Exclusive customized wooden portraits. A photograph becomes an outline, the outline becomes a shadow, and everything that is not the picture is cut away by hand.
“I ensure that all pieces are completely hand crafted and no laser/CNC is used.”
Scroll Saw Hand CraftNo LaserNo CNCSolid Rubber WoodSeasoned at 100°CMelamine PolishedHand-Made FramesSouth DelhiScroll Saw Hand CraftNo LaserNo CNCSolid Rubber WoodSeasoned at 100°CMelamine PolishedHand-Made FramesSouth Delhi
100%Hand crafted
0Laser · CNC
10–12Days per portrait
100°COvernight seasoning
The Craft
Scroll Saw Hand Craft.
A photograph is enlarged, its outline pasted onto solid rubber wood, and the waste painted black. Then the black is removed — scroll saw, hand saw, sandpaper — until the likeness is all that stands.
There is no ink on the face and no paint on the likeness. What you see is wood, the shadow it throws, and a black board sitting behind it.
The black is the waste. Everything black comes out.
Selected Work
The portfolio, cut by hand.
Portraits, devotional panels, wildlife studies, clocks and large-scale murals — every piece photographed by the artist in his South Delhi workshop.
Portrait of a couple hand-cut in wood, framed on a red groundMahatma Gandhi portrait hand-cut in solid wood, framed and mounted on a black backingChrist crowned with thorns, an intricate scroll saw panel marked HandcraftedSeated tiger hand-cut in wood, framed and shown on a red groundTree of Life, hand-cut and painted, framed on a deep red groundThe Goa Shipyard mural in the workshop, with a car alongside showing its scaleWall clock with oversized cut wooden numeralsHand-painted couple portrait in a wooden frameSardar Vallabhbhai Patel wood portrait in a light wooden frameChrist crowned with thorns in a pale wood frame on a red groundTiger panel held up to show the depth of the hand-cut reliefHand-painted Tree of Life panel in a wooden frameThe Goa Shipyard mural laid flat, showing the layered aerial viewWall clock with hand-cut Roman numerals on a wood facePortrait of a couple with the reference photograph pinned alongsideScroll saw portrait of Mahatma Gandhi with a deep shadow-box framePortrait of Christ hand-cut in wood over a black backingClose study of a tiger's face cut in solid woodCircular wall clock with a Tree of Life cut into the faceThe Goa Shipyard mural standing upright before deliveryWall clock with the hours hidden in a cut letter gridHand-coloured couple portrait on a solid wood panelGandhi portrait cut in rubber wood, showing the grain of the panelPortrait of Christ in a pale finish with a silver frameFull-length tiger panel photographed against blackCircular Tree of Life panel cut as open fretworkAngled view of the Goa Shipyard mural showing its layered depthRound wall clock with Roman numerals cut into the rimHand-painted portrait of a couple in formal dressLarge Gandhi panel held up to show the hand-cut fretworkVeiled portrait of Christ cut in solid woodFramed tiger panel marked Hand craftedDetail of the Goa Shipyard mural showing the cut and painted layersFree-standing cut wooden numerals for a wall clockHand-coloured couple portrait cut in solid woodNarendra Modi silhouette cut-out photographed against a black surfaceSacred Heart of Jesus panel hand-cut in woodTiger among bamboo, cut as a framed wood panelThe mural installed and lit in a wood-panelled interiorGeometric spiral panel cut in woodCouple portrait in progress with the reference photograph attachedBhagat Singh portrait in his signature hat, hand-cut in woodLarge Sacred Heart panel standing on a patterned floorTwo tigers among bamboo cut on a single wood panelLayered relief panel cut in wood over a black backingWooden desk set with pen stand, flag holder and national emblemMother and child rendered as a single continuous line in cut woodSubhas Chandra Bose portrait in uniform, cut in solid woodMadonna and Child hand-cut in wood, marked HandcraftedFramed panel of tigers among bamboo, shown at an angleHand-painted commemorative panel marking Azadi Ka Amrit MahotsavWooden desk set with a faceted planter and pen standLine study of a mother and child cut in solid woodPortrait of an Indian statesman hand-cut in wood and framedMadonna and Child wood panel, 19 x 23 inchesLeopard panel cut in wood and set in a shadow-box frameCommemorative panel in progress, cut in solid woodWooden desk organiser with flags and a planterMother and child line panel in a dark shadow-box frameProfile portrait cut in wood, mounted on a black backing boardChrist carrying the cross, cut as a dense fretwork panelResting leopard hand-cut in wood over a dark backingLayered commemorative panel with hand-painted flag and emblemWooden desk set with pen stand, emblem and table flagsPanel titled Timeless Love, signed SubodhSwami Vivekananda portrait hand-cut in wood, shown at an angleChrist carrying the cross, wood panel measuring 19 x 23 inchesFramed leopard panel in scroll-sawn woodCommemorative panel with the national emblem cut in reliefHand-coloured portrait of a woman in a wooden frameSwami Vivekananda wood portrait, 19 x 23 inchesPortrait of Christ framed in the same wood as the panelBridled horse hand-cut in wood, framed on a red groundA room hung with framed scroll saw panels for displayPortrait of a woman cut in wood over a black backingSwami Vivekananda portrait in a pale wood frameSai Baba portrait hand-cut in wood, marked HandcraftedHorse with a flowing mane cut in solid woodDisplay wall of framed wood portraits and animal panelsPortrait of a woman hand-cut on a single wood panelSwami Vivekananda portrait with hand-painted blue robesSai Baba portrait in a light wood frame on a red groundHorse study cut on a single wood panelFramed wood panels on display in a retail emporiumPortrait of a woman in a shawl, cut in pale woodDr A P J Abdul Kalam portrait, finished panel held up to the lightLayered Sai Baba panel with hand-painted colour and raised reliefHorse head panel with strong black and wood contrastWood panels displayed on a shelved retail wallPortrait of a young man cut in wood and set in a deep frameWood portrait in a double frame, photographed on a tiled floorHand-painted Sai Baba portrait on a solid wood panelBridled horse panel hand-cut in pale woodTwo Sai Baba panels hung together on a display wallHand-coloured portrait of a man in a wooden frameHand-painted wood portrait mounted on a black backingHand-coloured Sai Baba portrait framed in pale woodHorse in harness, hand-cut and painted black over woodGandhi panels on display, described by the artist as his Gandhis at the Government Cottage Emporium for 2 OctoberFramed portrait of a man in a suit, hand-cut in woodHand-coloured wood portrait photographed against a red groundLayered devotional panel of a goddess set in an ornamental surroundEagle panel hand-cut in wood, marked Hand craftedPortrait of a man hand-cut in wood on a pale panelHand-coloured wood portrait in a wooden frameBuddha seated beneath a tree, cut as a layered relief panelEagle head cut on a wood panel and signed SubodhPortrait of a bearded man cut in solid woodMother Teresa portrait hand-cut in woodHand-painted Buddha panel with a carved tree canopyElephant cut as a layered relief panel in a wooden frameFramed portrait signed by the artist, finished in a golden toneFramed Mother Teresa portrait in scroll-sawn woodHand-painted Radha Krishna panel in scroll-sawn woodRhinoceros in a landscape, cut as a layered wood panelFramed wood portrait finished in a golden toneWilliam Osler portrait hand-cut in wood and framedLayered Ram Mandir panel with hand-painted colourBirds and foliage hand-cut in wood, described by the artist as a birds and jungle themeWood portrait shown at an angle to reveal the frame depthWood portrait of a public figure, cut on a single panelRam Mandir panel showing the raised temple reliefLeaves and blossom cut as an open fretwork panelFramed portrait with a plaque reading The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India Employees AssociationHand-painted wood portrait of a seated gentlemanTemple panel with a raised figure and flag in layered woodHand-painted panel of elephants crossing a landscapePortrait hand-cut in wood, photographed in the workshopHand-painted temple panel with a flag and raised figureHorse study cut in wood with fine linear detailFamily group portrait in progress on a wood panelHand-painted temple scene with landscape in layered woodPortrait in progress with the reference photograph alongside
No pieces in this category yet.
Subodh Kumar with a finished panel, South Delhi, India
The Artist
Subodh Kumar
He calls himself the Memory Maker. The work is slow and entirely manual: at least ten to twelve days for one portrait, from the first enlarged print to the last coat of polish.
“I believe that gifting deserves a special personal touch. A unique way of showing your love to your special ones.”
Frames are cut from the same wood as the panel. The background is water-resistant plywood, black on one side, so every cut line reads as shadow.
“We can take your favourite photo and convert into wood portrait. We can turn almost any photo into wooden portrait i.e. Peoples, Animals Logos and your favourite outdoor scenes.”
Occasions
Home Decor
Offices
Birthday Celebration
Weddings
Anniversary
New Office
Logos
Cabin Decor
House Warming
Greha Pravesh
“A unique gift ideal for Home decor, Cabin decor gift. This suits for Builders, Hospitals, Hotels rooms and lobbies, Restaurants and Clubs.”
Portrait sizes
13 × 16 inchesPortrait
19 × 19 inchesPortrait
19 × 23 inchesPortrait
10–12 daysMinimum, per portrait
Pricing is quoted per commission — send a photograph and the size you have in mind, and the studio will come back to you.
Set out exactly as the artist describes his own method.
01
Designing & Cutting
The picture is enlarged to 13×16, 16×16 or 16×20 inches and an outline made from software. The print is pasted onto solid rubber wood and painted with black and white poster colours. The black portion is removed with a scroll and hand saw, all edges rounded, and every blade mark taken out with sandpaper.
02
Seasoning
The wood pieces stay overnight at 100 degrees celsius. This enhances the wood’s life so the piece lasts many decades.
03
Polishing
Glossy or matte melamine spray polish, applied in a set sequence: sealing, five coats, rubbing, and then buffing.
04
Framing
Customized frames are made from the same wood as the panel. Water-resistant plywood, black on one side, forms the background the cut work sits against.
At the saw — footage supplied by the artist.Cutting a portrait panel — footage supplied by the artist.
Raw Wood → Finished Piece
Ten days of difference.
The same panel, before and after seasoning and polish. Drag the handle across.
Cut & clampedSeasoned & polished◀▶
Drag, or focus the slider and use ← →
Projects & Displays
Where the work has travelled.
Each note below is the artist’s own description of the photograph, reproduced as supplied.
Largest Commission
Goa Shipyard — 6 × 9 feet
An aerial view of the shipyard, built up in layers of cut wood and installed at the reception of Goa Shipyard Limited.
“This spectacular Scroll Saw handcrafted mural is made in more than three layers. Solid 12mm and 18mm Rubber wood is used and one inch gap in each layer is provided to give three dimensional effect. Painting, Pyrography and Scrolling is done to enhance the beauty of the product. The wood used is kept over night at 100 degree celsius to enhance life. The mural gives a magnifient aerial view of Shipyard and is specially crafted by Central Cottage Industries Emporium for Goa Shipyard Limited.”
Plaque — Central Cottage Industries Emporium
Presented to the Prime Minister
Mr Priyank Kanoongo, Chairman NCPCR, presenting my portrait to Modiji.
Artist’s note
Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan
Mr Giriraj Singh, Textile Minister, inaugurating a textile exhibition at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan — my two portraits displayed behind him, Murmu and Modi.
Artist’s note
Hunar Haat, Delhi
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Minister, presenting to Sh Raj Nath Singh at the opening of Hunar Haat, Delhi.
Artist’s note
Institute of Chartered Accountants
Handing over to the Secretary, Indian Chartered Accountants Institute.
Artist’s note
Presented at Bharatpur
Presented to the Raja of Bharatpur, Sh Bishvender Singh, MP.
Artist’s note
Rosewalk Hospital, Delhi
Handed to Dr Chander Shekhar, head of Rosewalk Hospital, Delhi.
Artist’s note
Government Cottage Emporium
My Gandhis displayed at the Govt. Cottage Emporium for 2 October.
Artist’s note
A portrait handed over
A framed wood portrait being presented to its recipient.
Photograph supplied
Exhibiting at Hunar Haat
The stall hung with scroll saw panels during a press interview at Hunar Haat, Delhi.
Photograph supplied
Visitors at the stall
Visitors at the Hunar Haat exhibition stall in Delhi.
Photograph supplied
The subject of the mural
The aerial view of Goa Shipyard that the six by nine foot mural reproduces in layered wood.
Photograph supplied
The Goa Shipyard plaque
The Central Cottage Industries Emporium plaque describing how the mural was made.
Photograph supplied
Client Feedback
What collectors say
Testimonials to be added
Awaiting content from the client
No customer testimonials were supplied in the project material. This section is built and styled — it needs five to ten short quotes, each with the customer’s name, city and the piece they commissioned, before it can go live.
Enquiries
Commission a piece.
Send a photograph and the studio will tell you what is possible. Every portrait is made to order and takes at least ten to twelve days.
Cut & clamped
Seasoned & polished
