Welcome! I am so glad you are considering commissioning a portrait of your beloved pet! Here are some frequently asked questions.
How do I begin?
Every commission begins with a conversation. What are you looking for? do you have a size or background in mind? What will fit your wall/budget/space best? Is this a gift? Do you have usable photo references? (See photo requirements below.) If you are unsure of where to begin or what photo to use, let’s chat!
What does my pet portrait include?
Each portrait is hand painted (by me!) using professional grade acrylic paint on a 1.5” deep stretched gallery canvas or cradled wood panel. (I’m happy to discuss the options or if you need a different depth of canvas to allow for framing, just let me know). The wrapped sides will be painted and will be completed with hardware on the back. The painting will be ready to hang on your wall, no frame required! Your painting will be sealed with a gloss varnish to protect it from dust and UV rays.
How long will it take to complete my portrait?
The turnaround time depends on how many commissions I am currently working on, but I can typically complete a painting in 4-6 weeks. All pet portrait paintings 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 let you know if I can accommodate it.
What is the process?
After we have a conversation about the details of your pet portrait and I have reviewed your photos, I will send you an invoice. A 50% non-refundable deposit is required to begin your pet portrait. This deposit will secure your place in line and cover the cost and supplies for the piece. The remaining 50% is due upon completion of portrait before I ship it to you. The cost of shipping is additional and may vary based on the size of the item being shipped and the distance you are from me. (Please request a shipping quote). This deposit reserves your place in line and I will be able to update you with the estimated completion date. Once I begin working on the painting I will be updating you on my progress with some sneak peeks of the portrait. When your painting has reached near-completion I will email you a digital photo for you to review and give me any feedback or make changes. Small changes are included in the price such eye color, shape, background color. I want you to be 100% happy with your painting! Any requests for large changes (such as a complete redo or change of image or background images) will be charged as an additional fee. Changes may effect completion date. When I have completed any revisions to your satisfaction I will add finishing details like my signature, varnish and hardware. The remaining balance is due before I will ship the painting to you. Once full payment is received, I will carefully package your painting and provide you with tracking information.
What are your photo requirements?
I will need the photo you wish to have painted and at least one additional photo of the pet for reference. (Or more, I can’t have too many photos for reference!)
Photo Tips; The best photos are pictures taken outside in natural light or very good (studio quality) indoor light. Try to fill as much of the frame with your pet as possible. It’s hard to get a good likeness of your pet if the animal is very small and far away in the photo. Afternoon light, when the sun is at more of an angle instead of overhead works very well. Consider how your pet looks in the pictures. Is he squinting into the sun? Are his ears pinned back? Try using a favorite toy or a treat to get an alert expression. (Someone to help you take pictures can be great!) When considering a photo to send me, try zooming in on the image. Is it blurry? Or nice and clear? A good quality photo will have clear detail when you zoom in. When emailing photos from your cell phone please make sure that you are attaching the original file or the largest file possible. Often times email will compress high resolution images which will cause blurriness and eliminates much of the detail. Please do not send screen shots as most of the detail will be lost and the photo will be blurry. Please do not send photos with any photo filters applied, again detail will be lost and filters can greatly alter the true color of your pets coat and general appearance.
Tell me about your pet. What color is their fur? Their eyes? (Photos sometimes can alter the true colors.) What pose or photo do you prefer? What is your pet like? Silly? Aloof? I love to know about their personality and who they are. All of these things help me to capture the best likeness of your pet.
If you have any questions about the suitability of a photo or unsure about which to pick, I am happy to discuss.
Photo quality examples
Example of a poor quality image (screenshot, dark, blurry)
Example of a high quality image (natural light, in focus)
How much is shipping?
I ship USPS Priority within the continental United States.Shipping outside of the US is determined by country. All paintings are insured. Please contact me for a shipping quote.
Do you ship internationally?
Yes, please contact me for availablility to your location.