Crown, ruff, velvet robes. Painted in oil, by hand — not a filter.
There is a whole industry of apps that will paste your dog's head onto a stock portrait of a duke. You've probably seen the results. They print fine on a mug.
This is not that.
I compose the costume, the crown, the drapery, and the background as an actual painting, and then I paint it in oil on canvas — the same way I'd paint a wedding or a memorial. It takes about the same amount of time, and it hangs on a wall for the next fifty years looking like it belongs there.
The joke is that it's a dog. The painting itself isn't a joke.
Recent royal commissions
It still has to look like your pet.
This is the part most novelty pet portraits get wrong. Once you add a crown and a lace ruff, it's easy for the animal underneath to become generic — a cat, rather than your cat.
The costume is the fun part. The face is the actual work. The markings, the set of the ears, the exact colour where the fur changes on the muzzle, the expression that made you send me the photo in the first place — all of that has to survive the transformation, or the whole thing falls flat.
You'll see the face in the mockup before I paint anything.
Choose the era, or let me choose.
The look isn't fixed. Some options:
- Elizabethan — the tall lace ruff, dark background, jewelled collar. The most recognisable, and the funniest on a small fluffy animal.
- Baroque nobility — velvet robes, gold braid, a sash, dramatic side lighting.
- Military portrait — epaulettes, medals, a red coat. Works well on dogs with serious faces.
- Romantic era — softer, lighter, landscape behind. Good for cats.
Tell me the mood you want — regal, ridiculous, or somewhere in between — and I'll compose something. If you have a specific painting in mind as a reference, send it.
These are usually gifts.
Most of these are commissioned for someone else, and that changes the logistics a little.
You don't need the photo up front. Order first, and I'll email you a link — which means you can arrange the photo quietly, or ask a family member for one, without spoiling it.
If you're up against a date, tell me at the start rather than at the end. I'd rather plan around it than rush the painting.
Sizes and pricing
- 8 × 10 in — from $265
- 12 × 16 in — from $400
- 16 × 20 in — from $575
- 24 × 30 in — from $708
Five frame styles, or unframed. Custom sizes priced by canvas area. Free U.S. shipping.
For this style specifically, I'd go 16 × 20 in or larger. The costume detail — lace, braid, jewels — is where the humour and the craft both live, and it needs the room. A baroque or antique gold frame does a lot of work here too.
When to order
Most portraits ship about four weeks after you approve the mockup, and I guarantee within five.
If it's a Christmas or birthday gift, order about six weeks out. December fills up early.
From people I've painted for
"Seller was very communicative and gave us a beautiful piece of art to remember our deceased cat. Art was packaged extremely well and included a hanging kit and mini level."
— Lauren, Feb 2025
"The artist really nailed my dog's personality, from the warm, expressive eyes to the beautiful details in the fur."
— Sherry, Nov 2024
"Truly blown away by this portrait of our dog. We'll have it forever."
— Kira, Dec 2025
Royal pet portrait questions
Is this a hand-painted oil painting, or a digital edit?
Hand-painted in oil on canvas, by me. There's no digital compositing in the final piece — the mockup is a digital sketch so you can approve the composition, but the painting itself is paint.
Can I choose the costume and background?
Yes. Tell me the era, the colours, or the mood, and I'll compose it. If you have a reference painting you like, send it.
Will it still look like my pet under all of that?
That's the whole point, and it's the part I spend the most time on. You'll see the face in the mockup before I start painting.
Can you do more than one pet in the same royal scene?
Yes — two dogs as co-monarchs, a cat and a dog, a whole household. Pricing goes up per subject, and I'd recommend going larger than 16 × 20 in.
Can you do this for a pet who has passed away?
Yes. Some people specifically want the celebratory version rather than a sombre one, and I think that's a good instinct.
What if I don't like the concept?
Cancel at the mockup stage for a full refund, no questions. Nothing gets painted until you say yes.
Put a crown on him.
Order first. No photo needed yet — I'll email you a link.