Can I choose what size of portrait?
Yes, of course! Sometimes this choice is down to budget as all my pet portraits are priced by the size of the finished artwork.  I have a range of basic sizes which I use but you can also specify dimensions if you have a particular place you wish to display your portrait. You can find my Price List for the standard sizes I offer here - https://eclectickelpie.com/prices.html 

Can you remove a background from the photograph?
YES! That’s the beauty of getting a pet portrait done. As we all know, it’s so hard to get animals to pose on the spot, in a specific way!  Some of the best photos we take of our dogs or cats unfortunately have annoying backgrounds.  Like your cats photographed in front of the kitchen bin… or your dog at the park with people in the background… sound familiar? Well, getting a pet portrait can mean you capture that perfect animal pose, but without the distracting background, making it a worthy piece of artwork rather than a photo you store in your phone and never print out! 

Can you draw a background into the portrait?
My art style is generally quite minimalistic where I present the subject on a neutral coloured background. This allows the detail in the portrait to really pop and make your pet the focus. However, I can do a background if one is requested.

Can you draw the whole animal?
Yes, you can get the whole body of your pet in the portrait if you like, just remember that you may not see as much detail. 

Can you draw my cat and dog in the same portrait?
Of course, if you have good photographs to work from I can make up any composition of pets you have… (if they’re safe to be in the same photo together...gerbils and snakes together? I’m not so sure!)

Can you make additional prints of the pet portrait for my family?
Yes, on request I can produce high quality prints of your pet portrait so that you can share with family. There is an additional fee for each one as I work with a local print company who specialise in fine-art printing.

How long does it take to get a pet portrait completed?
Because I work part-time as a Lighting Technician in the theatre & TV industry, my work schedule can be very irregular. Long anti-social hours means I don’t get to draw as often as I’d like so my completion times on portraits can vary.
I aim to complete medium sized portraits within 2 weeks but sometimes this just isn’t possible due to work. If you need a portrait completed for a specific date, please let me know at the time of booking and I will juggle things around to get it to you for your deadline.
I tend to book in 2 portraits each month depending on the size and complexity of each one and I will give you an estimated starting month when you book. It’s always advisable to book in advance of popular dates like Christmas. Don’t worry if you are late in booking though as I do offer gift vouchers to the full value and valid for 24 months, so you can still gift a portrait if you’re a last minute minnie like me :)


Do you always use pencils or can I get a painted portrait?
Most of my recent pet portrait artwork has been created with artist pencils as it is my preferred medium. They lend themselves so well to getting that fine detail I aim for, however I do work in watercolour from time to time so I’m open to discussion on a looser style using watercolour.


How long will the colour last on the artwork?
I use artist grade pencils that have been tested and rated using either the Blue Wool or ASTM D-6901 Scale. This gives each pencil (or pigment) a rating based on its ability to withstand fading under light. Under gallery conditions they will last well over your lifetime but what about in home conditions? So long as you don’t hang your portrait in direct sunlight or in a very brightly lit area your portrait will be absolutely fine. If you are at all worried you can speak to your framer about using UV protective glass.

Do you offer framing?
I do not currently offer a framing service as choosing a frame is a very personal thing, it needs to fit with the decor of your home. They are also incredibly costly (and risky) to post. Instead I supply all my pieces with a neutral coloured mount (or mat) cut to a standard frame size which enables you to pop it straight into a shop bought frame. I can also supply your portrait as “art only” without the mount if you plan to go to a local framer. That way you have complete control of what your finished piece looks like.

Can you post internationally?
Yes, I take commissions from all over the world. All my finished pet portraits are packaged securely to ensure they are not damaged in transit.  International shipping costs will be applied accordingly, and agreed in advance. 

What will it cost me to get a pet portrait?
I have a price list online - check it out here - https://eclectickelpie.com/prices.html

If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch
​Thanks Arla x 

How do you create a gallery wall for your home?
As mentioned earlier, gallery wall decor can vary from just a group of 3 small pictures, to a whole wall of picture frames with your personal style and memories captivated in them.  So, you may want to curate a collection of different sizes to suit your gallery wall space and that’s where I can help.  I don’t work to one standard size. In fact, I can draw your Pets Portrait in a whole variety of sizes.  A Mini size pet portrait might just include a study of your pet's eye, paw or nose, to create almost an abstract piece of art which would look great on a gallery wall.  A medium size Pet Portrait might include the head and neck of your animal, but sizes can go right up to XX-Large which might include the whole body of your animal or even a group of animals.  So you can be sure your Pet Portrait will fit nicely into your gallery wall design (and your budget!), either prominently or discretely depending on the size you commission.

If your gallery wall should reflect your personality, then what better than to include your favourite picture of your pet with its distinctive expression that you have come to adore. It may be your dog with a great big smile on its face, that would make you smile back every time you walk past it on the wall. Or an expression of your sassy cat, that would make you laugh. Or it could be your beautiful horse, standing proud which will remind you of all those days out on the paddock and getting ready for shows. So, if you love labradors, don’t just put up any old picture of a lab on your gallery wall, display one that is truly personal to you as it’ll give you so much more pleasure.

So, now we’ve clarified that a Pet Portrait can make the perfect addition to your gallery wall decor, here’s a few ideas of how it might look.

If you’re interested in commissioning a Pet Portrait for your gallery wall then please get in touch with me - arla@eclectickelpie.com


Thanks Arla x ​

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Often the best photos we take of our pets are not posed or taken in a professional photo shoot, they are the everyday photos we snap quickly to remember a sunny day out at the park, a weird pose or a funny thing our cat or dog has done. These images are packed full of personality and character but they might be blurry, have distracting backgrounds or poor lighting, they just wouldn’t be suitable to print out and frame but they capture that perfect moment in time.

That’s where I can help. It is true that these photos are not the best for me to work from but I can often use them for the pose of the portrait whilst taking colour information, detail and markings from other more detailed photos you have.

I can also incorporate, alter or even remove elements such as a favourite dog toy, recreating areas which have been cut off in the original photo or removing cat & dog collars and horse tack.

Combining multiple pets together in one portrait is also possible and it’s this ability to be a “human photoshop” that can make a hand-drawn traditional portrait much more personal, flexible and unique than a photograph.

If you’d like to find out more about pet portraits, get a quote or buy a voucher then please get in touch with me
Email me at info@eclectickelpie.com ​

Show your true colours
Photographs taken in natural light always work best for pet portraits. It shows the true colours of your animal's coat and makes their eyes shine. Choose a bright but not too sunny day to take your photo. Take multiple shots as you can be guaranteed that most will be blurred! Use burst mode on your phone to capture several photos at once, that way you can choose the best of the bunch. If your pet is an indoor animal, you can take the photo with your pet facing a window. Make sure you always place the main light source behind you and never use a flash or filters.

​We all need a little help now and again
Pets are unpredictable and much like children they can quickly get bored or over-excited. Prepare for your photo session by getting a friend or family member to help you out. It’s best if it’s someone your pet knows so they are relaxed around them. Be patient with them (animal and human) and if either starts to get fed-up or stressed, stop for a while and have some playtime or a snack. Never rush or get upset as your pet will pick up on your mood.

Bribery goes a long way so arm your helper with some tasty treats and a favourite toy. Ask them to stand behind you and attract your pet’s attention while you concentrate on getting some gorgeous pictures. Don't forget to reward both your pet and your human helper for their efforts.

How low can you go?
We are so used to seeing our pets looking up at us from below, but this is not necessarily the best angle for your photo as this can distort their features and often doesn’t make for the most attractive pose, unless your dog has a photo worthy schnozzle (see Gus below). Get down to eye level with your pet to preserve their proportions and aim for a 3/4 view as, just like for humans, this angle is generally the most flattering. Also, don’t take a photo of your horse or dog from halfway across a field, try to fill the photo frame with them so I can see all their beautiful details.

Size is everything!
I know it’s boring but let’s get a little techy for a minute and talk resolution… It probably doesn’t mean much to most people but very simply put this term refers to the amount of information held in a digital photo. The larger the file size, the more information the photo has. Smartphones take photos at high resolutions so they are perfect so long as you email them to me at their full size.
The problem comes when you upload your pet photos to an online social media site, the images will be compressed and a lot of that information will be thrown out to make the file smaller. This makes it much faster to load but compromises the quality of the image. For me to be able to see all the details and subtle colour shifts in your animal’s fur I have to be able to zoom into the photo really closely (my eyes are getting old), but with a compressed image I can’t. It will go blurry or pixelated so I have to “invent” details that I can’t see or use other references to try and fill in the missing information.  

Therefore, please send me your high quality original photos but avoid using any social media photos of your pets if you can. 
With physical photos you can either post them to me or take a photo of them on your phone. In either case email me what you have at full size (ie. direct from your phone) and we can decide together which are the best photos to work from.

Choices, choices…
Now that you have run out of storage space on your phone it’s time to thin down your options. Start by deleting any images that are blurred or where your pet has blinked or looked away at the last minute. Now you are probably left with only a few images if your session went anything like mine but hopefully you’ve got some fab photos to share with me. Don’t worry if you are still having trouble picking one, just email me them all and we can decide together.


It’s never easy to get the perfect photo of your beloved pet, but it’s worth the effort. Be patient, take lots and never underestimate the power of treats! Try taking lots of photos over different days, whilst out for a walk, lounging on the sofa. Above all just be patient and eventually you will get the perfect one!

The better the photo, the better your pet portrait will be! (in theory)

Thank you to all of my lovely muses and their human companions for keeping my pencils busy over the last few years.
​It really is my pleasure to draw for you. 

​If you’re interested in getting a portrait for your pet dog, cat, horse or bird, but are unsure about what photo to use, please get in touch and I’m happy to chat through some ideas. One of the best parts of my job is seeing your companion animals and hearing your stories about them. What’s more, I love a challenge so exotic animals also welcome! 
Email me at info@eclectickelpie.com