How Shreya5art Turned Her Hobby Into an Artistic Brand by Drawing Portraits
- Shreya Biswas
- Jan 21
- 10 min read
Updated: Jan 22
Caught in emotional turmoil, Shreya, better known as Shreya5art, found solace in creating art during her 9th grade. What began as a way to escape her anxiety, gradually evolved into the creation of her artistic brand over the years.
"Becoming an artist was never something I imagined—even in my wildest dreams," said Shreya, who prefers to be referred to by her first name.
Shreya5art is a full-time professional artist from Bihar and a trademarked brand, specializing in realism, using graphite, charcoal, and colored pencils. Realism is an artistic approach that seeks to represent reality as accurately and authentically as possible. Shreya makes custom art, usually portraits for her customers, and prices range from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 20,000 depending on the size and number of faces to be drawn. When asked how many artworks she has sold so far, she said, "I have not counted as such."
The artist handles every part of her business on her own, with a little help from her family, especially her elder brother, Ayush Raj. From taking orders and creating the artwork to photographing, editing, customizing, packaging, and shipping, she does it all. Most of her orders come via Instagram and a few locally, through her friends and family. It’s a lot of work, but she enjoys managing everything herself. As an introvert, she finds it more comfortable to work independently rather than deal with the stress of coordinating with others.
Shreya's workload varies—some months are busy, while others are quieter. On average, she completes 5–6 pieces a month, with each one taking 3 to 4 days (or more), depending on size and schedule. Most of her work revolves around portraits, which have become the heart of her brand. Occasionally, she receives requests for something different, like mythological art or wall paintings. However, "I only take on work that I’m confident about because experimenting with someone’s hard-earned money feels unethical to me," said Shreya.
When it All Began....
The 24-year-old artist's path to discovering her true calling was neither straightforward nor planned. While she was inclined to draw from a young age and drew fairly well, her parents considered it a hobby and not a career path. As a child, Shreya enjoyed studying but had no clear career goals. Pursuing a career as an artist seemed unrealistic without support, and she had considered careers in medicine or interior design. Before focusing on art, she briefly explored coding with her brother, but the lack of direction made it a short-lived pursuit. It wasn't until 9th grade that things began to change. Overcome by anxiety and unsure how to handle it, Shreya found herself turning back to the one thing that had always brought her peace: drawing. "The sense of confidence and joy I felt while drawing was something I had been longing for," said the artist. "From that moment on, my hobby became my closest companion during times of distress, offering me solace and a sense of purpose," she added.
In January 2015 when Shreya's artistic journey began, she shared her drawings privately with friends and family. Inspired by artist Shubham Dogra, she created a Facebook page as she realized that social media could offer the exposure she needed.
She then discovered Instagram in September 2015 and created an account after learning that celebrities were active here and that it would be an easy way to get noticed. The first challenge for her was choosing a username on Instagram. After several attempts with variations like 'ShreyaArt' and 'Shreya_Art,' all of which were taken, she then settled on 'Shreya5art.'
Drawing Portraits
After joining social media platforms, the self-taught artist, discovered a world of remarkable talent that set the bar higher than she ever expected. Among the artists who inspired her the most were Shubham Dogra, Xeny, Darlene Nguyen, Anzar Mohammed Shereef, Shierly Lin, and Dipesh Ambekar, masters in realism art. Artist Neeyellow's artwork deeply inspired Shreya as his work showed her the vast potential of what could be achieved with colors, instilling a newfound belief in her artistic possibilities.
At first, Shreya started drawing portraits of celebrities to gain exposure and followers to establish her presence on Instagram. While her growth has been steady rather than explosive, she now has 44.5k followers on a 9-year-old account. Shreya5art has built a loyal, organic following. "Even when I go months without posting, I’m able to regain momentum quickly. My social media journey, much like my art, has been consistent and steady," said Shreya.
From the very beginning, Shreya5art discovered her passion for portraiture—a genre that not only resonates deeply with people but also holds strong commercial potential, setting her apart in the art world.
First Customer
Shreya5art's first customer was a classmate who, despite her initial reluctance, convinced her to take on a custom order. At that time, she had no intention of accepting commissions, but he requested a simple female portrait based on a selfie and wanted a soft copy. Needing the funds for an upcoming Facebook ad campaign, Shreya took that order and charged him Rs. 250. "I couldn’t ask my parents for the money—it felt too silly at the time," recalled the artist. So taking the job seemed like the best solution.
Ironically, the ad never ended up running. Despite charging exactly what she thought she needed, a mix-up left her short of funds. "It turned into a 'mission failed successfully' moment," Shreya shared.
Birth of Brand Shreya5art
Shreya5art, a username she chose randomly for Instagram, gradually grew on her. When the time came to pick a brand name, she decided to stick with it. Shreya believes a good brand name should be simple and unique—and 'Shreya5art' perfectly met both of those criteria.
The artist shared a fun anecdote about her brand name, "I was talking to a friend recently—she's also an artist—and she mentioned how her husband, who loves my work, refers to me as 'Shreya5art.' She (Shreya's friend) laughed about how this name is drilled into people's minds. I was like, Yay! Mission successful!"
The concept of branding first occurred to Shreya when she noticed another artist consistently using a logo on their posts. The logo gave their work a polished, professional look, and Shreya quickly realized she needed something similar to establish her own presence. At the time, her uploads were scattered and inconsistent, and as a shy, introverted person, the idea of using herself as a brand felt out of reach. But looking back, she admits that her desire for a logo was driven simply by the fact that it "felt cool."
To bring her idea to life, she reached out to graphic designer Bhargav Chavda, who skillfully combined the initials "S" (for Shreya) and "A" (for Art) into a pencil design. With the logo, Shreya began to present her work more consistently. However, as her brand gained recognition, she noticed others using her logo without permission. Concerned about protecting her identity, she officially registered her trademark in 2022.
Overcoming Obstacles and Challenges
Pursuing an unconventional path has its challenges, and Shreya has faced her share of struggles, including seeing disappointment in her parents' eyes. While she is supported by many, she acknowledges the emotional toll of managing conflicting expectations, especially as someone who was once seen as the "perfect" daughter.
The journey has often been mentally exhausting, filled with self-doubt and questioning of her decisions. "Convincing yourself to keep going is often harder than convincing others," said the artist. Shreya also reflects on the sacrifices that come with following one's own path, feeling the weight of missing out on certain things. "Sometimes, even asking for something basic feels like a crime," she admits. Despite these challenges, she believes that every field has its obstacles, and patience is key to overcoming them.
Shreya's father is very supportive, he even downloaded Instagram to follow her work and proudly celebrate her achievements. However, her mother struggles to understand her work since most of her accomplishments are online. Yet, both parents remain dedicated to supporting her in every way possible.
Like many artists, Shreya has faced creative burnout. After graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 2022, she experienced a period of creative burnout, unsure of her next steps or how to move forward. Although she had always loved art, she couldn’t create with the same passion. The pressure to keep up with trends made it hard for her to stay focused and energized. "I knew I wanted to be an artist, but I had no concrete plans," Shreya shared. "Education had always been my sense of security, providing a ready answer to the question, 'What are you doing?' But now, I was thrown into the unknown," she recalled.
Despite moments of doubt and detachment from art, life always seemed to guide Shreya back to it. Until 2021-2022, she struggled with self-doubt and couldn't fully embrace her identity as an artist, often feeling conflicted.
A combination of personal growth, introspection, and spiritual exploration reignited her passion for art. "Art is no longer just a source of happiness, it's become an inseparable part of who I am. I no longer rely on external motivation or fleeting emotions to keep going," she reflects. "Working without expectations and focusing fully on the process itself has helped me avoid creative blocks and moments of uncertainty," she added.
Spirituality played a crucial role in Shreya's healing. While art initially served as a therapeutic escape from her depression and anxiety, she soon realized that running from her problems wasn’t a long-term solution. "Running only works temporarily—eventually, what’s broken needs to be faced," admits the artist. Through spirituality, she learned to accept herself, shifting her mindset and gaining a fresh perspective on life. Letting go of the need for validation, fame, and perfection, Shreya rediscovered the joy of creating purely out of passion.
"Everything I’ve achieved so far is the result of nine years of dedication, learning through trial and error," said Shreya.
The artist doesn't follow a strict art routine. Instead, she believes that personal growth influences her work, so she practices meditation to stay calm and clear-minded. "A peaceful mind allows creativity to flow effortlessly," she explains, noting how this sense of calm is reflected in her art.
Initially, Shreya’s goal in art was a simple improvement. While she knew she was good at drawing, she still had much to learn, particularly in achieving a high level of realism. Without guidance or a clear path, she relied on the mindset that "where there's a will, there's a way." Her lack of long-term plans ultimately became a strength, allowing her to take small, immediate steps that gradually brought everything together.
Key Milestones
Shreya5art's growth was not an overnight breakthrough but a steady and natural process. While there isn't a single defining moment to her success. Shreya sees her journey from having no formal art background to building a supportive online community and maintaining a steady stream of work as a major achievement, one that has kept her from ever asking, "What's next?" However, several key works and moments have significantly impacted her journey.
In 2017, her Baahubali portrait gained a lot of attention after being shared by fan clubs, especially a repost from a Prabhas fan page, which helped grow her following. Shreya's Padmaavat portrait also helped her reach a wider audience. In 2020, she shifted to color pencil art, and her first portrait of Ajay Devgn as Tanhaji received a lot of praise. That same year, celebrities like Disha Patani and Nora Fatehi shared her work, which increased her visibility.
In 2021, Shreya worked with brands, which helped her gain experience but also impacted her reach. This taught her the importance of balancing brand collaborations with personal projects. Last year, Shreya5art reached a major milestone when her drawing for the movie 12th Fail went viral, with a reel of the artwork receiving 3.4 million views. Other reels from 2024 also gained significant attention, marking a period of growth and success for her.
Reflecting on her journey, Shreya acknowledges how many decisions that seemed insignificant at the time later became pivotal moments in her career. "Sometimes, it's okay to follow your intuition," she admits.
Social Media Growth
The professional artist strives to make her work visually appealing on Instagram, drawing inspiration from different creators to find her style. "My content is a mix of what I want to do and what I can do," shared Shreya5art.
For photos, she credits her brother for editing, using GIMP to layer images, enhance backgrounds, and apply black-and-white filters to make the artwork stand out. The artist also sharpens and cleans up backgrounds, especially when using white cloths, which require additional editing.
For videos, she uses InShot due to its simplicity, aiming to capture most of the content during filming to minimize editing. While the process can be stressful, Shreya has learned to trust the process, even when things don't go as planned. In the beginning, she struggled with high expectations and often felt like a failure. Now, she approaches her work with a more relaxed mindset, knowing that things will come together in time.
Shreya5art said that Instagram is a great platform for artists with no art background. She is grateful for all the opportunities and orders she gets through the platform. "I don’t expect every video to go viral or for everyone to appreciate my content," said Shreya.
When reels were first introduced, she was rigid and didn’t see them as an opportunity. She resisted change because she wasn’t interested in videography and had just started learning photography. Eventually, she began creating reels and found enjoyment in shooting videos, observing trends, and telling stories through them.
"The world is constantly changing, and having a flexible, open mindset is essential to navigate and make the most out of life," said Shreya5art.
Advice for Budding Artists
Shreya says please listen to your heart. "Don't let others' judgment become your reality. In the end, it's always about you! So always be true to yourself and leave everything else in God's hands. There's nothing to gain.. nothing to lose... enjoy each moment and be more joyous!"
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