How to Commission a Pet Portrait You’ll Treasure
A beloved pet rarely sits still in the neat, flattering way a photograph suggests. They tilt their head when they hear the biscuit tin, fold one ear when they are curious, or take up far more room on the sofa than seems possible. Learning how to commission a pet portrait is really about preserving those small, familiar details - not simply choosing a picture to be copied.
A hand-drawn portrait can become a quiet presence in a home: a reminder of a dog’s bright expression, the soft markings on an old cat’s nose, or the watchful calm of a rabbit. The best commissions begin with a little preparation and an honest conversation with the artist. Here is how to make the process feel clear, personal and enjoyable from the first photograph to the finished artwork.
Begin with the feeling you want the portrait to hold
Before choosing photographs or thinking about a frame, pause over what you would like the artwork to say. Perhaps it is a gift for someone whose dog is at the centre of family life. Perhaps you are marking a birthday, welcoming a new pet, or remembering an animal who is no longer there to greet you at the door.
This does not need to be a grand or melancholy decision. It simply helps you choose the right image and style. A close-up portrait can feel intimate and characterful, especially when the eyes and expression are the focus. A fuller pose may suit a pet known for an elegant stance, unusual coat markings or a favourite collar. If the portrait is intended for a particular room, consider the space too. A smaller piece can sit beautifully on a shelf or bedside table, while a larger artwork has a more settled presence above a mantelpiece or in a hallway.
How to commission a pet portrait with the right artist
Choosing an artist is not only about finding someone who can draw accurately. Look for work that makes you feel something. Notice how the artist handles fur, whiskers, eyes and the gentle variations of colour in a coat. Do their portraits feel polished but still alive? Can you recognise a sense of personality in each animal rather than a single repeated style?
It is also worth considering the medium. Coloured pencil portraits are often loved for their softness, fine detail and patient layering of colour. They can capture the silvery hairs around a muzzle, the warmth in a spaniel’s ears or the velvety darkness of a black cat without making the finished piece feel harsh. Other media may be looser or more graphic. Neither approach is automatically better; it depends on what feels most like your pet and what you would enjoy living with every day.
Read the artist’s commission information carefully before getting in touch. You should be able to understand the available sizes, whether the work is framed or unframed, what kind of reference images are needed, the likely timescale, and how payment is arranged. A clear process is a good sign. Bespoke artwork is personal, but it should not feel mysterious or difficult to organise.
At Art by Jay, every portrait begins with close observation of the supplied photographs, allowing the individual markings, expression and quieter character of each pet to guide the drawing.
Choose photographs that show who they are
Your photographs are the artist’s window into your pet, so quality matters. This does not mean you need professional images or a perfectly posed animal. A mobile phone photograph taken in good natural daylight is often ideal. What matters most is that the pet’s features are clear.
Choose one main photograph where the face is in focus, the eyes are visible and the lighting shows the true colours of the coat. Avoid images taken from too far away, in dim rooms, or with strong sunlight bleaching one side of the face. Flash can create unusual reflections in the eyes and flatten the natural texture of fur, so daylight near a window or outside in soft weather is usually kinder.
It is helpful to send a few additional photographs alongside your chosen main image. These can show the pet from another angle, a clearer view of their markings, or their usual colouring in different light. This is particularly useful for black, white or very fluffy pets, where detail can disappear in a single image. If a collar, tag, distinctive white patch or one slightly bent ear matters to you, say so. Those are often the details that make a portrait feel immediately, unmistakably theirs.
Try not to rely on a favourite photograph if it is too blurred or heavily filtered to show the face clearly. An artist may be able to work with it, but there is a trade-off: an image with a lovely moment but limited detail can lead to more interpretation. A less dramatic photograph with good lighting may create a stronger and more faithful finished portrait.
Share the details a photograph cannot tell
This is the part people often overlook, and it can make all the difference. Along with your images, tell the artist a little about your pet. Was your terrier endlessly busy, or quietly devoted? Did your cat have an aloof look but insist on sleeping under the duvet? Is there a particular expression that everyone in the family knows?
A short note gives life to the visual reference. It can help the artist understand whether an alert, wide-eyed expression is typical, or whether the pet was usually softer and more contemplative. You might also mention their name, breed, age and any features you would especially like to be retained. For a memorial portrait, it can feel especially meaningful to share one small memory. There is no need to write an essay. A few sincere lines are enough.
Be clear, too, about anything you do not want included. Some people prefer a simple portrait with no collar or background. Others would like a favourite bandana, a familiar toy or a gentle suggestion of foliage. Simple backgrounds often keep attention on the animal, while a more detailed setting can make the piece feel connected to a favourite walk or garden. The right choice depends on whether you want the portrait to feel timeless and calm, or more narrative and place-led.
Agree the practical details before work begins
A commission works best when expectations are settled early. Confirm the artwork size, orientation and number of pets. A single head-and-shoulders study will require a different composition from a full-body portrait of two animals. If you are commissioning a surprise gift, allow enough time for the artist’s drawing schedule, drying or finishing time where relevant, and safe postage.
Ask whether you will see a preview or receive an update during the process. Artists work in different ways. Some may confirm the composition before beginning, while others prefer to reveal the completed piece once it is ready. Neither is wrong, but knowing what to expect helps you feel relaxed about the journey.
You should also understand what revisions, if any, are possible. Changes are easiest at the planning stage, before the artwork is developed in detail. Once many layers of coloured pencil have been carefully built up, altering a marking or expression may not be straightforward. This is why taking a little time with the reference photographs and initial brief is so worthwhile.
Finally, think about how the portrait will be presented. A hand-drawn original deserves thoughtful handling, whether you plan to frame it yourself or give it as a gift. Keep it away from direct sunlight and damp rooms, and choose a frame that lets the artwork breathe rather than competing with it. Natural wood, soft white or simple black frames often allow the portrait’s detail to remain the focus, though the best choice will depend on your home and the colours within the piece.
Let the artwork be a true likeness, not a perfect one
It is natural to hope for a portrait that captures every detail, but the most treasured commissions tend to offer something more than photographic precision. They hold the warmth of recognition. The particular gaze. The familiar markings. The feeling that this animal, with all their habits and history, has been carefully seen.
Give the artist strong references, share what matters, and leave room for their hand and observation to shape the final work. A pet portrait is not just an image of an animal you love. Given time and care, it becomes a small, lasting way of keeping their character close.