Pet Portrait Commissions: Turning Your Furry Friends into Fine Art
If you’ve followed my work for a while, you know I specialize in soft pastel drawings — especially wedding venue illustrations and monograms. But I’m excited to add a new commission offering to my portfolio: hand-drawn pet portraits!
As a pet parent myself, I know how much personality, love, and joy our furry family members bring into our lives. My black lab mix, Beignet (a rescue from Take Paws), was the first subject I drew for practice, and her portrait now sits proudly on top of her crate! I’ve since created pastel portraits of Leo, my in-laws’ Havanese, and Frankie, my friend’s akita-mix. What do you think? 👆
Whether you’re a local pet lover here in New Orleans or a couple planning a wedding that includes your fur babies, I’d love to help you create pet art that you’ll love for years to come!
What’s Included in a Custom Pet Portrait?
Each pet portrait commission is done by hand using pastels — a rich, chalky medium known for bold color and soft textures. These are not digital prints, but original artwork created on professional-grade pastel paper.
You’ll choose from three sizes:
5" x 7" (fits 1 pet)
8" x 10" (fits up to 2 pets)
11" x 14" (fits up to 3 pets)
These custom dog portraits (and yes, cat lovers are welcome too!) are designed to be cherished and framed. All I need to begin is a high-quality photo of your pet. Don’t worry, I’ll help you choose the perfect one during our consultation!
Is Pet Art Right for You?
You don’t need a special occasion to celebrate your pet. But if you do have one, even better! I work with both everyday pet parents and engaged couples to create portraits that last a lifetime–and that’s in human years!
🐾 For You–the Pet Lover
For many of us, our dogs (or cats!) are our kids. We have a million photos of them on our phones, but how often do we print and enjoy them in our homes? Too often, they’re left collecting digital dust in our photo apps. And sometimes, we even lose them!
But a portrait is more that a photo. There’s something heartwarming about seeing your fur baby framed on your mantel, carefully colored into existence by a human hand. I become intimately familiar with your dog’s or cat’s face, from the direction of their fur to the shifting shadows and highlights in their eyes. When you receive your portrait, you’ll feel like you can almost stroke their fur in the painting. Where would you hang yours?
🐶 For the Pet Lovers in Your Life
Even if you’re not a pet owner, I’m sure you know someone who’s crazy about theirs! These portraits make thoughtful gifts for birthdays or holidays. Or if someone close to you recently had a pet cross the rainbow bridge, a keepsake like this would be especially touching. The small sizes also keep things approachable, even in homes with limited wall space.
💍 For engaged couples
Where are all my flower and ring dogs? Even if your fur baby won’t be attending the ceremony, many couples love featuring their pets on bar signs, welcome signs, or save-the-dates. For wedding stationery clients, I offer a simpler version of my custom pet portraits — head-only with a white background — which allows for a faster turnaround time. I also offer pen & ink portraits exclusively for wedding clients. This option is a lower-investment alternative with higher versatility that allows your pet’s face to be incorporated more seamlessly into your stationery.
Whether you’re including your fur baby in your big day or commissioning a portrait as a keepsake, I’d love to get to know you and your pet!
What It’s Like to Work With This Pet Portrait Artist?
It’s easy to view an artist’s work and fall in love with their style. But taking that first step to begin your own commission journey can be intimidating. What’s the artist’s personality like? What is the process? How can I be confident that I’ll love the work I receive?
I want you to feel comfortable working with me and enjoy the process. That’s why all my pet portrait commissions begin with a virtual consultation. We’ll talk and get to know each other before your project begins. And you’re welcome to have your pet join us on the call — tail wags and all!
During our chat, I’ll ask about your pet’s breed, age, quirks, and what you love most about them. We’ll also choose a background color and select a reference photo that will bring out their best features.
Not sure which of your hundreds of photos to choose from? Or maybe you struggle to get a good picture–camera shy pets, anyone? I’ve got you!
Tips for Choosing the Right Photo
Good lighting: No deep shadows or blown-out highlights. Natural outdoor light (early morning, evening, or an overcast day) works best.
Clarity: The photo should be sharp, not blurry. You should be able to see the general direction of the fur when looking closely.
Pose: Ideally, your pet is looking at or just beyond the camera, with a slightly downward angle to avoid the “all nose” effect.
Visibility: Make sure no toys, blankets, or furniture block your pet’s face or body. Small objects can be omitted, such as an ugly collar tag, but no large objects should be obscuring any part of your pet.
Pet Cooperation: If your pet is camera shy, enlist someone to help you distract them while you snap the picture. Have your assistant hold a treat or a favorite toy behind you. Some animals dislike the flash, so taking a photo outside is best.
After our consultation, I’ll take the selected photo and create a digital mockup with your chosen background color for your approval. From there, I’ll begin the artwork.
Each commissioned pet painting takes between 3–8 weeks depending on size and number of subjects. The start date will depend on my commission calendar. But trust me, it’s worth the wait!
When your portrait is finished, I’ll send a high-resolution photo for your final approval. Small tweaks can be made if needed. Then you’ll choose either local pickup in Metairie or carefully packaged shipping.
And when you receive your pet portrait? I’d love to see a photo of your furry friend posing with their artwork! I’ll feature it on Instagram and share with other pet-loving art fans across New Orleans.
Ready to Begin Your Portrait?
Let’s make something beautiful together — for you and your best friend. If you love the idea of hand-drawn artwork that celebrates your pet–whether for your wedding or your home– let’s chat!