Custom Pet Oil Paintings from Your Photos

I usually work with more abstract backgrounds, as too much detail can compete with the subject and take attention away from your pet. Most of my clients leave the background decision entirely up to me, trusting my artistic judgment to create the best result. That said, if you have a preference for a lighter or darker background, or if you'd like to request a custom background for your pet portrait, feel free to mention it when placing your order. I’ll do my best to incorporate your ideas while keeping the focus on your pet.

I know that in many cases — especially when creating memorial pet portraits — the only available photos might be old, blurry, or low-resolution. I’ve painted many portraits from limited or imperfect references and still achieved beautiful results.

If that’s your case, please send me all the photos you have. The more references I receive, the better I can understand your pet’s features and personality. I also use photo editing tools to enhance lighting, contrast, and color when needed — all to help me create the best possible painting from the images you provide.

If you're planning to give a custom pet portrait as a gift for a birthday, anniversary, or memorial, the most important thing is to reach out as early as possible. My schedule is usually fully booked about six months in advance, so I can’t guarantee availability for specific dates. That said, if you let me know your desired timeframe, I’ll do my best to advise on possible delivery windows or help you reserve a future spot.

When you commission a pet portrait, payment is only requested after the painting is finished and approved by you — there’s no upfront cost. This gives you time to prepare while I work on your custom pet portrait. Once it’s completed, I’ll send final images for your review. If you're happy with the result, I’ll collect your shipping information and send you an invoice, which can be paid by credit or debit card. After the portrait is finished, it needs up to 10 days to dry before it’s ready for varnishing, which helps protect the painting over time. The painting will be shipped after the varnish is applied and the payment is completed.

To get the best result in your custom pet portrait, please send clear, high-quality photo references where your pet’s eyes are visible and in focus. Natural lighting (without flash) works best to capture the true fur colors and details. Your pet doesn’t need to be looking straight at the camera — in fact, the most beautiful portraits often come from photos taken at a three-quarter angle, where the face is slightly turned to the side. This pose adds a natural sense of depth and elegance to the painting. Also, images where one side of the face is lit and the other in shadow work beautifully, as this lighting contrast adds dimension and realism to the final artwork. Feel free to send multiple pictures — I’ll help you select the best photo for your pet painting.

Yes — I can absolutely remove collars, harnesses, or other accessories in the final painting. Many clients prefer a more timeless and elegant look, and I can create your pet portrait without any accessories, focusing entirely on your pet. If you prefer a more classic look, I can create your custom pet portrait without a collar, leash, or harness — just let me know in advance. I’ll adjust the composition accordingly to highlight your pet’s natural beauty.

Yes — I can still create a complete and beautiful custom pet portrait even if part of the ear, tail, or another feature is missing in the photo. This is actually quite common, and I can usually reconstruct the missing part based on other reference photos or the natural symmetry of your pet. Just send me all the pictures you have, and I’ll take care of the rest.

Once you send me your pet’s photos, I’ll review all of them and choose the one (or a few) that I believe would work best for a custom pet portrait. I look for images with good lighting, sharp details—especially around the eyes—and a natural, expressive pose. I’ll then share my choice with you, so you can see what I have in mind and approve the reference photo before I begin painting. The final portrait is always based on a single selected photo, not a combination of images, so it’s important that we’re both confident in the reference we choose. The more photos you send, the better! You can upload up to 10 photos in the order form, and if you have more, feel free to email them. This helps me better understand your pet’s features and personality, ensuring the most accurate and expressive pet painting on canvas.

It depends. In some cases, I can combine two different pet photos into a single custom portrait, but there are two important factors that must align for it to look natural:

Lighting direction — both pets need to be lit from the same side (for example, both from the left).

Camera angle — the photos must be taken from the same angle and perspective.

If the lighting or angles are mismatched, the final painting may look unnatural or forced. Feel free to send me the photos — I’ll let you know if a realistic composition is possible or if I recommend another approach.