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How Emily Celebrated Her Dog's First Birthday with a Custom Portrait

How Emily Celebrated Her Dog's First Birthday with a Custom Portrait

When Emily first contacted us about creating a dog birthday...
2 min read
acrylic pet portrait
Custom hand-painted pet portrait as a wedding gift — a portrait of the couple's dog that stole the show, from Bolapawzi

The Wedding Gift That Stole the Show: A Portrait of the Couple's Dog

When Sarah couldn't decide what to give her best friend...
2 min read
bolapawzi
Custom hand-painted portrait of Dakota, a German Shepherd search and rescue dog, honoring her six years of service with firefighter Jake

A Firefighter's Touching Tribute to His Search and Rescue Dog Partner

When firefighter Jake lost his search and rescue partner Dakota,...
3 min read
firefighter dog
Smiling dog — the science of pet emotions and how Bolapawzi artists capture your dog's true expression in a custom hand-painted portrait

The Science of Pet Emotions: Can Dogs Really Smile in Portraits?

Dogs can't smile like humans—but their joyful expressions are scientifically...
3 min read
bolapawzi
Custom hand-painted military working dog portrait — a Memorial Day tribute to service dogs who served alongside U.S. soldiers, from Bolapawzi

Memorial Day: Honoring Military Working Dogs Through Custom Portraits

This Memorial Day, we honor not just the soldiers who...
2 min read
bolapawzi
Custom Mucha style Art Nouveau hand-painted pet portrait — a Father's Day surprise for the dog dad who didn't know he needed a portrait, from Bolapawzi

A Father's Day Surprise: The Dog Dad Who Didn't Know He Needed a Portrait

Mark's wife called him the best dog dad she'd ever...
3 min read
bolapawzi
Custom hand-painted cat portrait — World Bee Day inspiration for creating a pollinator-friendly garden that's safe for pets, from Bolapawzi

World Bee Day: Creating a Pollinator-Friendly Garden for You and Your Pets

World Bee Day is a reminder that the smallest creatures...
2 min read
bolapawzi
Custom Mucha style hand-painted pet portrait in a gift box — a portrait that traveled cross-country with one family's move, from Bolapawzi

The Portrait That Traveled: One Family's Cross-Country Move

When the Nguyen family moved from Boston to Portland, they...
2 min read
bolapawzi
Hand-painted realistic oil pet portrait side-by-side comparison — apartment pet photography tips for getting portrait-worthy photos, from Bolapawzi

How to Take Great Pet Photos in Small Spaces: Apartment Photography Guide

You don't need a sprawling backyard or professional studio to...
2 min read
apartment pet photos
5 small dog breeds perfect for apartment living and stunning custom pet portraits — French Bulldog, Cavalier, Pomeranian, Boston Terrier, Shih Tzu, from Bolapawzi

5 Small Dog Breeds Perfect for Apartment Living (And Stunning Portraits)

Living in an apartment doesn't mean you can't enjoy the...
2 min read
apartment dog breeds
Custom hand-painted dog portrait — the perfect graduation gift for pet lovers heading to college or starting a new career, from Bolapawzi

Graduation Gifts for the Pet Lover Heading to College or Starting a Career

Shopping for a pet-loving graduate? They don't want generic gifts...
2 min read
bolapawzi
Custom hand-painted Golden Retriever portrait commissioned by a college graduate as a gift to her childhood dog — a story from Bolapawzi

A College Grad's Gift to Her Childhood Dog

Emma spent four years away at college, watching her childhood...
2 min read
bolapawzi
Custom hand-painted pet portrait as a graduation gift — a meaningful keepsake for pet-loving graduates leaving home, from Bolapawzi

Why Custom Pet Portraits Make the Perfect Graduation Gift

Graduation marks the end of one chapter and the beginning...
2 min read
bolapawzi
Custom hand-painted pet portrait as a heartfelt National Nurses Week gift for healthcare heroes who love their pets, from Bolapawzi

National Nurses Week: Gifts for Healthcare Heroes Who Love Pets

National Nurses Week is your chance to thank the people...
2 min read
bolapawzi
Custom Mucha style hand-painted pet portrait — a Mother's Day gift that made dog moms cry happy tears, from Bolapawzi

The Best Mother's Day Reactions We Received This Year

Every Mother's Day, we receive messages from customers sharing the...
3 min read
bolapawzi
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