For most artists the hope is to capture a moment, in all its infinite perfection and that itself often proves impossible. But what if instead you had to capture a person, with all their intricacies and beautiful imperfections, pretty daunting task right? The complexity of portraying a human being in a way that is natural, believable but still aesthetically pleasing has been a challenge that has faced artists for centuries. That’s why, when a natural talent in portraits appears, people take notice.

One such genius has been found in Shashikant Dhotre, a Mumbai artist who is using colour pencils to capture women in unique and beautiful ethnic portraits. His almost photorealistic art takes everyday situations and translates their simplicity into something breath-taking. The bright colours of the traditional Indian fabrics contrasted with the sombre backdrop evokes the vivacity of the subjects. With digital media gaining popularity many artists have traded their brushes for tablets in order to keep up with the changing times, but it’s nice to know that the value of classical techniques are still being kept alive.

Click here to see more of his incredible work.