NIFT graduate Shudita finds her voice through The Pure Pencil

For National Institute of Fashion Technology graduate Shudita Grover, art has always been a way of understanding life rather than presenting it. Long before The Pure Pencil existed, pencil and paper were where she processed emotion, change and the quiet moments that did not always have language.

Painting was not a career plan or a commercial pursuit. It existed alongside her life as something instinctive, grounding and deeply personal. Shudita studied Fashion Communication at NIFT and went on to work in public relations, a field that taught her how to observe people closely. Her work involved understanding consumer behaviour, storytelling and the psychology behind why people connect with certain narratives.

It sharpened her ability to listen, to decode what people want but often struggle to articulate, and to translate feelings into visual and verbal language. At the time, that understanding was professional. Motherhood made it personal. When her daughter was born, Shudita searched for a way to announce and preserve the moment visually. What she encountered instead were designs that felt familiar and repetitive. While polished and visually appealing, they relied on pre-designed structures that left little room for individuality or emotional truth.

Even after commissioning a birth announcement, she felt a disconnect. The design did not reflect her journey or the intimacy of becoming a mother.

It followed a format, not a feeling. That experience revealed a gap. There was no space for parents who wanted their milestones represented without templates, shortcuts or repetition. There was no room for work that felt slow, handmade and deeply specific. Having worked in PR and communication, Shudita could clearly see the disconnect between what was being offered and what new mothers were actually feeling.

After becoming a mother herself, she understood that gap more intimately than ever. This realisation became the foundation of The Pure Pencil. The Pure Pencil is an art-led storytelling studio rooted in handmade process and intentional creation. In an age increasingly shaped by AI-generated design and instant aesthetics, the studio stands for work that takes time. Every artwork begins with conversation rather than layout.

Clients are asked about their journey, their relationships and the details that matter most to them. Pregnancy stories, birth experiences, favourite songs, colours, symbols, habits and memories are all carefully considered.

Even the smallest details are treated as meaningful. Nothing at The Pure Pencil is reused. No structure is repeated. No element is automated. Each artwork is drawn entirely by hand, once and only once. The process is slow and deliberate, allowing space for reflection and emotional honesty.

When the piece is complete, clients receive the original framed artwork. It is never recreated. It is never repurposed. What remains is a singular object that holds time, intention and memory. The idea took tangible form when Shudita created a fully hand-drawn artwork for her daughter’s second birthday. Built around personal symbols and shared moments, the piece was never meant to be replicated or commercialised.

The response was immediate. People noticed the care, the effort and the emotional honesty behind it. What resonated most was that it could not belong to anyone else. As design becomes faster and more uniform, there is a growing appreciation for work that shows the human hand — imperfect lines, thoughtful pauses, art that resists automation. For Shudita, it is not about producing art quickly or at scale. It is about holding space for stories that deserve to be told with care. What began as a personal relationship with art has evolved into a practice that helps families preserve their most meaningful moments slowly, honestly and by hand.For more, click