Last year (2021) the pet industry reached nearly 109.6 billion dollars in revenue. That's BILLION with a capital B.

People love their pets. Painting pet portraits is a thriving niche in art sales right now. So I decided to video my latest commission and show you the process of painting a simple pet portrait. This portrait is not highly detailed and depends more on the value contrast of lights and darks to give it life. I've been paid to paint countless pet portraits over the years and discovered a few important things along the way. I thought I would share them with you. 

1. Make sure the client gives you the clearest and best quality photos possible as references. This will allow you to see the nuances and details of the pet. In this latest commission, my client had no photos of the pet and instead sent me screenshots from a Facebook page. Because the reference photos weren't clear, I had to cut back on details and simplify the finished painting. 

2. The eyes have it. Just like human eyes, pets' eyes are distinctive and unique to each individual. Pay attention to size, shape, color, and expression when painting the eyes of the pet. Get them as accurate to the reference as possible and focus your details there. Humans instinctively look at eyes. We are drawn to them. Take special care in painting your subject's eyes.

3. Simplify the background.  Don't get too fancy or detailed with the background unless the client asks for some specific object to be in the portrait with the pet. A busy background might take some of the focus away from the pet and be distracting. 

4, Pay attention to the dog's distinctive markings. All German Shepards do not look exactly alike and believe me, a pet owner can tell their dog apart from another of the same exact breed. No two bulldogs have the same coat pattern or facial expression. So pay attention to coat patterns, coat length, facial expressions, the way the ears sit on the head, any specific patterns of color around the muzzle, and anything else that makes the dog unique. I once painted an English Bulldog with a brown spot on her ear that was shaped exactly like a giraffe. The client was adamant that the mark be visible in my finished painting. Be on the lookout for things that are unique to the pet and be sure to try to include them in the final portrait. 

Ok, so that was four tips not three. You got a bonus tip!