Come Together

Once the textured foundation is ready, I start adding color, and this is where a piece really starts developing its own personality. Every brushstroke is placed carefully to build harmony between color, movement, and composition. Some paintings turn out exactly as I first imagined them; others shift direction naturally as I work. I let the painting guide me while staying true to the original vision — that balance is one of the most rewarding parts of making something by hand.

The Finishing Touches That Make the Difference

After the main composition is done, I spend real time refining the details: adjusting color balance, enhancing highlights, deepening texture where it needs it, and adding metallic accents where they belong. These finishing touches are easy to overlook, but they're often what makes a piece feel complete rather than just finished.

Quality Check Before a Painting Ever Ships

Every painting goes through a careful check before it leaves the studio — texture consistency, color accuracy, canvas quality, edges and finishing, overall balance, and surface protection. Only once I'm fully satisfied does a piece get prepared for shipping.

Packaging and Shipping Around the World

Many collectors live outside India, so safe packaging matters as much as the painting itself. Every artwork is carefully packed to protect it during international transit — larger canvases are typically rolled in a secure tube. Lavanya Art Studio also handles the export process directly: preparing and submitting the required documentation, working with trusted international courier partners, and staying involved if any customs or courier issues come up after a piece ships. The goal is a painting that arrives safely, with nothing left for the collector to sort out on their own.

Custom Commissions: Bringing a Client's Vision to Life

No two days in the studio look exactly the same. Alongside new collection pieces, I regularly work on custom commissions for clients around the world — large abstract paintings, luxury textured artwork, Lord Ganesha paintings, Krishna paintings, white and gold wall art, or pieces color-matched to a client's interior. Collaborating on these and turning someone's idea into an original piece is one of my favorite parts of this work.

A Day That's About More Than Painting

Running the studio involves a lot beyond the canvas: responding to customer questions, discussing custom orders, photographing finished work, updating the website, preparing international shipments, creating content, researching techniques, and sketching ideas for what's next. All of it goes toward the same goal — collectors getting both a piece they love and a good experience getting it.

Why This Process Matters to You as a Collector

Every step here — the planning, the materials, the hand-built texture, the quality check — is also what tells you what you're actually buying: an original, one-of-a-kind piece rather than a reproduction. There are no shortcuts and no production lines. Just handmade work, made with intention, one canvas at a time.

FAQs About the Studio Process

Who creates the paintings at Lavanya Art Studio? Every painting is personally designed and handcrafted by Tejasvi Patel, founder and artist of Lavanya Art Studio.

How long does it take to complete a painting? It depends on size and complexity. Most handmade paintings take several days to a few weeks, since each textured layer needs to dry properly before the next is added.

Do you create custom artwork? Yes — custom paintings can be created in different sizes, colors, and styles to fit a specific space and design.

Do you ship internationally? Yes, with secure worldwide shipping and professional packaging for every piece.

From the Studio to Your Home

Every order and every message is part of what keeps this studio going. Thank you for taking a look behind the scenes — I hope it gives you a better sense of the craftsmanship and care that goes into every painting before it reaches your wall.

See the process in the paintings themselves: browse original, hand-painted work by Tejasvi Patel.