THE PORTRAIT GIFT
Commissioning a portrait for someone else is a generous idea. It's also a tricky one. The reference photo, the pose, the size, the style...
A portrait is going to live in that person's home for years. The Portrait Gift gives the recipient what they actually need: the chance to make those decisions themselves.
— WHEN THE PORTRAIT NEEDS TO BE THEIRS
Sometimes the best gift is stepping back.
There's a version of portrait gifting that works beautifully - when you know exactly which photo captures them, when you've thought through size and placement, and when a finished piece would genuinely delight the recipient. That's a wonderful thing to give.
But not every commission fits that scenario. If you're not sure which photo to use, which style makes sense, or whether your vision of the portrait matches theirs... that uncertainty is worth paying attention to. A portrait built around the wrong moment or the wrong feeling is still a beautifully painted portrait. It's just not quite theirs.
The Portrait Gift lets the recipient be the client. They choose the reference image, describe what they're hoping to capture, and guide the design before anything is committed to canvas. The portrait that comes out of that process belongs to them in a way a surprise commission can't.
— WHAT'S IN THE BOX
Everything they need to get started.
The Portrait Gift arrives in a keepsake box with four things inside.
THE POUKA MAGAZINE A look at the full range of work - Signature Portraits, Storyscapes, Memorial pieces - along with a closer look at the process. It gives the recipient a sense of what's possible before they reach out.
AN 8×10 ART PRINT A matted fine art print from my collection, ready to display. Something to enjoy right now, while the commission comes together.
THE PORTRAIT GIFT CERTIFICATE The commission itself - a gift certificate with a redemption code. No expiration pressure. Everything needed to begin.
A STARTER CARD + A NOTE A small card with a few questions worth sitting with before the first conversation: which photo feels most like them, what mood they're hoping the portrait carries, whether there's a place that holds memory. And a short personal note from me, so they know the process is collaborative and there's no rush.
— HOW IT WORKS
Simple from start to finish.
Purchase the Portrait Gift online. Your box ships within three business days.
Present the box. Everything inside explains what it is and what comes next.
The recipient reaches out when they're ready. No deadline, no pressure.
The commission begins the same way every commission does - with a conversation about their pet and what they want the portrait to carry.
Give a custom pet portrait commission as a curated gift. Choose the portrait style, size, and framing -- the recipient handles the rest.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
A portrait commission is a personal thing. The right photo, the right mood, the right size for the right wall -- these are details the recipient is better positioned to decide. The Portrait Gift lets them do exactly that.
Choose the portrait style, size, and framing below. Your gift arrives in a keepsake box with the certificate, a fine art print, the Pouka studio magazine, and a note to get the conversation started. The recipient reaches out when they're ready and guides the commission from there.
The certificate amount applies in full toward the portrait selected. Upgrades -- a larger size, a Storyscape in place of a Signature Portrait, or a different framing finish -- can be worked out during the commission process.
Gift boxes can be shipped to you or directly to the recipient.
HOW IT WORKS
1. Choose Style, Size, and Framing Select from the dropdown menus below.
2. Your Box Ships Everything arrives ready to give -- certificate, fine art print, studio magazine, and a personal note.
3. The Recipient Reaches Out No deadline pressure. When they're ready, they contact the studio, share their photos, and the commission begins.
SIGNATURE PORTRAITS A classic painted portrait on archival canvas. Subject-focused, painterly, and timeless.
STORYSCAPES A fully composed environment built around your subject -- fields, shorelines, meaningful landscapes. The setting is part of the portrait.
— INVESTMENT
Size, pricing, and what to expect.
When you purchase The Portrait Gift, you'll select the portrait style, canvas size, and framing finish. Pricing is based on those three choices -- the full pricing guide opens in a new tab for reference.
The certificate amount applies in full toward what you've selected. If the recipient wants to upgrade -- a larger size, or a Storyscape in place of a Signature Portrait -- the difference is worked out during the commission process.
The first step is reaching out.
Not sure which portrait style is right, or whether this is the right gift for your situation? I'm happy to talk it through before you purchase.