Custom Pet Portraits: Why Get One?

With custom pet portraits, you can turn your furry friend into a timeless piece of art. The incredible attention to detail highlights all the best features of your pet and captures his personality. Here are the top reasons to have your pet's portrait painted.

Why get a pet portrait?

Pet portrait painting is more than just encapsulating the likeness of our family companions on a canvas. There are various reasons why pet owners love to have portraits done of their pets:

• A unique and stylish piece to hang on your wall. Having a pet portrait decorating your wall adds more personal touch to your home. If you have guests around, be a proud pawrent and let the artwork to show your pet off.
• To honour the memory of a departed pet Losing a pet is never easy. Many pet owners choose to get pet portraits as a tribute to their departed furry companion.
• A precious family heirloom Pets are part of the family. Having a portrait made for your pet has sentimental value. It is sure to be passed on as a family heirloom.
• An excellent gift for your loved ones Any pet lover will be overjoyed to receive a beautiful portrait of their furry companion. You can never go wrong in choosing a custom animal portrait as a great gifts for your loved ones.
• For a good cause There are pet portrait artists whose works are created to raise awareness on some important issues, such as animal cruelty. Some donate part of their earnings to animal organisations or shelters. Consider finding and partnering with pet portrait artists in your area. You will not only get a portrait of a beloved pet in return but also inspire others to support a noble cause.

What are the factors you need to consider before getting a pet portrait?

There are a few things you need to consider before commissioning a custom pet portrait.

• Number of subjects included in the portrait Most pet portrait artists offer to paint multiple animals or pets with their owners for an additional cost. The standard pet portrait is often with only one pet.
• Type of Medium Pet portrait artists work with different mediums. They use different styles and techniques to capture the likeness of your pet. To help you decide on which medium suits your taste, here's a list of the most common mediums used in creating pet portraits:

1. Digital The artist uses digital software to create stunning pet portraits. This medium comes in a wide range of styles and is less costly compared to hand-painted pieces. Check out the printing cost of the finished pet portrait in advance, there are many companies offering services online, and the cost could vary greatly.
2. Charcoal and Pencil If you want a classic black and white pet portrait, charcoal and pencil are the best choices.
3. Coloured Pencil It offers the same quality as pencil pet portraits but with colours. Your furry friend's features will be highlighted in detail through the use of this medium. Colour pencilled pet portraits is a good choice if your budget is low.
4. Watercolour Provides a lighter and more fluid look to the pet portrait, giving it a seemingly animated effect.
5. Oil and Acrylic Paint Oil and acrylic are the most expensive out of all the mediums. Pet portraits made from oil and acrylic are highly durable. With proper care, oil paintings can last for over a hundred years.

• Type of Pet Portrait Artist There are two types of portrait artists for you to choose: A service and a private artist.

1. Service Some online pet portrait services will find and choose the right artist for you. Others will give you the liberty to select an artist listed on their website. This will save you time from searching available pet portrait artists in your area.
2. Private Artist You may need to spend time perusing their galleries first to see if their style and method match your preferences. If you choose a private artist, you often have more communication and regular updates on how your pet's portrait is going.

• Reference Photo It is common for the artist to ask for a reference photo before they start working on your request. Depending on the artist, they may require you to send one pet image or a bunch of them with various angles. Be sure to pick only the best ones since this makes it easier for the artist to work on the portrait.

How do you take a good reference photo for your pet portrait?

Choosing the right pet photo is crucial as the artist will depend on the picture you provide to create the portrait. If you send a poor quality reference image, it can negatively affect the final output. To get a perfect reference photo, follow these tips below:

Tip # 1

Take a photo of your furry companion outside in natural lighting but avoid too much light. If you are unable to take photos outside, find a well-lit room. A window where a decent amount of light can come through is a good option.

Never use a flash since it washes out the colour of your pet. Exclude blurry or dim photos when choosing what to send to the artist.

Tip # 2

If you are taking a photo of small to medium pets, get down to their eye level instead of overhead. You may need to crouch down or place your pet on a table to get a good shot.

However, if you need to capture a photo of a big animal (e.g. horse portrait), do it standing up.

Tip # 3

Be sure that your pet is either sitting down or standing up. Do not take a photo of him lying down since half of his body won't be seen. This makes it a poor photo for the artist to use as a reference.

Tip # 4

If you choose to have a full-body animal portrait painting, fill the whole frame with your pet's body. Leave only a little background if possible since it is your pet's features that need to be highlighted in the picture.

If you opt for a head and chest dog portrait or cat portrait fill the film without cropping out some of his body parts. Pay close attention, especially to his ears and neck area.

Tip # 5

Avoid capturing photos of your pet when he is directly facing forward or sideways. The result will make his features look flat. Take a picture of him looking slightly to the left or right instead.

Tip # 6

Do not hesitate to ask for the artist's opinion. The artist will be able to give you helpful advice on which photo fits best for the portrait you requested.

How much does a pet portrait cost?

The prices of custom animal portrait paintings vary greatly. They may cost as low as £20 for a simple sketch to over £1,000 for a detailed oil painting. The pricing depends on several factors, including:

• Medium used
• Size of the portrait
• Number of subjects
• The complexity of the request
• Shipping costs