— COMMISSIONS
Memorial
Pet Portraits
A memorial portrait is created from the photographs you already have, even if they're a few years old or weren't taken with this in mind. What the finished piece needs isn't a perfect likeness. It's the particular things that made them recognizable: the set of their ears, the way they stood, the look in their eyes.
When you look at the finished piece, it should feel like them.
"A memorial portrait honors your relationship."
The goal of every portrait is familiarity, not idealization. What carries through isn't a flawless rendering. It's the specific expression, the posture, the small details that made them recognizable. That's what the design process is built around, and what the finished piece is meant to hold onto.
Each portrait starts as a digital painting, so the composition can be refined and approved before anything is committed to canvas. From there, it's printed on archival canvas and finished by hand with acrylic paint. The process is unhurried. There's no expectation to move faster than you're ready to.
MEMORIAL PET PORTRAITS
— SIGNATURE OR STORYSCAPE
Two ways to honor them.
SIGNATURE PORTRAIT
Full attention on your pet.
A Signature Portrait places your pet against a simple painted background — nothing to distract from expression and presence. This format keeps the focus on who they were: the look in their eyes, the way they held themselves. Clean, timeless, and entirely about them.
STORYSCAPE PORTRAIT
A place that holds memory.
A Storyscape incorporates a meaningful setting — a backyard, a favorite field, a shoreline, or another place that belongs to the relationship. The environment becomes part of the story while keeping your pet central to the composition. It can carry more narrative weight than a portrait alone.
Both approaches are equally thoughtful. The right choice depends on how you want the portrait to feel.
— SELECTED WORK
Portraits created for clients
who have been exactly where you are.
— WORKING FROM YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS
Imperfect photos are often
more than enough.
Most memorial portraits begin with everyday images — phone snapshots, older prints, or a small collection of meaningful photos. In most cases, that is more than enough.
The focus is not technical perfection. It is familiarity. What matters is whether the image captures something true about your pet — their expression, the way they held themselves, the look that was unmistakably them.
If you're unsure whether your photos will work, share them and I'll give you an honest assessment of what's possible. You can also read more about how I work from older or imperfect images here.
— WHAT MAKES A MEMORIAL PORTRAIT SUCCESSFUL
Four things that matter most.
Reference images that reflect personality
Photos that show expression, posture, and the way they carried themselves. A small collection from different moments is often more useful than a single formal image.
A composition that feels considered
Not assembled from parts — designed to feel balanced and intentional. The design phase is where this is worked out, with your input at each step.
Clear understanding of expression
The look that was unmistakably them. If there's a photo where they look most like themselves, that's the one to start with.
Collaboration throughout
Every memorial portrait is refined with your feedback before anything is finalized. The process is collaborative and unhurried. There's no expectation to move faster than you're ready to.
The finished artwork is printed on archival canvas and hand-finished with acrylic paint, creating a physical piece designed for display in your home.
— A THOUGHTFUL GIFT
Commissioning a portrait for someone who is grieving.
Memorial portraits are sometimes commissioned as gifts for someone who has lost a pet. If you're considering this, we can discuss timing and presentation to ensure the process feels respectful and supportive — including how and when to involve the recipient in the design process, if at all.
The first step is simply
reaching out.
Share the images you have, and tell me a little about your pet. From there, we'll decide together what will best honor them. The commission process page explains what to expect at each step.