Custom Pet Portraits - Boca Raton Artist

Finished Painting ~ Ellyn surrounded with all her loving pets.

Commissioned art projects with pets are my favorite subject, especially if it involves my photography skills. When I have an opportunity to work with clients who love their pets as family members, we build a mutual bond working on a passion project that is dear to both of our hearts! 

A commission painting puts you in a different category. Not only a pet owner but also an art lover. These clients commit to creating something authentic to their vision and have the resources to invest in an heirloom-quality piece of art. As an artist, the beauty of painting a pet portrait relies on the perfect photo reference that captures the pet’s personality.

Original photo before Photoshop. The bird was added in the final reference photo.

The Process

All commissioned works start with collecting photographs of the animals you want in your painting. In Ellyn’s case, photographing all her pets in one photo together would be near impossible, let alone attempting to capture the attention and expressions of each pet.

Ellyn hired my photography services not only for the painting but also to have images of all her pets and their distinguishing features. I took individual photographs of each animal as well as Ellyn. I would arrange these images in Photoshop to create the perfect photo composite to use as a reference for the painting.

A custom piece of art like this takes time to create, not only the physical time to paint but the many added hours on the computer in Photoshop. It took three months from start to finish before delivering the final piece. Along the way, I shared updates with Ellyn so she could approve the sketch, add any of her ideas, and participate in the creative process. 

When I delivered the final piece to Ellyn, she was joyous! I shared in her delight as a testament to her relationship with her pets and the pure happiness they bring her. This painting has been an incredibly rewarding experience, especially adding the pet owner to the portrait adding the ultimate expression of love.

Photography is in my blood, and painting is in my soul! Creating a custom piece of artwork is a dream come true. Contact me today to learn how you can honor the special bond you share with your furry companion and cherish their memory forever.