Working as a pet portrait artists is a unique and specific niche and art form which is within the area of portraiture, custom portraiture, animals, and pets. There are many successful pet portrait artists staying very busy these days, and as the pet adoption rates have skyrocketed during COVID when everyone was working from home, so have custom products and gifts. I am happy to be a part of that growth and evolution in our culture.

We all have, including myself, loved and lost pet family members over the years, and I empathize with my customer base deeply for this reason. This empathy is a huge force behind my work and I welcome this shared love of our pet family members to my relationship with customers. I understand that each pet has unique qualities and flaws that define their precious souls and our connections to them and I take great care to embody this into each and every unique portrait.

I do this by communicating with the pet owner to find the perfect reference photo of their pet and by talking with them about their pets personality and their relationship with their pet. I take time to appreciate the reference photo and consider why the pet owner chose this specific photo. I focus the portrait on areas where my heart is drawn and any other unique characteristics or moods coming through the reference photo and conversation with the pet owner that I sense.

Most of my customers have never commissioned artwork before. I love that I am able to bring customers into, what is often considered intimidating, the space of working with an artist to bring their vision to life. I do my best to make the ordering process easy and simple and I enjoy the collaboration between me and my customers. While still adhering to the classic Waterpop style, I am happy to take the lead or to sit back and hear your vision. Once the customer’s pet portrait is complete, all pet portrait customers receive a time-lapse video where they can watch the creative process unfold. Customers see their pet manifest through watercolor in a unique way, celebrating their pet’s life, and with immense gratitude, I am able to leave them with a special gift. A hand-made work of art that they can cherish for years to come.

It is through my work as a pet portrait artist that I am able to see the love humans are capable of and celebrate the gift that a pet family member contributes to our lives.