Custom Pet Portrait
Custom Pet Portrait - Image 2

Custom Pet Portrait

Price range: $300.00 through $1,200.00

Each portrait is an original oil painting, created by hand in my studio.

Working from your photos, I refine light, color, and atmosphere to create a thoughtful composition that feels both personal and timeless. Rather than copying a photograph exactly, I simplify and shape the setting so your pet remains the clear focus.

The result is a considered painting designed to live beautifully in your home.

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Each commission includes:

  • An original oil painting on panel

  • Hand-selected background color

  • Proof review before final delivery

  • Carefully packaged and shipped

I work in oil paint for its richness, depth, and longevity. These are paintings made to last generations.

Many portraits are commissioned as meaningful gifts. If you’re planning a surprise, I’m happy to coordinate timing and delivery.

Size

6×6", 8×8", 8×10", 11×14, 12×24", 18×24"
Medium

Oil Paint
Support

Panel

Portraits from Past Clients

  • oil painting of a doodle named Coco by Jeffrey Smith
  • oil painting of a yellow lab painted by Jeffrey Smith
  • Oil painting of Texas Healer by Jeffrey Smith
  • Sophie - custom pet portrait - oil on panel by Minneapolis painter Jeffrey Smith
  • Bentley, oil painting of a goldendoodle by Jeffrey Smith
  • Lab Named Albert, an oil painting of a yellow lab by Minneapolis painter Jeffrey Smith
  • Oil painting of a cat by Minnesota artist Jeffrey Smith
  • Muade - oil painting of a pitbull by Jeffrey Smith
  • oil painting of an older yellow lab by Minneapolis oil painter Jeffrey Smith
  • oil painting of 2 springer spaniels against a dark backgroud by Minnesota painter Jeffrey Smith

How it works

Imagine a custom pet oil portrait for your home or as a gift

Select a size and checkout.

Send your pet’s details

Check your email inbox for a welcome email. You’ll get a link to the Pet Portrait Welcome form. This is the fun part. Tell me all about your pet and send me your reference photos.

Be on the lookout for your painting in your inbox

I’ll do a digital design based on the pictures you supply. You’ll get a chance to approve the design before I start painting. Once your painting is complete, I’ll email you a photo proof for you to approve.

Receive your artwork

Packaged up and ready to go. Oil paint takes a week or so to dry. Once your painting has had a chance to dry, it will be carefully packed and shipped.

Working From Your Photos

Most clients wonder whether their photos are good enough. In nearly every case, they are.

Even if your pet has passed and you only have a handful of images, I can usually work from what you have. I’ve painted from phone photos, older prints, and images that aren’t technically perfect but hold meaning.

If you’re unsure, you’re welcome to send your photos before reserving your portrait. I’m happy to take a look and let you know what will work best.

When possible, clear natural light and a visible expression help most. But don’t worry — I’ll guide you through the process and help select the strongest image for your painting.

Background & Atmosphere

While I work from your photos, I don’t simply copy the entire background. Most everyday images include furniture or details that don’t serve the final painting. Instead, I simplify and refine the setting so your pet remains the clear focus.

That said, the light and color in your photo matter. The way light falls across your pet — the warmth of a living room, the cool air of an outdoor space — influences the atmosphere of the final portrait. I pay close attention to those subtle cues.

Many pets are photographed in the rooms they loved most. When that’s the case, I often create a soft, simplified backdrop that carries the feeling of that space without replicating it literally. The result is a portrait that feels at home in your home.

If your pet is photographed outdoors or in another setting, I focus on creating a sense of atmosphere and space — giving them room to breathe within the composition.

If there’s a meaningful detail you’d like included, I’m always happy to incorporate it thoughtfully.

Each painting is guided by the principles of picture-making, with the goal of creating something timeless, refined, and centered on your pet.

Lab Named Albert, an oil painting of a yellow lab by Minneapolis painter Jeffrey Smith
Oil painting of a cat by Minnesota artist Jeffrey Smith
Muade - oil painting of a pitbull by Jeffrey Smith

Timing and Shipping

Portraits are done in the order that the commissions have been received. Once all the information is received, portraits will be completed within two to three weeks. Because I am working with oil paint, once a painting is complete, it will need about a week before it is dry and ready to ship.

I offer free shipping in the US and flat-rate shipping to Canada and Europe.

If you’re considering a portrait, I would be honored to paint your pet. Whether it’s a gift or a piece for your own home, I approach each painting with care and intention.

Interested in commissioning your own custom pet portrait but have a few questions?

Curious if the photo you have of your dog or cat work for a portrait?

Not sure about what size would be the best?

Looking for information about a larger painting or a custom size?

Please send me your questions.

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