Custom Watercolor Pet Portrait

I'll need one high-resolution reference photo to work from. The most important thing in your reference photo is your subject's expression. I cannot change this, so choosing an emotional expression you like is key.

From there, try to choose photos that:
- show face details clearly
- are well-lit
- are close-up

After filling out the form below, email aquilawatercolor@gmail.com with your reference photo attached.

If for whatever reason we cannot find a reference photo that will translate well into a portrait, I will give you a 100% refund.

For pet portraits, I only paint the face and a bit of the neck/shoulders. Focusing on the face makes the most dramatic portraits.

I like to get portraits finished within two weeks, but sometimes I get booked out awhile. Basically, the sooner you order, the sooner your portrait will be ready. Need it by a specific date? Let me know in the form you fill out after checkout.

There is space to let me know your specific requests in the form you fill out after checkout. Some common requests include color preferences, adding the subject's name below my signature, and making sure you have your portrait by a specific date.

I've found that portraits with more than one subject lose the impact and interest that a portrait of a single subject has. It also takes significantly more time, so costs would go up enough to warrant the purchase of separate portraits anyway.

I am not able to include props or complex backgrounds in portraits. I’ve found that both of these things significantly distract from the subject and the resulting portrait is not impactful.

I like painting BIG. It’s easier for me to capture small details that end up making a big difference in the final painting. Since the amount of hours that go into a smaller portrait and a larger portrait are almost the same, I prefer to go big. I get to have more fun, and you get bigger art. Offering only one size also allows me to streamline my process so I can paint more portraits at an affordable price point.

Your finished portrait will be 22x28 inches, a standard frame size. This means that you can grab an inexpensive frame from a big box store, or invest in an archival frame from your local custom framing shop. My personal favorite is the Weathered Gray frame from Barnwood USA, available on their website or Amazon.

Custom artwork is an investment- and I want to honor that. When your portrait is finished, I will email you a photo of it. If you don't like it and I can't fix it, I will give you a 100% refund. Please note that once you approve the photo of your portrait and your art has shipped, I cannot offer refunds.

I'm happy to report that I've shipped dozens of commissions and this has never happened. I package each portrait with care and ship via USPS Priority Mail. However, I understand that it is a possiblity, so just send me a photo of the damage, or a screenshot of the USPS tracking or a USPS lost item inquiry, and I will send you a replacement portrait print. It won't be the original, but it will be a beautiful high-quality archival print.

By completing your purchase, you agree to the following:

Any artwork reproductions made by the client with the provided digital files or by any other means are for the client's personal use only and may not be resold.

Aquila Watercolor owns the rights to the artwork created and may create reproductions for resale, and use images and video of the artwork for marketing and instructional purposes.

Provided reference photo(s) may be used for marketing purposes, but will not be sold or reproduced by Aquila Watercolor.

A refund must be requested before the artwork ships. Once the artwork ships, the sale is final and no refund can be given.