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A dog is man’s best friend, right? Well, unless you’re exclusively a cat person. One thing you can guarantee is that pretty much every pet owner in existence really, really loves their pet. Pets are optional in the sense that we don’t have to take them in and take care of them; we do it because we want to.

One study done 2018 showed that Americans spent a grand total of $72 billion on their pets. Yes, billion. We don’t just say how much we love our pets, we put our money where our mouth is, obviously. Money aside, we pour a lot of time, emotion, and effort into our pets. It’s no mean feat to care for a dog or cat even when you take fitting the bill out of the equation.

If you’re shopping for your favorite (or maybe even second or third favorite) pet lover, one of the simplest ways to ensure that they’ll love any gift you get them is to include their pet in your planning. With a custom pet portrait, a painting from a picture, you pay homage to their pet while proving that you’re incredibly thoughtful.

Why a Portrait of Their Pet is a Thoughtful Gift

They love their pet, so even if their poochie pal or feline friend isn’t your favorite but you love the human behind the four paws, they’d certainly appreciate such a thoughtful gift starring a mammal that means the most to them.  By having custom pet portraits commissioned for your loved one, you show them that you care about what they care about, that you acknowledge their feelings and embrace them as they are.  Commissioning a portrait is a rather romantic notion, or simply a very kind one, as well. It requires thought and planning. It’s special since it’ll be the only piece of its kind. Nobody else in the world has one like it, nobody ever will have one like it, and any pet owner would be glad to have a beautiful pet portrait to adorn the walls of their house or apartment.

Pets Who Can Be the Subject of Custom Art

What kind of pets make great subjects for custom art? The answer is ANY kind! You can have a portrait commissioned of any kind of animal. The following are all animals you can have painted (or drawn):

•       Dogs
•       Cats
•       Horses
•       Fish
•       Lizards
•       Snakes
•       Turtles
•       Tortoises
•       Cows
•       Goats
•       Sheep
•       Racoons
•       Capybaras

Okay, maybe kidding a little on the capybaras, but pet capybaras are totally a thing in states where it’s legal to own them. Whatever kind of pet the human you’re looking to please loves, a talented, experienced Paint Your Life artist can handle it.

How Does Commissioning a Portrait Work?

When a lot of people think of commissioning a portrait, they think of Victorian subjects posing carefully in uncomfortable clothing for hours, days, maybe even weeks in order to have their likeness rendered. They also probably think of the exorbitant costs of art, since art is a $64 billion global market.

While some art can be very expensive, having a portrait commissioned will likely cost you less than you imagine. With the advent of the internet, you can connect with talented artists from all over the world at the touch of a button, and they don’t charge museum prices to create a custom piece just for you.  Many artists that find work online are happy to turn a photo into a painting, so you don’t have to physically be in the same place to get a painting done.

At Paint Your Life, you can check out our artists’ portfolios, choose someone to work with and send them a photo and ideas, pay a small deposit to get the work underway, and then review the portrait before approval so you can have changes made if necessary. You can choose the medium, size, and even change things about the picture you send in. For example, say the dog is wearing a generic black collar when they usually wore a cute plaid one instead, so you send the artist a picture of their signature look so it can be included in the portrait.

Wondering if this service could really be as awesome as it sounds. Check out this Paint Your Life review from a dog-centric site.

Best Pet Lover Gift? Definitely.

Pet lovers love their pets. They share their lives with them, day in and day out, sharing their home, their time, and maybe even their bed. A custom portrait is a perfect piece of décor that shows visitors to their home how much they love their pet and shows the recipient how much you love them.