How much does a custom pet portrait cost? The answer depends mainly on the size of the painting, the number of animals, the composition and the complexity of the background.
I create original hand-painted oil portraits of dogs, cats and other animals from photographs. Each painting is created individually in my studio as a real oil painting — not a digital print, filter or AI-generated image.
This guide explains what affects the price of a custom dog portrait, cat portrait or other animal painting and what you can expect when commissioning an original work of art.
How Much Does a Custom Pet Portrait Cost?
My custom oil pet portraits currently start at approximately $250 / €230 for a smaller painting.
The final price depends on the individual commission. A simple portrait of one dog or cat on a smaller canvas will naturally cost less than a large painting showing several animals in a landscape, garden or interior.
Send me your photographs first and I can suggest an appropriate canvas size and composition.
Before beginning any commission, I confirm the format, composition and final price with the client.
What Affects the Price of a Pet Portrait?
Painting Size
Larger canvases require more materials and working time and are often better suited to full-body portraits, multiple animals or more elaborate compositions.
Number of Animals
A portrait of one dog or cat is usually simpler than a painting containing two or more animals, where every subject needs its own space within the composition.
Background
A simple background requires less work than a landscape, garden, interior or another more complex setting.
1. Size of the Painting
Canvas size is one of the main factors determining the cost.
A smaller portrait can work very well for a single animal, particularly when the composition concentrates on the head, shoulders or a simple pose.
Larger formats give me more space when the painting includes:
- the full body of the animal,
- two or more pets,
- a landscape or interior,
- a more complex arrangement,
- or a stronger statement piece intended for a larger wall.
2. One Animal or Several Animals
A portrait of one dog or cat is usually simpler to compose than a painting containing two or three animals.
Multiple-pet portraits require additional planning because every animal needs enough space to remain visually important while still forming one coherent painting.
I can also work from separate reference photographs when necessary, provided the photographs give me enough information about each animal.
3. Background and Composition
A custom pet portrait does not have to be a simple head against an empty background.
I can paint animals in a landscape, garden, interior or another setting when the reference material allows it. In some cases I can also simplify or remove distracting elements from the original photograph.
A more elaborate composition normally requires more work than a simple portrait and this may affect the final price.
4. The Reference Photographs
Good photographs make it easier to create a convincing portrait, but you do not necessarily need a professional photograph.
What matters most is that I can understand the animal’s appearance, proportions, colouring, expression and character.
Sometimes one photograph provides the main composition while additional photographs help me understand the animal better.
Read my guide: How to Choose the Best Photo for a Custom Dog Portrait →
Dog Portraits from Photos
Dogs are among the animals I paint most often.
A successful custom dog portrait from a photo should capture more than the basic shape of the animal. I am interested in expression, posture, colour relationships and the particular character that makes one dog recognisably different from another.
My approach remains painterly. I do not try to reproduce a photograph mechanically. The photograph is the starting point for an original oil painting.
The finished work should remain clearly recognisable as the individual dog while still functioning as a painting in its own right.
Custom Cat Portraits
I also create custom cat portraits from photographs.
Cats often require a slightly different approach because posture, eyes, silhouette and body language can be especially important to their individual character.
A cat portrait can be a close composition concentrating on the animal itself or a larger painting incorporating part of its environment.
If you are looking for a hand-painted cat portrait, cat oil painting or custom cat artwork, you can send me several photographs and I will tell you which image I think would work best as a painting.
Portraits of Other Animals
Pet portrait commissions are not limited to dogs and cats.
I am also open to commissions involving other animals. Depending on the available photographs and the composition, this can include horses and other companion or domestic animals.
If you are looking for a custom animal portrait, animal oil painting or original animal artwork, simply contact me with the reference photographs and an idea of the size you have in mind.
I will let you know whether the photographs are suitable and how I would approach the painting.
Is a Custom Pet Portrait a Real Oil Painting?
Yes. Every commissioned animal portrait I create is an original oil painting.
The finished work is a unique physical artwork painted individually using traditional artists’ materials — not a digital portrait, printed reproduction or AI-generated image.
This is an important distinction when comparing the price of an original commissioned painting with inexpensive digital pet portraits or automatically generated images offered online.
An original oil portrait is intended to remain a permanent object — something that can be framed, displayed and kept for many years.
How Does the Commission Process Work?
Several images are useful whenever possible.
I can advise you if you are uncertain.
Everything is agreed before I begin the painting.
The work is created individually as an original oil painting.
Do Pet Portrait Prices Include Shipping?
Shipping depends on the destination, size of the painting and current shipping conditions.
In some cases no additional shipping charge may be necessary, while for other destinations or larger paintings an additional shipping cost may apply.
Send me your country or postal code together with the desired painting size and I can confirm whether any additional shipping charge will be necessary.
I ship paintings internationally and package them carefully for transport.
How Long Does a Custom Oil Pet Portrait Take?
The exact time depends on my current commission schedule, the size of the painting and the complexity of the composition.
Oil paintings also require appropriate drying time before they can be safely packed and shipped.
If the portrait is intended for a birthday, Christmas, anniversary or another specific date, please contact me as early as possible and tell me the deadline before ordering.
Can a Pet Portrait Be Painted as a Gift?
Yes. A custom dog portrait, cat portrait or other animal painting can make a very personal gift.
If the portrait is a surprise, you can send me photographs without involving the recipient. I can help select the strongest reference image and suggest an appropriate format.
For gifts with a fixed deadline, ordering early is especially useful because a traditional oil painting needs both painting time and drying time.
Can You Paint a Pet from an Older Photograph?
Sometimes, yes.
This can be particularly important when commissioning a portrait of an animal that is no longer alive and newer photographs cannot be taken.
An older or imperfect photograph is not automatically unusable. Additional photographs of the same animal can sometimes provide information missing from the main reference.
Send me what you have before deciding that the photographs are unsuitable. I can tell you honestly whether I have enough information to create the painting.
Original Animal Art — Not Just a Copy of a Photograph
For me, an animal portrait is still first and foremost a painting.
The goal is not simply to reproduce a photograph. I look for the relationship between the animal, the light, colour, surrounding space and overall composition.
The result should remain recognisable as your dog, cat or other animal while also functioning as an independent work of art.
This is why every commission is approached individually rather than produced according to one fixed template.
Commission a Dog, Cat or Animal Portrait
Send me a few photographs and tell me which animal you would like painted, your preferred size if you already have one, your country for shipping and whether you have a particular deadline.
I can recommend a suitable format and confirm the price before you commit to the commission.
Request Your Custom Pet Portrait →Pet Portrait Guides
Thinking about commissioning an original oil portrait of your dog, cat or another animal? These guides explain prices, photographs, sizes, the painting process and everything worth knowing before ordering.
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