Fine Art Pet Portraits in Oil
How to Commission a Pet Portrait with Rachel
Hello! I am an oil painter based in Seattle. My intention is to capture the distinct personality of your pet in a painting that will be loved and treasured. I’m a local artist in North Seattle. I have a dog and a cat and understand how special and meaningful our pets are and how they enrich our lives. This page outlines what to expect in the process from start to finish.
I work from your photos and will help select suitable ones. Read more about the process below. I can also take additional photos if necessary at Green Lake for those in the Seattle area. I truly enjoy getting to know the animals I paint, and love working with clients to decide what they want to capture in the painting. I also paint our furry friends who have departed in order to keep their memory alive.
Please see the section below for prices and the process. For more information or any questions please email info@rachelsolimeno.com
I paint in oils and in layers which takes time. These are all hand painted starting from a sketch, and finally a protective varnish is added after the paint is dry. In general allow 4-6 weeks turnaround but I can accommodate some rush orders
I have a few spots remaining for Holiday completion. I can also provide gift cards for the holidays if you'd like to gift a portrait to a friend or loved one, contact me here.
Initial Consultation
After you fill out the form or contact me by email we’ll begin by discussing your goals for the painting. You can tell me about your pet’s personality and the feeling you want to convey. You’ll send me several photos and we will discuss which photos will work or how to take a new photo, then you can decide on any details you’d like such as collar on or off, tongue in or out.
Once we decide on the size, composition and background I’ll send you one or more layout image mockups and we can determine the final composition. At that point I'll be ready to start the drawing and prep for the painting.
Choosing a Layout
Head and shoulder or half body portraits work well on square layout.
Three-quarter, or full body portraits work best on the rectangle.
For full body paintings I suggest choosing at minimum a medium-sized canvas in order to get details of the face.
Choosing Backgrounds
Additional Pets
A portrait of two furry friends together is such a sweet composition. Additional Pets can be added as long as the canvas is large enough to accommodate the composition. They may be added on canvases sized Medium only if they are two heads. For Head and shoulders, full body portraits choose Large or above. For the first additional pet add 40%, for the second, add %30.
Sizes and Prices
Portrait sizes range from mini to max. For each size option there is a square layout or a rectangle layout which can be horizontal or vertical. Choose rectangle for three-quarter length, multiple pets, or full body portraits.
Size | Canvas Size in inches | Price |
|---|---|---|
Mini | 8x6, 8x8 | $450 |
Small | 12x9,12x12 | $650 |
Medium | 16x12,16x16 | $900 |
Large | 20x16,20x20 | $1,200 |
Queen | 24x18,24x24 | $1,600 |
King | 30x20,30x30 | $2,200 |
Max | 36x24,36x36 | $2,800 |
Mini size can only take head and shoulders not three-quarter view or full body. For Full Body Portraits choose Medium or larger. Additional pets can be added to a single painting on the large, queen, king or max sizes.
For the first additional pet, please add 40% of the base price, for the second additional pet, add 30%. For detailed backgrounds like a specific room or landscape, please add 20% of the base price.
Canvas, Edge Depth and Framing Considerations
I use premier stretched cotton canvas with a deep edge of 1.5”. The benefit of a deep edged canvas is they do not need to be framed – the edge is painted a flat color of your choosing, normally the background color from the painting but it can be any color that may make the painting pop or go with your decor.
If you do know ahead of time that you’re planning to put the artwork in a frame or float frame, let me know and I may recommend going with a canvas depth of 0.75” that fits more frames. Deeper edged canvases can still be framed but tend to cost more later.
I can also paint on wooden panels that are primed for oil paint.
Feedback and Change Requests
Once we complete the initial consultation and decide the compositions, I will send you a photo of the initial sketch on the canvas. Then I paint in several layers over several days. Depending on the size, a painting can take up to 80 hours. Once the painting is near completion, I will send you another update and you can give feedback and request up to three changes free of charge. I strive to include you along the way and want all my clients to be happy, however If there are large composition changes after I begin painting, or many change requests I may have to ask for a change fee.
Varnish
Once the painting is completed it will take 1-2 weeks to dry. Then I’ll varnish the painting – you can choose mat or gloss. The varnish will protect the painting from UV, and dust and can be wiped with a soft cloth without damaging the painting.
Delivery Time
I will aim to deliver your painting within 2 months of starting but if you have a specific timeline please let me know and I’ll do my best to accommodate.
Deposit and Payment
After our initial discussion, if you decide to move ahead you can secure your spot on my schedule. The work is split into 2 payments - 50% prior to starting, and then 50% payment once the painting is completed. Once I start painting the first payment is non refundable.
If you’d like to pay in more than 2 installments, I can use Paypal Payin4 which can schedule 4 payments over 6 weeks, or monthly payments.
I can take Zelle, Credit Cards or Paypal and will send an invoice for the payments.
Shipping and Delivery
If you are local to Seattle I can deliver by hand or arrange for pickup at my Greenlake studio. If you need to ship the painting, shipping and packaging will be extra and not included in the cost.