Dogs • Cats • Horses • Rabbits

My Approach • Memorial Portraits

Dog Portraits

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Cat Portraits

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Horse Portraits

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Rabbit Portaits

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Portrait Paintings of Animals

I approach pet portraits much like when I’m painting portraits of people. Seeking the subjects personality, a narrative, a mood remain steady areas of focus and the insight from the patron for commissioned paintings is often invaluable. In fact, many of my pet portraits are painted from photographs taken by the owner, instead of me. We have such close relationships with animals and no one knows better than his favorite companion when a dog is happy and comfortable. And it’s often easier for you to get the opportunity for just the right shot. The little details that you see (head up is tense and head down is relaxed or the complete opposite!) help translate to me what the animal is trying to tell us with its body language. Getting the perfect shot is difficult though and if you need any help with images, please contact me! I am always happy to come and help or offer tips.

I have been fortunate to have a life filled with all sorts of animals to befriend and inspire me. My family has kept goats, chickens, sheep, cows, rabbits, horses, dogs, cats, bees, a pig, parrot, and a pond full of frogs. Though I’ve yet to paint each of the species listed above, I’m working on it!

Read about some of my commissioned pet portraits pictured above in detail on my blog.

Memorial Portraits

A pet portrait oil painting has a freshness and a life of its own that makes the subject feel close. I think it’s especially fitting to memorialize these wonderful creatures that just don’t live long enough. There is nothing like loving and losing a pet to bring home the realities of our mortality and the intensity of the bond that can be made between our species. No matter how long your pet lives, it’s usually just a brief moment compared to the length of a human life and all intense loves are met with intense losses. Portraits in their way defy this mortality and soften the loss. It’s a hard thing to explain why a painting should feel more significant than, say, the photo it’s based on, but I think it’s the care put into making it. I love that all the smiling dogs and bright eyed cats that I’ve painted will be just as happy and alert in their portraits for hundreds of years to come. They will not only bring a moment of joy to their companion now and long after they have passed, but also to countless generations of viewers after all of us are gone. I think it’s a lovely tribute to this bond and it’s an honor for me to make these portrait commissions.

Go to my commission page to learn more about commissioning your own pet portrait. Feel free to contact me me with inquiries or questions. Learn more about the above commissions above and read testimonials from clients on the blog.