How to commission a pet portrait

People have commissioned portraits of their animals for centuries. The National Gallery in London explains that the 2nd Marquess of Rockingham commissioned George Stubbs to paint his prize racehorse, Whistlejacket, in 1762, eventually ordering 12 paintings from him. Today, commissioning a portrait of a dog, cat, horse, bird or rabbit is open to anyone, and many artists work from photos, so you don't need to arrange sittings. This guide walks through the process step by step.

This guide is general information written in our own words. We don't recommend particular artists or businesses, and we never quote prices: they vary widely with the artist, medium and size, so ask for a written quote. It isn't legal advice.

Step 1: Decide what you want

Before contacting artists, think about:

• Medium: oil or acrylic paint, pastel, charcoal, pencil or digital. See our mediums guides.
• Style: realistic, painterly, stylised, minimalist or illustrated.
• Size: where will it hang, and how big is the wall?
• Composition: head and shoulders, full body, more than one pet, or pet and person?
• Background: plain, coloured, or a particular setting.
• Timing: is it for a birthday, Christmas or a memorial? Allow plenty of time.

Our pet portrait planner can help you think through these choices.

Step 2: Find artists whose work you love

Look for artists whose existing portraits match the style and medium you want. Check how they capture eyes, fur and expression, and whether their portfolio includes animals like yours. Our guide to choosing a pet portrait artist has a checklist.

Step 3: Make an enquiry

Contact the artist with a short brief: the pet's species and breed, what you'd like, size and medium, your deadline and a couple of photos. Ask whether they have availability and how they work. Many artists have waiting lists, especially before Christmas.

Step 4: Get a written quote and terms

Ask for a written quote showing the total price, what's included (framing, glass, postage, insurance), the deposit, when the balance is due, the expected timeline and the cancellation terms. Ask who owns copyright and whether the artist may share images or sell prints of the portrait. Our guide to deposits, contracts and consumer rights explains what to look for.

Step 5: Supply reference photos

Good photos are the foundation of a good portrait. Supply several sharp, well-lit photos taken at your pet's eye level, plus close-ups of markings and eye colour. Tell the artist about anything photos don't show, such as a crooked ear or a greying muzzle. See our reference photos guide.

Step 6: Approve the composition

Many artists send a sketch, layout or digital mock-up before starting the final work. This is the best time to request changes to the pose, crop or background. Changes later in the process can be difficult, particularly in paint or pastel.

Step 7: Progress and changes

Some artists share progress photos; others prefer to reveal the finished portrait. Agree at the start how updates and changes will work. If something doesn't look right, say so politely and specifically, such as "his eyes were a lighter amber" rather than "it doesn't look like him".

Step 8: Final approval and payment

When the portrait is finished, the artist will usually send a photo for approval before final payment and delivery. Check the details carefully, including names or dates if they're included.

Step 9: Delivery or collection

Originals may be collected, delivered or posted. Ask how the portrait will be packed, whether postage is tracked and insured, and what happens if it arrives damaged. Inspect it promptly when it arrives.

Step 10: Framing and display

If the portrait isn't framed, take it to a framer. Pastel, charcoal and pencil works need glazing with a mat; paintings are often framed without glass. Hang it away from direct sun, heaters and humid rooms. See our framing guide.

Commissioning as a gift

Portraits make meaningful gifts, but getting photos without spoiling the surprise can be tricky. Some artists offer gift vouchers so the recipient can choose the photos and style. If you're commissioning secretly, ask a family member to help gather photos.

Commissioning a memorial portrait

Many portraits are commissioned after a pet has died. This can be a comforting way to remember them, and artists who do memorial work are used to working from older or imperfect photos. Take your time. Our memorial portraits guide offers gentle guidance.

If something goes wrong

The ACCC explains that services from Australian businesses come with consumer guarantees, including that they're provided with acceptable care and skill and within a reasonable time if no time was agreed. Artistic taste is subjective, so clear communication and written terms are your best protection. If there's a problem, talk to the artist first.

Portraits with people

Some portraits show a pet with their person, a child or the whole family. These need clear photos of each person too, and many artists charge differently for human figures, because faces take careful work. Discuss the composition early, and check you have permission from everyone who'll appear in the portrait.

Portraits of horses and other animals

Horses, birds, rabbits, reptiles and farm animals are all popular portrait subjects. Look for an artist who has painted the species before, because anatomy and proportions vary greatly. For horses, mention any tack, rugs or colours you'd like included, and supply photos of conformation as well as the head.

Use the pet portrait planner

Our free pet portrait planner shows how each medium looks, how it's displayed and cared for, and what to expect about timing. It also gives a reference-photo checklist and a list of questions to ask any artist, adjusted for the size you want, the number of animals and whether it's a memorial portrait. It runs entirely in your browser, and nothing you choose is sent anywhere.

Where our information comes from

Factual statements in our guides are based on expert and official sources, including the Arts Law Centre of Australia, the Copyright Agency and the Australian Copyright Council for copyright; the Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Material and the Canadian Conservation Institute for caring for artworks; the ACCC and Scamwatch for consumer rights and safe buying; and museum collections for art history. We link to each source at the end of the page and rewrite everything in our own words.

A good commission in one sentence

A good pet portrait commission starts with an artist whose work you love, good reference photos and clear written terms, and ends with a portrait framed and hung where it's protected from sun, heat and damp. Almost everything else in this guide supports those simple steps.

Questions to ask yourself first

Before contacting an artist, ask yourself: what style and medium do I love, where will the portrait hang, how big can it be, what's my deadline, and which photos best capture my pet? Having answers ready makes your enquiry clearer and helps the artist give an accurate quote.

Pet portraits through history

Animals have appeared in art for thousands of years, and portraits of particular, beloved animals have a long tradition. The National Gallery in London describes George Stubbs's Whistlejacket, a life-size portrait of a racehorse painted around 1762, as probably the most well-known portrait of a horse. Nineteenth-century painters made careers painting dogs and cats, and today's portrait artists continue that tradition in every medium.

Your rights when buying

The ACCC explains that consumer guarantees apply to goods and services bought from Australian businesses. Services must be provided with acceptable care and skill and within a reasonable time if no date was agreed, and goods must be of acceptable quality and match their description. Clear written terms with the artist are still your best protection.

Key points

• Decide on medium, style, size, composition and timing before approaching artists.
• Get a written quote showing inclusions, deposit, timeline and cancellation terms.
• Supply sharp, eye-level reference photos and approve the composition early.
• Ask about packing, postage and insurance before delivery.