Where to start...
When you commission a painting with Troy Pet Portraits, it will begin with a conversation about what type of art piece you are interested in. While I will go over all of the details with you, it’s helpful to know what options you have. Whatever your preference, I want you to take home a portrait you will love.
Style: Contemporary or Traditional
As am artist, I love doing a more contemporary portrait, so I will happily paint extreme close ups or images with dramatic lighting. You want to put a vivid filter on the photo? You’ve got it! Have a picture of your pup from above and at an angle? I can and will do those paintings for you. Just remember that sometimes those stylistic choices can hide the subject’s eyes, alter their color, or misrepresent their markings. It can become a dynamic painting, but might not always capture the perfect likeness of your pet. That is why you might want to choose a more traditional style.
In a traditional portrait, I would need a well-lit, representative image of your pet. Bright expressive eyes and accurate colors are a must. It can be their full body or just head and shoulders. In a traditional portrait, the figure would be centered on the canvas with a uniform space around it. Background would be in a color and style of your choice, but may offer suggestions of background colors I feel would compliment the colors of your animal. My goal in a traditional portrait would be to capture your pet’s likeness and the sparkle in their eyes.
Size of Canvas
This is totally dependent on the size of your space and your budget. Bigger isn’t always better, but smaller isn’t always enough. Depending on the image and its placement on the canvas, you can just more detail on a close up of a 5”7” than on a full body 9”x12”. Conversely, if you want a full body on a 5”x7”, you are going to lose detail of the face and eyes (Check out the Choosing Your Photo page to see what I’m talking about).
Background
Your background color can be based on your home decor or what is most complimentary to your pet’s coloring. The background can be completely flat (one color), a single color with shadows, classical, textured, or colorful. A completely realistic background is also an option, but it does come with an increased cost.
Finish
Glossy – very shiny and highly reflective
Satin – moderate “pearl-like” shine
Matte – no shine, non reflective
Artist's Choice
Don’t want to make all those choices? Give me a few photos, I’ll crop, frame, and paint my favorite one to the style that i feel suits it. Sometimes I add different doodles. Sometimes textures. Sometimes I may feel the framing of a beautiful traditional. It’s easy for you and fun for me.
SPRING 2026 – GET 20% OFF ANY CANVAS WHEN YOU PICK ARTIST’S CHOICE!
Contract
All of your choices will be detailed in the contract, an example of which is available to review below. Commissions require a deposit to begin. Completion and delivery time may vary, but will be noted when you order. Rush orders may be available for a fee.