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Hand-Painted Pet Portraits
Commissioning a hand-painted pet portrait is a wonderful way to celebrate and commemorate our furry, feathered, and sometimes scaly friends!
As a lover of animals myself, I am always excited to dive into a new pet portrait painting. After all, they are more than just pets; they are cherished members of our families. When I paint your beloved companion, I work closely with you to capture their personality as well as their likeness. More than a photograph, a custom fine art pet portrait is a unique way to preserve and honor your best friend’s legacy for generations to come.
Can you create a painting of my pet from a photo?
YES! In fact, this is how most of my portrait commissions come to me. When working from a photo, I request that you please send the sharpest and highest resolution photo references possible. Additional images of the subject, at different angles (including videos), are also extremely helpful to get a better understanding of their likeness and personality.
What if I don’t have a high-resolution photo?
While it is important and preferable to have a clear image to work from, I understand that this is not always possible- especially if all you have are old photographs to remember your beloved companion. In this case, I will work closely with you and discuss options for creating a beautiful portrait based on what you have.
Can you paint my pet in a funny outfit or setting?
Pet portraits don’t have to be serious. Share with me your idea, and I will gladly help make your vision spring to life on the canvas!
How much does a pet portrait cost?
Please take a look at my commissions page and my post about commission pricing to learn more about the process. Once I have a better understanding of your needs, I will provide a customized quote, with an expected timeline for completion based on my current queue, and then we can discuss the next steps to lock in your commission.
I would like to give a pet portrait as a gift. Will it be ready in time?
Pet portraits make great gifts! Commission orders must be received 15 weeks before a desired deadline. My oil painting process is based on a series of glaze layers per the classic Renaissance painters’ technique. This means that each layer of oil paint must dry before continuing. A typical painting takes around 4-6 weeks to complete, with an additional 8 weeks of curing time before it can be shipped.
Do you accept commissions from out of state?
YES! Working from my studio in Raleigh, NC, I accept paint commissions from across the US, and I will ship the finished work securely to your door.
"Katie is not only enormously talented, she listens to closely to what you are asking for so that she can deliver amazing results! We had her do a portrait of our daughter-in-law's beloved pup. The results were so lifelike it brought tears to our eyes and Katie captured the personality and love just perfectly."
Susan & Jim B.
"Working with Katie on our mural could not have been an easier, more rewarding experience. She designed a one of a kind piece of art that was personal to us for our baby's nursery in a short time period and with an absolute minimum amount of disruption. She was extremely professional and easy to work with, kept us updated on timelines, accommodated our schedules, made sure we were fully comfortable with her designs at every stage, and was fastidious in making sure our furniture and other items were protected from the paint. The final piece is something we absolutely treasure and we can not recommend Katie highly enough."
Diane S.
"I asked Katie to paint something meaningful using an old grainy photo. She used that photo, along with other photos I had and other ideas and created something beautiful... not only did she create something beautiful, but did so in a timely, but not rushed, manner and she communicated every step of the way. I highly recommend Katie if you are wanting something painted to last a lifetime."
Emilio H.