Commission an oil portrait of your cherished friend!
As an animal lover and a vegan artist, I absolutely love doing pet portraits! Whether for yourself or as a gift, my aim is to create a distinctive painting full of personality and heart. Seriously, pet portraits are the best gift.
Pricing will vary according to size, but may also reflect whether you’d like a detailed background or other special elements. The most popular sizes are 12x12” (for a square composition) or 11x14” (for a rectangle)—this is a perfect medium size, and looks great on the wall! Pricing at this size starts at $600, plus shipping (which varies). There are lots of canvas sizes available, so we can definitely find an option that works best with your wall space and budget. I also offer tiny sizes—details on those below!
Turnaround time can range from a few weeks to a few months, and will vary depending on canvas size and how busy the queue is. (In some cases, we can discuss options for a rush job if needed.) If you’re in the Portland area, we can also arrange for you to pick up your portrait rather than shipping.
But what if I want my pet portrait to be extremely small?
Then you’ve come to the right place, because I also specialize in tiny pet portraits! Who wouldn’t want their furry friend immortalized in a form this cute? These make a touching and affordable gift for any pet lover. I can even add magnetic backing to these sizes—perfect for the fridge! Here are the options:
2x2" - $125 - My favorite, because it's just so tiny.
2x3" - $150 - Also my favorite; still tiny, but rectangular, which works better for some compositions and in my opinion looks cool in a set with square piece(s).
3x3" - $175 - Still tiny, but in a large way! Best if you’re envisioning a more detailed tiny portrait.
Add magnetic backing - $5 each.
$10 shipping added for an order of up to 4 tinies (USPS first class with insurance).
I’m in—how do we get started??
Message me on the contact page and let me know what you have in mind—we’ll go from there! I want to know your pet’s name and breed, and anything about their personality or life story you’d like to share. We’ll figure out your desired size and pick the best reference photos, then have you sign a quick e-contract and pay a deposit to get you in the queue.
About reference photos: Please send a few options for each pet if you can. Even if one photo captures the perfect pose, having extras can help me make sure I’ve got details like coloration and markings right. Diffuse natural lighting with plenty of contrast is usually best, and the more personality on display the better! Below are some examples of great reference photos. My goal is always for your portrait to have more heart and soul than a photo, but it all starts here. The better the references, the more striking a painting I can create!
Once we settle on the details for your portrait, I’ll have you e-sign a simple contract for the commission, and half of the agreed total price will be due before work commences. Preferred payment methods are Venmo or a paper check or money order—but I can also accommodate Zelle, credit/debit cards or PayPal.
Message me on the Contact page to get in touch!
Can’t wait to hear from you!
– Josh
“Picking out a special gift for someone who doesn’t value material things is a difficult challenge. For my partner Daniel’s 50th birthday, l commissioned a pet portrait from Josh Gates. Daniel said it was ‘the best gift I've ever received.’ Nailed it!
This portrait makes us smile every time we walk by it hanging on the wall. Josh captured the sparkle in Angel’s eyes on canvas. We hope to have another decade with Angel before she crosses the rainbow bridge and I imagine that, after that time, this portrait will become even more special than it already is to us.”
— Elie (Angel’s human)
“After the passing of our Aussie Shepherd mix, Skittles, I commissioned Josh to create a painting to memorialize her as a gift for my wife. I couldn’t be more pleased with the result—Josh truly captured Skittles’ essence, and I’m so grateful to have this beautiful piece in our home to remember her by. My wife was deeply touched, and it means so much to both of us.
Josh was fantastic throughout the process, keeping me updated and making sure everything was on track. I can’t recommend him enough if you’re looking for someone to create a meaningful and beautiful piece of art for your home.”
— David (Skittles’ human)
“I commissioned Josh to create a portrait of my old cat, Victor. Josh managed to craft a stunning depiction that perfectly captures Victor’s beauty and sassy personality. The painting of Victor brings me joy every day.”
— Dawn (Victor’s human)