Hand-Painted Gouache Pet Portraits
These portraits are painted with care using high quality gouache and watercolour paints on A5 size (148.5 x 210 mm / 5.8 x 8.3 inches) watercolour paper. You will receive the original, signed artwork as well as a high-resolution scan. These are hand-crafted, physical artworks – no AI used.
Paintings come unframed, however are glossed with a varnish that makes them appropriate for display with or without glass.
Each painting is entirely unique and the composition will be different depending on the pet, mood, and reference photo. Some paintings may have backgrounds or full bodies if they suit the painting, but others may be a bust with a coloured background and some other elements.
Please let me know if you have any specific requests in mind concerning background, general colours/mood, any flowers or symbols to add, etc, or if you are happy for me to take creative control with the painting.
I will paint any pets!!
Keep reading for further details about the process or you can put down a deposit now if you’re ready to order!
Process
- Get in touch with me via email, my contact page, or social media to let me know you would like a painting! Let me know any artistic direction you may have, as well as send me reference photos of your pet/s.
- I will confirm the details and invoice you for a deposit of 50%. Please note this deposit is 50% of the total cost to confirm your commission – the remainder will be invoiced upon completion.
- After we have decided all the details and direction of the painting, production starts! I will send you progress photos at each step to make sure the painting is coming along to your liking.
- Once the painting is completed, I will invoice the remaining amount.
- When the total cost has been paid, I will send you the high-resolution scan and pack and post your painting to you!
Commissions are works of art so they are limited and only available at certain times. My current turnaround time is about 2~3 weeks from initial consult to delivery – I will keep you updated via email through each step of the process.
If your portrait is needed quickly, please get in touch prior to purchase and I will do my best to work with you to accommodate this! I’m quite a fast painter but may have to charge an extra rush fee in some circumstances.
Pricing & Postage
All prices are in Australian dollars:
Each A5 portrait is $250 and includes one pet. I can paint additional pets in the same portrait for an extra $100 per pet. Maximum of three pets per portrait.
I am also able to do larger sized paintings – pricing will vary depending on the size. For further details please get in touch so I can give you an accurate quote!
A 50% deposit will be charged to place your order. The final payment will be invoiced upon completion.
Postage is free Australia-wide. International shipping costs an additional $15. All postage comes with tracking.
Tips for Good Reference Images
Good reference photos are essential for any painting, but especially so for portraits. The reference is the base that the rest of the painting is formed from.
You are welcome to send me multiple reference images and/or videos if you have them! The more I can see of your pet the more accurately I can paint them.
The best photos are clear and well-lit and not taken from below/above – photos looking down on your pet can look unflattering or unnatural. Ideally your pet should be level with the camera, looking straight or with their head tilted/looking to the side.
References should also be in focus, not blurry, and well-lit. Photos are best taken in bright, natural light and preferably outdoors.
Photos in motion are also helpful for me to understand the personality of your pet. However, these should only be supplementary references unless they are taken in high quality, not blurred, etc.
Unfortunately, I cannot work from photos that are too poor quality.
What is Gouache?
Gouache is an opaque water-based medium and forms of it have been used since Ancient Egypt. It is an incredibly versatile medium and can be used opaque or watered down, and in combination with a variety of other media.
I use high-quality and pigment-rich Holbein gouache with Windsor & Newtown watercolours – these paints have strong and lasting pigments, and should retain their brightness for years.
