How to Commission a Pet Portrait in 2025 - The Complete Guide
Inside this Article:
Why Choose Pet Portraits?
Customized pet portraits are not only a decorative addition to your home, they are one of the most meaningful ways to honor your beloved companion. Whether you want to capture your dog's playfulness with a toy or your cat's adorable sleeping position, a high-quality, clear portrait of your pet will provide you with a timeless moment that even a photograph can't match.
This guide to commissioning a custom pet portrait will take you through the full spectrum of pet custom portraits from selection-ordering-delivery to maintenance.
How To Pick My Favorite Artists？
Choosing the right artist determines whether or not you get a satisfying portrait, and you can choose an artist by scrutinizing their work to see if it matches your aesthetics and focusing on their ability to capture the details of your pet's fur and demeanor.
1. Define your favorite material
Hand-painted Pet Portraits: unique texture, high collectible value, with real texture and rich texture, usually hand-painted Pet Portraits takes 15-20 days to deliver and complete.
Digitally drawn and printed pet portraits: flexible and fast, easy to share and print. Digitally drawn usually takes only 2-5 days to deliver to you.
2、Pick the right size
When picking the size of your pet custom portraits, the key lies in the following aspects:
- Small pet/head and shoulders portraits are recommended to choose 8*10″ to 12*16″ is more suitable and economical .
- Large dog or multi-pet combination portraits are recommended to start from 16*20', which can give each pet enough space to show details.
- Small size (≤12″): suitable for small spaces such as bedrooms, study rooms, hallways, etc., creating a cozy atmosphere
- Medium size (12-24″): the most popular, which can meet the balance of details and costs, suitable for most spaces
- Large size (≥24″): the best choice in the living room, above the sofa, or above the fireplace for displaying multi-favorite or full-body portraits with a strong visual impact
3、Choose your favorite style of artwork
Some of the more popular pet portrait painting styles commonly found on the market are vintage, modern, realistic, and cartoon .... You can check out the various artists by searching #petportraitartist on Instagram or tiktok, YouTube, etc., and you will also be able to see their portfolios to make sure that it is in line with the style you expect.
4、View artist slot
Certain artists accept commissions for a limited number of years, so you'll need to book; of course you can also look for artists who don't require a booking, and you'll usually only have to wait 2-3 weeks.
How to Choose My Pet Photos
Good reference photos are an important part of an artist's work, and these are some key points to keep in mind when providing photos:
- Softening the light (avoiding overexposure and overdarkening)
- Sharp, front-facing facial photos
- Multi-angle photos
Production Process Follow-up & Communication
- Initial: Some artists will provide preliminary drafts or progress drawings for your confirmation during the production process
- Intermediate: Free minor revisions to the already roughly completed portrait
- Final: After the work is completed, the artist will send you a confirmation drawing of the final result, which will be confirmed before it is ready to be packed and shipped.
To summarize
Commissioning a pet portrait is a meaningful and emotional shopping experience, and by following these steps you will receive a satisfying, high quality portrait.
- Pick an artist that matches your aesthetic as well as the size, style and painting format of the portrait
- Provide a comprehensive, clear and quality photo.
- Clearly define the terms of the offer and contract
- Follow up the production and participate in feedback and corrections
- Proper care and framing of the work after receiving it
