Pet Portrait Commissions
Being an animal lover and pet owner myself, I am fascinated by the powerful and complex relationships we have with our family pets. Pet portraiture is for me, an intimate art form that can touch people's lives and form a bond between ourselves and the natural world. I have painted over 150 pet portraits in the last decade, and taking on pet commissions has become a major aspect of my art practice. In 2022 I was a guest judge in the Queen’s Jubilee Dog Show in Twickenham, London, UK and that same year, the El Segundo Dept of Arts and Culture commissioned an exhibition of my pet portraits here in California.
If you are interested in having me paint a portrait of your dog, cat, horse, reptile, amphibian or fish(!), please SCROLL DOWN to see painting examples, prices and commissioning guidelines. You may then contact me directly to commission a portrait by clicking the CONTACT button on the page menu.
COMMISSIONING A PET PORTRAIT: HELPFUL INFORMATION...
I paint each pet portrait on an artist's wood panel - I love the way that the rhythms in the wood grain accent the lines and rhythms in the animals' fur. I prefer to paint heads only, with eyes making direct contact with the viewer (see examples) but can work to your preference.
I work from photographs and so need at least one close up, well lit photo of your pet looking straight at camera. Additional photos from other angles are also very helpful. Though my portraits are very realistic, color is something I love to use to its fullest potential, so I often avoid pure black, grey and white, and accent the colors and contrasts that occur in animals' fur patterns as the light hits them (again see my examples for typical color schemes).
PRICES
Once I have received your photos, I will ask for half the cost before I start, and the remainder once you approve the finished painting. Postage will be additional, but there are no other hidden costs. As artist, I will retain reproduction rights to the artwork, but you of course will be the owner.
Prices are as follows - (rectangular shapes will be used when the pet's face fits more perfectly into that format):
10" x 10" - $300
9" x 12" - $300
12" x 12" - $400
11" x 14" - $400
14" x 14" - $500
12" x 16" - $500
16" x 16" - $600
14" x 18" - $600
