How much does a dog portrait cost?

Your home is not a home if your dog’s portrait isn’t hung prominently for all your guests to see. But, how do you go about getting a dog portrait?

Custom art is more accessible than ever, with some of the best artists creating incredible pieces of all sorts of pets. If you’ve been shopping for a custom pet portrait, you’ll find that the prices vary. 

There is good reason for the wide price difference. Here are a few of them.

Artist’s Experience

No artist is the same, even if they have the same medium for their art. One of the biggest factors that determine the cost of a custom dog portrait is the artist’s experience. Someone who has been creating for 10 years will most likely have a higher price than someone who is just starting out. Artists spend years perfecting their art, and you can see the difference.

In most cases, experience also equates to quality, customer service, and even turnaround time. If an artist with high experience is working on your custom dog portrait, you can most likely expect the results to match the dollar amount. 

You can also find gems from artists who have developed their own style of artwork. (Like Scott Holford’s Etching style!) To capture your dog in their style gives you something special that will get your friends and neighbors talking.

Number of Pets

We get it. Sometimes our dog needs their own dog. Next thing you know, you have a full house! And if you’re getting a custom pet portrait, you definitely can’t leave anyone out or the guilt will eat you alive. So, you can probably guess that it contributes to the cost of a pet portrait.

Yes, the cost of adding the additional pets is higher, but consider the amount of time it takes to illustrate just one. The time spent on the piece doubles, triples, or even quadruples depending on the amount of pets added.

Is it worth it though? Absolutely.

Breed

Believe it or not, the breed of your dog can be a factor. One breed may have tons of delicate fur details, while others may be a single-color short hair. The cost is ultimately determined by the artist you choose. 

Many times, the price difference between breeds wouldn’t be too drastic, if there is a difference at all. If there is, it most likely is detail-related, not necessarily because artists like one breed over another. All dogs are good dogs, after all!

Background Detail

What setting do you want your dog portrait to be set in? A peaceful landscape? Their favorite couch? Or maybe an imaginary land procured by the pet portrait artist?

If you want something special for your pet portrait, there may be an extra cost attached. If you want a flat color background, or even just white, the cost may be less. 

Technique by your artist is also a factor in your dog portrait pricing. If this is something they do regularly, they may have a template or turnaround time may be faster, contributing to the final cost of your portrait.

Digital vs Traditional Methods

All forms of artwork is beautiful and should be respected. Although ultimately the cost and time it takes to create a custom dog portrait is determined by the artist, the prices will vary within both categories.

You can search for artists based on the style of art you’re interested in. Here are a few styles:

• Single-line 
• Acrylic
• Color sketch
• Watercolor
• Monochrome sketch
• Renaissance
• Pop art
• Anime 
• Cartoon 
• Caricature 
• Hyper-realism

…and more!

Size

It goes without saying that the larger the custom pet portrait is, the higher the cost will be. No matter what the medium is, the size of the final product will increase or decrease depending on what you choose. 

When you order a larger size, the cost of materials increase, and in many cases, so does the time spent on your dog portrait. So, with that in mind, be sure to measure the spot you want to place the artwork. The cost for a piece that fits is well worth it.

Turnaround Time

Custom art takes time. Unlike heading to your closest department store and purchasing a standard mug with a stock image of a dog’s face on it, you are getting a one-of-a-kind dog portrait of your pup that you’re absolutely in love with. That means many hours and love go into the artwork, just for you.

When you order a pet portrait from an artist, their turnaround time is determined by their skill level, your order request, size, art details, and more. If a lot goes into one portrait, you can expect it to take a bit longer and for the price to also be higher. 

There are also artists who are just starting their journey with pet portraits. If they have less experience, their prices may be lower and their turnaround time may be longer. But the one thing that doesn’t change is the amount of love that goes into each piece.

Where you purchase the dog portrait

There are tons of places where you can buy a custom dog portrait. You can find pet portrait artists online with their ecommerce stores, online marketplaces, and social media. There are even artists who do their art in-person at pop ups, events, and markets! (Us included!)

Here are places you can purchase custom pet portraits online:

• Char and Whiskers
• Goodbuy
• Instagram
• TikTok Shop
• Etsy
• West & Willow
• Purr & Mutt
• Individual artist websites

If you are looking to purchase custom pet portraits in person, be on the lookout for dog events near you! The next corgi gathering may also include pet vendors who sell accessories, treats, wellness products, and of course - custom pet portraits. There is just something about getting a pet portrait in person that feel extra special.

When you are buying online, you can compare prices from different shops, whereas you may only have one option when purchasing in-person. 

Should I buy a custom dog portrait?

Definitely. The love you have for your dog is represented in the art piece you’re receiving. In addition to that, you’re going to have something truly unique! There is no better way to include your precious pup in your home decor than having a custom portrait created of them.