HOW TO Get A custom Oil Painted Portrait Of Your Dog

Decorating your home with personalized artwork is a great way to celebrate one of the most beloved members of the family: your dog. But how do I start? Portrait artist Hannah Stahl explains the 5-step process of commissioning a custom dog portrait. 

1. Photograph Your Dog Or Choose An Existing Photo

Because it’s challenging to make a dog sit still for extended periods of time—photos are gold. Aim for photos where the lens of the camera is at the dog’s level. You want the dog to appear eye to eye with you in the portrait, so don’t be afraid to kneel down when photographing. Avoid shooting down at the dog from above.

Lighting is an important part of a great photograph, so be sure to have plenty of lights on if you’re shooting indoors. That said, outdoor photography with natural light is preferable—and sunshine is best!

2. Choose The Background

There are two options for the portrait’s background aesthetic: traditional or modern. The traditional background realistically captures the existing place in which the dog was photographed. This style of background could feature your dog’s favorite space— be it an interior on a couch or a rug for instance, or outside on a patio or lawn. It’s best if the background is present within the chosen photograph of your dog, but it may be possible to create imagined or alternative backgrounds.

In contrast, the modern background creates an empty space around your dog. This approach has a contemporary aesthetic that ennobles the dog by emphasizing their unique silhouette. White and neutral colors are most common in the modern background, while alternative colors can also be used.

3. Decide On Size

Determining the right size for a portrait depends on several factors: The first thing to consider is the size of the wall space where the portrait will be hung. You may have the perfect wall in mind to hang the piece, in which case you’ll measure the spot and have the painting tailor made to fit. The second thing to think about is the scale of the dog in the portrait. It may be most important that your dog is either life size, smaller, or bigger— in which case, you’ll pick the canvas that best suits the size you’d like your dog portrayed. The final consideration is budget, as smaller sized portraits are more affordable than larger portraits. Contact me here for a size/price sheet.

4. Consider Framing

This step is optional, but something to consider if you’d like your portrait to have a more “finished” look. If you opt-in for framing, your piece will be framed with a hand-made, wooden floating frame, built to museum-quality standards. Of course, the portraits can be equally enjoyed without a frame, as they are all painted on stretched canvas.

5. Sort Out The Final Details

In this step, we fine tune the details of your dog portrait. This is the time to communicate the nuances that matter to you. For instance – if the collar is showing in the photo reference, do you want that portrayed in the painting? Should the dog’s tongue be in or out of the mouth? Now is the time to voice any important specificities before they are sealed in paint for years to come. 

Conclusion

You’ve considered it all: the photo references, background, size, framing, and any specific requests for the portrait. Upon communicating all your needs, you’re ready to put down a deposit and secure your dog’s upcoming oil portrait. It will be made using the highest quality canvas and oils on unbending aluminum stretcher bars to ensure it’s of archival quality that will stand the test of time. 

Within two to three months of starting the process, you’ll receive an image of the finished piece. Any changes and potential framing will be finalized, and you’ll soon have your custom portrait safely delivered, ready to hang in your home—a portrait of your dog to fondly admire for all the years to come. 

About the author: Hannah Stahl is an award-winning pet portraitist. She works in her studio in Brooklyn, NY, and has her MFA from The New York Academy of Art. Her portraiture has been recognized by New England Monthly Magazine, The Providence Journal, and most notably, The Westminster Kennel Club.