How To Order
What happens after I send my photos to you?
I’ll reach out by email within a day or two to discuss your photographs and timeline. We’ll confirm the composition and you’ll get to see a quick mockup before I get started on canvas. After that, you can expect updates every week to every few weeks to see how your commission is coming along. If you see anything you’d like me to move or change, just let me know. Once your painting is complete it will take a few to dry. Then you can come pick it up from the studio or I’ll pack and ship it out to you!
Do you do rush orders?
Yes, I can rush! I charge extra for the extra coffee though. Send me an email to be sure it’s possible to complete your painting on time and we can go from there.
I would like to commission a painting as a gift and would need it by a specific date. How should I communicate this?
If your painting needs to be completed in a specific time period, please contact me first to ensure the timing is possible. I am always happy to accommodate urgent gifts if time allows.
I would like to commission a pet portrait but don’t have good photos at the moment. Can I place an order and send photos later?
Absolutely. Once an order is placed you will be added to the list. When you are ready to send photos, your portrait will already have a higher spot in line. Take your time! Finding the perfect photo in good lighting is not always easy.
How long do your pet portraits take?
Small pieces will take about 1 month. Medium to large pieces can take anywhere from 1 to 3 months to complete and be ready to ship. Please note that oils can take over a week to dry and even a rush order will require drying time. I will check-in with you throughout the process to continually give you time line updates.
**All pet portraits are done in the order I receive them. I will let you know the approximate wait at the time of your order. If you have a special date you need it by, just let me know and I will advise if I can accommodate.
Can I commission a portrait of a person?
Absolutely. Please contact me beforehand, though, and we will talk about what you had in mind.
The Process
How do you paint your pet portraits?
All pet portrait paintings are hand-painted by me using professional grade artist oil paint on either museum quality stretched canvas or aluminum panel. I use your photo of your pet for reference when painting. Good quality photos will result in the best pet paintings as I can capture more detail.
Do you work from just one photo?
Yes, I use one image as the main reference but more images of details is always helpful. So make sure in the one main reference image you can see your pets personality shine through so I can be sure to capture it in their custom portrait.
What size should I send my images?
When sending me your images, please keep them in their original size and format. When emailing images there is sometimes an option to keep original size or resize the image; please always KEEP the original size.
What kind of pictures should I send you?
The best photos to paint from are taken in natural light, about 6 feet away from your pet. Bonus points if you can get down to their eye level. Outside is best, but near a window works too, especially if the inside lights are out. To get. a picture of your dog without them running over to you, it helps to leash them to something first. Toss a few freebie treats to get a big smile! But if you can’t get the perfect photos, don’t worry. I can work with what you’ve got!
I’d like to do a memorial painting of a pet that has passed away and new images aren’t possible. What are my options?
Many of my customers have sadly lost their beloved pets and only have a limited amount of images. If you send me as many images that you have, I will be able to help you pick out the best one. If your pet or loved one has sadly passed away, and new images are not possible, I would be happy to assist with enhancing the images to create the best portrait for you!
Can I have more than one pet in my painting?
Yes, the current prices of my commission work is based on one subject per piece. Additional subjects will increase the final cost. If you’d like more than two subjects in your painting, please contact me prior to ordering.
If I want more than one pet on the same canvas, do they need to be in the same picture together?
No. Just send me your favorite shots of all the pets you’d like included and I can combine them in the artwork so that they’re all in the same piece. If you can send at least one photo depicting the size ratios between the pets that would be most helpful. For each additional pet in one painting, add an extra $100 to the base price.
Can you paint from multiple photos?
Definitely! If you can find a photo with all the pets together to use as a primary reference, there is no extra charge, pricing is just based on the size. But if they’re all in different photos and need to be arranged into one piece then I charge a 10% composition fee. Adjusting the lighting to make different photos look natural together can be a real challenge, so one photo is better if possible.
Can I customize the colors used in a commissioned portrait?
Yes, I encourage input. Please note, however, that I will ultimately determine what colors will work together the best in the final piece.
Do I see my completed painting before it is sent out?
Yes, I send images of the final painting to all customers to ensure they are 100% happy and if they would like any small tweaks to be made. Then once final payment is received, I will then package up and send out the painting.
Can I request changes to the pet painting after I see the digital proof?
Yes, reasonable alterations can be requested to the painting until you are 100% satisfied at no charge. I want you to be happy!
Sizes and Pricing
Can I commission a custom size pet portrait?
Absolutely. I’m always happy to explore options if you have a specific vision in mind.
**Note that a special order of a larger size will reflect in the final cost of materials, and shipping/handling. Please contact me if you’d like to place an order for larger than 18x24.
Do you have other canvas sizes available?
Yes! The sizes I offer are my standard sizes that are always in stock. If you’d like a bespoke canvas size that is not listed, please let me know and I can order that custom size in for you.
How much do pet portraits cost?
Pet portraits are priced by size. You can see a full list of available sizes here on my pricing page.
Photo Guide
I would like to commission a pet portrait but don’t have good photos at the moment. Can I place an order and send photos later?
Absolutely. Once an order is placed you will be added to the list. When you are ready to send photos, your portrait will already have a higher spot in line. Take your time! Finding the perfect photo in good lighting is not always easy.
Can you give me a few tips on capturing the best photos?
I follow photos very closely, so a general rule is, “The better the photo, the better the portrait.”
*Sharpness is key:
The higher the resolution and sharper your image, the more detail I can include in your portrait. Blurry photos will only result in vague and muddy portraits.
*Lighting:
The best photos are taken in natural light, preferably outside with the light source in front or on a cloudy day. Artificial light, and very strong sunshine often result in harsh highlights and overexposed images that won’t translate well into a painting. It’s also best to turn off the flash on your camera or phone.
*Perspective:
Photos are best taken at your pet’s height, rather than from above or below, as this cn create a distorted and unflattering view.
Shipping
I don’t live in the United States, do you ship worldwide?
I am currently only shipping to clients who live in the United States through website orders, so please contact me if you live outside of the U.S. I am happy to accommodate! Please be aware that some countries require a customs fee to be paid on incoming shipments, by the customer. These will not be included in shipping prices.
**If ordering from another country, please note all my measurements are in inches and prices are in US dollars.
How do you package your paintings for shipping?
All commissions are extremely well packaged in boxes to ensure your painting is safe when being transported.
How much is shipping?
I ship USPS Priority for smaller pet paintings and UPS Ground for medium to large pet paintings. All paintings are insured. Please excuse the second hand packing material as I try to use all recycled materials for my packaging to do my part for the environment!
My item has been damaged in the post, what should I do?
Please see Refund Policy.
How can I return an item?
Please see Refund Policy. Please note that commissions and custom items cannot be returned.