What I offer & What You Receive

As an artist specializing in animal portraiture, I pour my heart and soul into capturing the essence and beauty of our furry, scaled, feathered and even gooey friends! While I'm passionate about bringing animals to life on paper, there are a few things I want to make clear about what you can expect from my artwork, what I offer and what I do not.

What I offer

  • My main commission subjects are pets! I love developing a connection with pets through drawing them! I am lucky to have the opportunity to look at such beautiful faces or hours each day.

  • From playful minks to majestic lions, I love portraying all kinds of animals in my artwork.

    I draw any species! Furry, feathered, scaled, slimy! Any and all!

    For wildlife, we have to look into licensing factors given the image you’d like me to draw is not a photo you’ve taken yourself or personally own the rights to.

  • While my primary focus is on realistic animal portraiture, I'm open to exploring the world of fantasy creatures. However, this is a topic that requires in-depth discussion via email, as it may involve extensive research and consideration. Let's chat about your vision and how we can bring it to life together!

  • I can do backgrounds. I prefer to do blurry or less detailed images, so as not to detract from the animal subject. I am happy to accomodate your thoughts to the best of my ability. If you require very intricate details, please expect a price increase, to be found on the commission & prices page.

  • I have done many pet memorials, which are one of the main reasons people commission my work. I am honored to have the privilege and responsibility of capturing the essence of beloved pets after they’ve passed. I love creating memorials because the process reveals the depth and dynamics of our relationships with animals. I like to think that a part of each animal continues to live in my mind, as I have memories linked to every drawing and stroke.

    When it comes to memorial portraits, please don’t feel restricted by the reference photos shown on my website. It's best to send me as many photos as possible so that I can capture a good likeness of your pet.

  • I love creating these pieces! Birthday present portraits, or those for any other occasion, are a lot of fun because I often get to hear back from the commissioner about how the gift was received. I also enjoy writing custom cards on behalf of the commissioner.

  • I offer gift cards! These can be found on the commission ordering page.

  • I am happy to incorporate mixed media into my work upon your wish. While I ensure that the piece remains primarily a pastel painting, I can blend in elements such as pens, colored pencils, mica/sparkles, watercolor, or a touch of acrylic. This approach adds unique details without overwhelming the primary medium.

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What I don't offer

  • The focus of my business is on capturing the essence and beauty of animals, so I generally avoid including people in my artwork. While humans can certainly have a connection with animals, I find that keeping the focus solely on the animals allows for a more intimate and immersive experience with the viewer. Human portraits are to me an entire other genre.

  • I believe in creating art that brings joy and positivity to people's lives. That's why I avoid depicting overly graphic violence, gore, or anything that could be considered inappropriate or offensive. There are some exceptions for wildlife portraits!

  • It goes without saying that any content that could be deemed offensive or inappropriate has no place in my artwork. I strive to create pieces that are respectful and uplifting, celebrating the beauty and diversity of the animal kingdom. I want my images to positively impact onlookers of all ages.

  • With the topic of my commissions being the appreciation of nature and life, I hesitate to draw anything that can detract from this. Detailed man-made, grey objects can draw the eye away from the subject and nature. However, if you want to suggest any interesting compositions or have something specific in mind that minimally involves these things, e.g. a blurry cityscape as the background I’m sure we can create something cohesive.

  • As an artist, I prefer to maintain a neutral stance and avoid political or controversial subjects in my artwork. My goal is to create pieces that resonate with people from all walks of life and evoke a sense of unity and appreciation for the beauty of nature.

  • While abstract and surrealistic styles are beautiful, they're not a part of my artistic repertoire for this website. My focus is on realism here, as I believe it allows me to better capture the unique personalities and characteristics of the animals I portray. I find likeness very important. However, if you have specific ideas or compositions in mind that incorporate elements of abstraction or surrealism minimally, I'm open to exploring them to create a cohesive piece that aligns with my artistic vision. I paint in abstract privately, but if many people show interest in this method, I’ll be open to adding this into an option.

  • I do not currently offer pre-framed shipments

    I haven’t yet been able to find a reliable shipping company, and due to failures in the past, and the unwillingness to test out shipping services with customer commissions due to potential loss or damage to/of my work pieces, I will be deliberately cautious and gradual with any implementation of shipping services that allow for pre-framed and glass-containing framed pieces. The best artwork shippers unfortunately cost the price of a commission itself, so from a budget standpoint I must do further testing with my own personal piece that I’m willing to ‘sacrifice’.

    I prefer not to offer pre-framed shipments to ensure that each frame complements the unique character of the pet portrait. Plus, it allows clients to choose frames that best suit their home decor and personal preferences.

  • As a vet student, I balance my passions for animal health and animal art through my pet portrait commission business. It's important for me to maintain a healthy balance between my studies and my artistic pursuits, which is why I don't offer rush orders. Rushing through the creative process would compromise the quality of the pet portraits and add unnecessary stress to my already busy schedule. By avoiding rush orders, I can ensure that each pet portrait receives the attention to detail and care it deserves while maintaining a stress-free balance between my work and passion for animal art.

  • I plan on making digital copies possible in the near future! For non-commissioned work, I plan to create a section here on my website where I sell prints of my original work. I also plan to include digital copies within the commission package you shall receive, to keep or to gift to anyone who also loves your animal!

  • I have specific sizes that I work with to ensure consistency and quality in my pet portraits. While I'm open to discussing custom sizes within my range, I may not be able to accommodate requests for sizes outside of that range due to limitations in materials or workspace. There are also maximim sizes for the paper I choose to use (PastelMat).

  • I have honed my skills using certain materials and mediums for pet portrait commissions. While I'm always open to exploring new techniques, I may choose not to work with certain materials or mediums if they don't align with my artistic vision or expertise.

  • Each pet portrait commission is a labor of love, and I believe in creating unique, handcrafted pieces for my clients. I don't offer commercial or mass-produced items to maintain the authenticity and integrity of my artwork.

  • To streamline the commission process and avoid potential payment issues, I require payment for pet portrait commissions in two upfront installments: a deposit and the remaining balance, which is due post-completion but before shipment.

    This ensures a smooth and hassle-free experience for both parties involved.

  • Retaining ownership of the artwork I create, including pet portraits, and not offering exclusive rights or licenses to my clients is akin to owning a movie and watching it with friends on your own TV. Just like how you own the movie and can enjoy it in your home with others, you own my art and can proudly display it on your wall for anyone to admire. However, just as you wouldn't duplicate or sell the movie, I retain control over how my artwork is used or reproduced in the future to maintain the integrity of my portfolio. If you want to have the license to one of my pieces, please contact me.

  • While collaborations can be exciting, I prefer to focus on my pet portrait commission work and may not be able to accommodate collaboration requests due to time constraints and other commitments. My priority is always to provide the best possible experience for my clients and their beloved pets.

What you receive

  • You will receive a signed certificate of authentication to prove that it has been created by me, for you and on which date.

  • You will receive a unique coupon for 10% off to use on your next commission! You, or someone you gift it to, can use it.

  • A handwritten letter of appreciation with a story about the commission experience will be sent to you.

  • Custom cards can be made for you if you’re giving this as a gift. We’ll get into the details together!

  • This guide is to be opened prior to the art piece itself. It will tell you exactly how to unpack, preserve and prepare for professional framing or framing at you own discretion. The guide will include information around care of pastel paintings in the long-term, e.g. no shaking, no direct sunlight, UV-protectant frame glass is preferred.

  • You will receive misc. stickers!

What’s to someday come…

  • One day I would like to offer these, once I have bought a high-quality printer.

    While I currently focus on creating one-of-a-kind, handcrafted pet portraits, I'm exploring the possibility of offering digital copies or prints in the future. I recognize that digital formats can provide convenience and accessibility for clients who may want to share or display their pet portraits in various ways. However, I want to ensure that any digital reproductions maintain the same level of quality and authenticity as my original artwork. As I continue to grow and evolve my pet portrait commission business, I may explore options for offering digital copies or prints while still preserving the exclusivity and uniqueness of each piece.

  • I hope to offer pre-framed pieces in the near future, once I've tested shipping and packaging companies!

I specialize in capturing the true essence and unique personality of your furry friends through beautifully handcrafted animal portrait commissions. Each stroke of the brush brings to life the love and joy that you share with your beloved pets.

I aim to provide a holistic commission experience, ensuring every aspect of your pet portrait journey is thoughtfully curated and personalised.

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I aim to provide a holistic commission experience, ensuring every aspect of your pet portrait journey is thoughtfully curated and personalised. 〰️

For any questions that you cannot find on the FAQs, feel free to contact me.