Top 10 tips for finding the right artist to draw your pet
Our pets mean a lot to us, so its worth taking the time to find and commission the right artist to create a pet portrait. Here are 10 things to take into consideration when choosing a pet portrait artist to capture the likeness of your furry, fluffy, or feathered companion:
1) The style of the artist
There are various styles of pet portraits, each with their unique characteristics, from the hyper realistic, the the highly stylised, and everything in between:
Realistic portraits aim to capture the likeness and personality of the pet such that it’s almost indistinguishable from seeing it in real life. In fact, they can look even more real than a photograph. They often require great attention to detail, and the artist may use various techniques such as shading, blending, and layering to create a three-dimensional effect.
An impressionistic style aims to capture the essence of a pet through loose brushstrokes, vibrant colours, and a focus on light and atmosphere. The artist may use broad strokes of paint to suggest the pet's fur or features, rather than creating a highly detailed and realistic image. The colors used are often bright and expressive, with an emphasis on capturing the mood and personality of the animal. The artist may also use techniques such as blurring or smudging to create a sense of movement or atmosphere.
A cartoon or caricature style is more playful, often featuring exaggerated features or expressions. The artist may use bold lines, bright colors, and simplified shapes to create a fun and whimsical portrait.
My style is highly realistic, yet has a warmth and softness to it that helps communicate the affection we have for our pets. I usually draw the subject with a very minimal background which results in a clean modern looking portrait with a strong focus on the pet.
2) The medium the artist uses
The medium is closely related to the style, but it is worth its own section here. Hopefully the following options will help you identify the medium you might want your portrait created in, and so help you choose a suitable artist:
i) Coloured pencils
Coloured pencils are an excellent medium for creating pet portraits, as they allow for a high level of detail and precision. They come in a wide range of colours, which can be layered on top of each other, allowing the artist to create a realistic representation of the pet's fur, eyes, nose, and other features.
ii) Pastel pencils
Pastel pencils are similar to coloured pencils, but can create an even richer range of colours, and can more easily be used to create out of focus backgrounds. However, a little extra care needs to be taken with the finished artwork as it’s more susceptible to smudging. Pastel portraits also benefit from being framed well and double mounted (see below) as sometimes small amounts of pastel dust can fall off over time. You can see some of my pastel pencil portraits here.
iii) Water-colour portraits
Watercolour is a delicate and transparent medium that can capture the unique character of a pet. Watercolour portraits often have a dreamy and ethereal quality, with soft edges and subtle washes of colour. They have a lovely fluid feel to them when you can see how the paint moved over the surface of the paper. Sometimes artists then go over the watercolour with another medium to add finer details (see below).
iv) Oil portraits
Oil painting is a traditional medium that can produce rich, vibrant colours and a luscious texture. Oil portraits are often highly detailed and realistic, with a warm and inviting feel.
v) Digital portraits
With the rise of digital art, it's now possible to create pet portraits entirely on a computer or tablet. Digital portraits can range from realistic to stylised, and the artist may use various programs and techniques to create a unique and personalised portrait.
vi) Mixed media portraits
Mixed media portraits involve the use of different materials and techniques to create a one-of-a-kind portrait. For example, an artist may combine water-colour, pen and ink, and collage elements to create a portrait that has a unique texture and visual interest. I recently combined water colour and coloured pencils to create a great effect for portrait of a childhood pet.
I work mainly in coloured pencils as they help me capture every minute detail of the subject. I do, however, love the colours achievable when using pastels and sometimes use them for my larger pieces or when the subject is more suited to a coloured background. I have, in the past, used water-colours and oils and hope to find time to use these more.
3) The quality and talent of the artist’s work
Simply put, how good are they as an artist? Of course there will be some subjectivity to that, but you will want to choose an artist who you think is really good at what they do. That’s usually going to be due to a mixture of talent, hard work, and experience. I’ve been drawing animals for as long as I can remember, and in a paid capacity for over 4 years now. You can see examples of my pet portraits and artwork on my website as well as clients’ feedback.
However, it’s not just the artist’s ability to copy an image that’s important. They need an eye to arrange the composition well, adjust or correct the reference photo where needed, and in some cases fill in detail where the reference is not of ideal quality. I’ve been doing a lot of that recently. It’s often quite challenging but really satisfying to work from a less than perfect reference photograph, often of a pet that has passed away, and create something that helps the owner remember it by.
4) The composition options the artist gives you
In terms of the composition, there are several options for pet portraits, depending on the desired effect. Here are a few of the common ones:
i) Close-up portrait
A close-up portrait is a tightly cropped image that focuses on the pet's head and shoulders. This type of composition can create an intimate and expressive image that highlights the pet's personality and character.
ii) Full-body portrait
A full-body portrait depicts the entire pet, from head to toe. This type of composition can show the pet's posture, body language, and overall appearance, and can be used to convey a sense of movement or action.
iii) Group portrait
A group portrait depicts two or more pets together, often interacting with each other or with their human companions. This type of composition can be used to show the relationships between pets and their owners, or between different pets in a household.
iv) Environmental portrait
An environmental portrait shows the pet in a specific setting, such as a park, beach, or home environment. This type of composition can create a narrative or tell a story about the pet's life and experiences.
Overall, the composition options for pet portraits are wide-ranging and offer many possibilities for capturing the unique character and personality of each pet. The choice of composition will depend on the client’s preference, and the desired effect of the final artwork.
5) The professionalism of the artist
Obviously you want to commission an artist who is talented, but it's also important that they conduct their business in a competent and professional way. Do they reply quickly and clearly? Is their website informative and up to date? Do they have clear terms and conditions?
You are usually required to place a deposit to commission a picture that might be completed in a few months, so you will want to choose an artist who you feel you can trust to complete the work and do it within the time frame agreed.
It could go under its own heading but I’ll include the presentation of the final artwork here too. The packaging the artwork comes in is important as it communicates the value and importance of the artwork. Most of my portraits are shipped in presentation boxes with a signed certificate of authenticity, and a care and framing guide. This means they are ready to gift to someone if that is what you commissioned it for, but equally I want to present the portrait to you in a way that shows the time and care that has been taken to create it.
6) The friendliness of the artist
As well as being professional, a good pet portrait artist also needs to be friendly and approachable. You will want to feel able to work with them and get along with them as you communicate what you want your artwork to look like. A good rapport between artist and client can lead to better communication and collaboration, which can result in a more successful outcome for the pet portrait, as well as make the process of creating it a positive and enjoyable experience for all involved.
7) Free no-commitment mock-ups
When you initially contact the artist, you want to be able to explore the possibilities and work out together the details of the picture that they could draw for you. It is obviously good, therefore, if you can find an artist who offers this part of the process for free without any obligation on your part to continue with the commission. The down side for the artist of course is that the client may not always end up commissioning them. I think it’s important, though, to be able to show someone a mock-up of what the final picture might look like so they can decide whether to go ahead or not. It also gives the artist the opportunity to see if the project is a suitable one for them.
Once you are happy with the mock-up, most pet portrait artists like me will require a deposit to secure your booking, and certainly before starting work on your picture. Once the portrait is finished, we will usually ask for the balance to be paid before shipping.
8) The artist’s ability to listen
You want to find an artist who will take the time to listen and understand exactly what you would like, or, if you do not initially know, work with you to help you explore the possibilities and come up with a picture that’s just right for you. One of the best parts of my job is the feedback I get from clients who really love their pet portrait. I want to make sure, therefore, that I listen to what they want so I can draw the picture that’s perfect for them.
9) The cost of commissioning the artist
Price is obviously an important consideration but like with most things in life, you tend to get what you pay for. My research found that pet portrait prices tend to vary according to medium, size, experience and talent. You will need to decide what your budget is and choose an artist whose prices match that. You can find my prices here.
10) The artist’s timescale to complete the commission
Finally, you will want to consider timescales. Most pet portrait artists are booked up for many months in advance. If you want to commission one in time for Christmas, therefore, or other special occasions, you will want to get in touch as soon as possible. My waiting list at the time of writing is around three months.
Conclusion
One other thing to check is that the artist is able to deliver the portrait to you wherever you are. Most, however, like me, regularly deliver internationally for very reasonable prices.
I hope that has helped you think about what might be important to you when choosing a pet portrait artist. I’ve tried to be as objective as I can with the above, but obviously I’d be delighted if you decided to commission me, so do please take a look at my galleries, customer reviews, and the rest of my website, and feel free to get in touch at any stage.