Pet Portrait Process
STEP ONE: To get started, place an order by visiting the Shop page.
Payment is made through a secure Paypal account. You may pay with or without having a Paypal account yourself and use a credit card.
STEP TWO: Email me several photos of your pet to info@hopelaneart.com. If you have a favorite image you want me to base the painting on, please let me know which one it is. Your photos should be of good quality, the largest file size you have and clear. Please send me several photos as I often use details from multiple images. If you want any tips on how to photograph your pet–-just ask. Please also tell me all about your pet, about what you love about them and their personality and little tricks. The more I know about your furry friend, the better I can capture them in a pet painting that you will enjoy.
If your photos are OK to work from, I’ll email you and ask you for any further info I need or any special wishes you have. I’ll also give you a good idea of timing which is based on my workload. If for any reasons your photos are not good enough to work from, I will let you know and immediately refund your money.
STEP THREE: Once we get started, you’ll receive one or more sketches with digital color for approval, and then I will hand-paint your pet’s portrait with lots of care and attention to detail. I’ll send you a photo of the finished painting before I ship for any last minute comments. (and just to make sure you totally love it!)
Your painting will be carefully wrapped for shipping. Shipping is based on the size of the art. I will only ship by methods that allow the package to be tracked from my studio in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In the US, I ship USPS Priority mail with a delivery confirmation. You may request optional insurance or a faster shipping method at an additional charge.
I paint on an archival hard panel to preserve lots of detail. I work in both acrylic and oil paint. I offer portraits in many sizes–so you can select the ones on the Shop page or contact me for pricing on something different.
If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch using the contact form on this site.
PHOTOGRAPHY IS CRITICAL: Every pet portrait that I paint is done from photos that you send to me. I do not photograph your pet myself or work from live sittings. Please send as many different photos as you can, so that I may choose the photo that is best for your portrait. If you have a favorite one, let me know and I’ll tell you if it is suitable to work from.
I prefer receiving digital files but can work from a good photo print as well. However I cannot be responsible for the return of any photo prints. Digital images should be high resolution (that means 300 dpi or the largest size image you have) and should be emailed. Please contact me for directions on mailing printed photos and dvds.
GETTING A GOOD PHOTO
The best photos to work from are taken outdoors in natural light on a bright but slightly overcast day, or indoors near a large window. The sun or any light source, should be behind you, and you should avoid having a light source behind your pet. Please avoid using a flash. It tends to create very artificial lighting that can make an ugly painting. However if your very favorite photo of your pet was taken with a flash, send it to me, and let me see if I can work with it.
If possible, try to take or select photos that are taken at the same height as your pet instead of above or below them. That means getting down on the floor (or up on the bed) with them–and if you can’t do that, try to pick up your pet and put them on the same level as you. Don’t try this with a big dog though! Try to get as close as you can to your pet, but avoid cutting off their ears or too much of their bodies if it is to be a full body portrait. Photos need to be clear and sharp.
