WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A PET PORTRAIT ARTIST
Digital painting of “Annie”, professionally printed and framed, and embellished with acrylics.
Choosing a pet portrait artist isn’t just about finding someone who can make a nice picture. It’s about trusting someone to translate memory, personality, and connection into something tangible - something that will live in your home long after a favorite companion is gone. Something that brings back memories and makes you smile.
That’s not a small ask.
As a professional pet portrait artist who has completed hundreds of commissioned portraits, I’ve seen firsthand what works, and what clients often wish they’d known before choosing an artist.
If you’re beginning the search for a pet portrait artist, here are a few things worth paying attention to before you commit.
Understand the medium, not just the image
Pet portraits can be created using many different mediums. Oils, watercolors, pastels, charcoal, textiles, sculpture, and digital painting all have their place. Each comes with its own strengths, limitations, and visual language.
Some collectors prefer the unpredictability of wet paint or the texture of paper. Others appreciate the precision and flexibility digital tools allow in the early stages of a portrait. Neither approach is inherently better. What matters is how the artist uses the medium, not the medium itself.
It’s also worth distinguishing between hand-created digital paintings and software that automatically converts photographs into “paintings.” There are plenty of tools and filters today that can turn a photograph into something that resembles a painting. That doesn’t make the result a portrait. Hand-created work, whether digital or traditional, reflects the individual decisions and style of the artist behind it.
When choosing a pet portrait artist, it helps to understand what medium they work in, why they’ve chosen it, and how it supports the kind of finished artwork you want to live with. The technique should serve the portrait, not distract from it.
Technical skill matters
A good pet portrait balances emotion with structure. Composition, proportion, lighting, and color harmony all play a role.
An artist with formal training or long professional experience will see things that casual editing misses, such as tension in a stance, expression, or the subtle spark in an eye.
These details are subtle, but they’re the difference between a portrait that feels alive and one that feels flat.
Ask how they work with imperfect photos
One of the most common concerns I hear is, “I don’t have great photos.” That’s especially true for memorial portraits, where the best images might be old phone photos or quick snapshots.
A skilled pet portrait artist knows how to read information beyond resolution. Expression, posture, and personality often come through even in imperfect images. In many cases, multiple photos can be combined to create a more complete reference.
If an artist requires a single, perfectly lit, high-resolution file, that may limit what they’re able to do creatively.
Pay attention to the process
Commissioning artwork should feel collaborative, not mysterious.
Look for an artist who explains their process clearly and welcomes communication along the way. You should know when feedback happens, what approvals are part of the process, and how decisions are made before the final piece is created.
Transparency isn’t just professional courtesy. It’s how misunderstandings and disappointment are avoided.
Understand what you’re actually receiving
If your goal is something to display in your home, it’s worth understanding how the final piece is produced. What materials are used? How is the artwork finished? Are those materials archival and appropriate for long-term display?
If the work involves printing, ask where and how it’s produced. If it’s traditionally painted, ask about surfaces, paints, and protective finishes. In either case, clarity around materials helps you understand how the piece will age over time.
It’s also reasonable to ask what makes the artwork truly custom. Is the piece created specifically for you? Are there opportunities for input or approval along the way? Is there documentation or a certificate of authenticity included?
A portrait meant to live on a wall should be designed with scale, texture, and longevity in mind, regardless of the medium used.
Credentials aren’t everything, but they aren’t nothing either
Professional affiliations, exhibitions, and awards don’t guarantee you’ll love an artist’s style, but they do indicate commitment to craft and accountability within the industry.
An artist who has invested years in learning, refining, and teaching their craft is more likely to deliver work that holds up over time, both technically and artistically.
A closing note
My own approach is shaped by years of professional training and experience, including earning the PPA Master Artist and AIM Master of Animal Imagery credentials, and creating commissioned artwork through Pouka Art & Photography since 2006. That background informs how I think about process, communication, and craftsmanship at every stage of a portrait.
If you’re considering commissioning a pet portrait and aren’t sure whether your photos are good enough, or whether my painting style or the final product is the right fit, it’s always worth asking questions before deciding. A thoughtful artist will be honest about what’s possible, and just as honest about what isn’t.
That conversation is often where the best portraits begin.
