There’s a good chance your smartphone camera roll is full of photos of your pet or the furry friends of a friend or family member. And while a simple selfie or cute snap on Instagram is nice, why not turn those images into stylish and thoughtful artwork or gifts for your fellow animal lovers? These custom portraits—from embroidered art you can frame to painted portraits from a favorite photo—make great wall decor or heartfelt gifts.

Whether you want to draw, retratos de mascotas or digitally edit, it’s important for any pet portrait artist to have a style that stands out. A signature pet painting style helps you establish yourself and makes it easier for customers to find your work. It’s also a great way to grow your business and reach more clients.

Celebrating Your Furry Family: The Artistry of Pet Portraits

To make pet portraits, you need a few key tools. First, you need a good, high-quality photo of the subject. Then, you need to figure out how to capture its personality and character. For instance, if you’re painting a dog or cat with its head down and looking at the ground, it’s important to show that eye contact and its stance to create a lifelike portrait.

Similarly, if you’re creating a head and shoulders portrait of a pet, it’s important to notice their ear flap and “henry’s pocket” (that little slit near the base of the ear that only some cats have). That information will help you capture its expression and detail.