Pleasant Portraits

Pet portraits in pencil and paint

Commission pet portraits

A black and white pet portrait of a Labrador, head and shoulders.
Pet portraits - a ginger cat with intent yellow green eyes on a purple background

Welcome to Pleasant Pet Portraits, for the perfect artistic likeness of your pets. I specialise in a style I call ‘soft realism’. I’ll bring your pet to life with subtle but rich colours and natural details of feather and fur. I strive to capture their distinct personality in their gaze, creating a picture of them that’s truly unforgettable. So, whether your friend is furry with four legs or feathered with two, commission a pet portrait and let me turn them into a memorable work of art.

Materials

For portraits in colour, I work with Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils which are high-quality artist’s pencils. They have a wonderful range of colours and are a joy to use for pet portraits, as the shades are vibrant but natural. Furthermore, the finished product is smudge-resistant and has excellent lightfastness.

Depending on the subject and background I will use a variety of different papers and cards as the base. One of my favourites is Clairefontaine’s Pastelmat. Since this was designed for working with pastels it has a deep tooth, but a velvety texture. As a result, this grabs and holds the pigment, whether pastel or pencil (and I often use both) and allows me to work in multiple layers without the colours becoming overly mixed or muddied.

All of the papers, cards, and mediums I use are acid-free, lightfast and archival quality, ensuring that your art will look its best for a long time to come.

Method

Every piece of art is a careful journey from sketch to seal. I begin with a precise drawing, using your reference photo, to ensure I capture a striking resemblance to your pet. Next, with every light layer of coloured pencil, I add more detail, creating a depth and complexity that gives the portrait a soft and natural look. This process usually takes 1-2 weeks, depending on the size of the piece, and ensures that your pet’s unique personality shines through. If the artwork is urgent, please get in touch to discuss an expedited service.

Get In Touch

For any enquires please email:

phia@pleasantportraits.com
or send me a message via the form.



To commission pet portraits, please visit my shop.

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