Pet Portraits
One of the most rewarding things I get to do for clients is create a custom painting or drawing of their pet. I love getting to see pictures of your animals and I hope I can offer some peace and joy through my work!
How My Commissioned Pet Portraits Work
To get started on your pet portrait and reserve your spot on my calendar, I like to know a few details about what you would like for your piece. These are the details I like to discuss with you before you make a deposit on a commission:
– selection of a high quality reference image(s) of your pet(s)
– Deadline
– Medium
– Size
– Additions or Modifications
– Pickup vs. Shipping
Once we have discussed those details I will generate a quote for your piece and send an invoice for a 50% non-refundable deposit. Once I receive your deposit then your commission is officially ordered and I will begin work on your piece as soon as I finish current commissions! I will check in with you toward the completion of your piece to make sure there are not any small details or adjustments needed. When you are satisfied with your completed piece, final payment and shipping costs will be due and your custom piece will make it’s way to you!
High Quality Reference Photos
I usually work off of one main picture to recreate a pose and then ask for additional reference pictures so that I can understand the true colors and shape of your pet. It is very important that photos are high resolution and well lit. I am pretty good at modifying poses or filling in a fur texture if your picture is not 100% clear, but there is a risk that the final product won’t have the best likeness to your pet if your reference photos are blurry. When in doubt, please send more pictures!
Deadlines And When Will My Piece Be Ready?
I am currently accepting pet portraits on rolling commissions . You reserve your spot in line when we have settled on the kind of portrait you want and your deposit is received. I can then give you a rough delivery estimate. That said, I pride myself on quality over speed. Creating the perfect piece with all the right details and the best reference images and poses can take some time. If you have a specific deadline in mind, we should get started early so I can be sure to have your piece ready in time!
Medium
I currently offer pet portraits in watercolor, ink (two styles), graphite (pencil), and colored pencil. If you are having trouble deciding, I can offer my suggestions on what might best capture your pet based on your reference images and desired size. The Gallery is also a great place to get some inspiration on what mediums you like best. Lastly, I have written a detailed page on medium selection if you want all the details!
Size
I offer three standard sizes with the following price ranges. Let me know if you will need a custom size and we can discuss how to do that.
| Size in Inches | Current Price Range for One Pet |
| 5×7 | $80-95 |
| 8×10 | $110-125 |
| 11×14 | $170-190 |
Additions and Modifications
I am happy to make modifications to your portrait and am open to most things! This does take time though, so I have charges for edits proportional to the time they take me to complete.
| Addition/ Modification | Price |
| Additional Pets | $25+ depending on size |
| Pose Modification or Harness removal etc. *without a reference photo (no charge if you have a photo) | $10+ depending on complexity |
| Additional Objects | $10+ depending on complexity |
| Backgrounds on Watercolor portraits (other than color washes) | $10+ depending on complexity |
This portrait is an example of two modifications:
– Additional Pets
There was not a specific image for this reference with both dogs posed like this. We worked together to get similarly lit images of both dogs and one with both of them in it for scale. After that we picked specific poses from individual pictures and created something unique!
– Additional Objects
The client wanted to add a flower crown, but had never actually put a flower crown on their dog before. Without a specific reference we worked to design an imaginary flower crown and made it happen!
Pick Up vs. Shipping
If you are nearby, my strong preference is that you pick up your final piece at my showcase in Burlington. Grandaddy’s Antique Mall is located at 2316 Maple Ave, Burlington, NC 27215 and will hold any pieces for pickup on your behalf. They have always done a great job being careful with my art and it is easy to pay at pickup. They are pet friendly and a neat place to walk around too!
If you need shipping, I can accommodate that for the estimated cost of shipping and the understanding that I can not be held responsible for any damages or loss in the postal service process. I am unfortunately unable to guarantee your package arrives unscathed so I highly encourage you to consider picking up in Burlington. I make high quality scans of all of my work. If for some horrible reason, your piece is lost, sometimes we have a back up option of ordering a print of the scan. I have thankfully, never had to do this yet!
On rare occasions, we can also time pick up to be at a local craft show I may attend!
Other Common Questions
What determines your pricing?
Final pricing depends on the size, medium, additions, and your preferred delivery method. I usually take a 50% non-refundable deposit for commissions and the rest of payment when you pick up or before shipping. I currently do not charge based on time since I think that is a skill I will continue to develop and I do not ever want to rush through a commission.
Can I change my mind after I have placed a deposit?
Sometimes that is easy to address! If you placed a deposit but I was still working on other commissions, it is easy to change the plan for your commission before I have started your piece. Please note, if you swapped from a smaller and less time consuming commission, to a much larger commission, I may have to adjust your deadline farther out to avoid drastically impacting any commissions “in line” behind you.
If I already started your commission, we should talk about what details you wanted changed and if it is possible to alter your commission.
Can I see a time-lapse of my commission being created?
Please let me know if you would like to see a time-lapse video of your commission. We can discuss the details about how that process works if you are interested!
I still have questions, how can I get in touch?
Absolutely do not hesitate to email me at CaseyTroxler@sableglen.com (or my historical email inARTiculate.creations@gmail.com). I would love to help you with any questions or decisions and check those inboxes frequently!
