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 the studio 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.
Size, pricing, and what to expect.
The Portrait Gift certificate functions as a deposit toward a portrait and is applied in full to the final investment. If the recipient would like to commission a larger size, add a Storyscape, or upgrade to canvas framing, 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.