How to Choose a Style for Your Custom Pet Portrait

October 14, 2026

A custom pet portrait should look like your pet, not just a dog or a cat. The photo matters most, but the style you choose decides how the finished piece feels on your wall. Here is a plain guide to the styles we offer, which photos suit each one, and how to pick a size and frame.

The six portrait styles, and who they suit

Soft Watercolor

A gentle painted look on a soft pastel background. It suits calm, sweet faces and light or mixed coats, and it sits easily in bedrooms, nurseries and living rooms. It is a natural fit for memorial portraits because it feels soft rather than formal.

Classic Noir

A black-and-white portrait on deep charcoal green with a fine gold border. Pick this if your pet has strong markings or an expressive face, or if your home leans toward darker, richer colors. It looks timeless in a hallway or office.

Modern Duotone

Your pet in two tones on a bold, solid color. Clean and graphic, it works well in modern rooms and is a good way to match a portrait to an accent color you already have.

Pop Art

Four bright panels in classic pop-art style. Fun, a little funky, and a great gift for someone whose pet has a big personality. Best with a clear, front-facing photo.

Vintage Cameo

A sepia portrait in a gold oval on aged-paper texture. It has an heirloom feel and suits traditional rooms, older photos, and quiet tributes.

Pencil Sketch

A hand-drawn look on soft paper. Understated and elegant, and a good fit if you prefer neutral decor or want something that goes anywhere.

Have a different idea?

Two pets in one portrait, a special background, or colors to match a room are all possible with the Custom (Your Idea) option. Tell us what you have in mind in the order notes. If we can't make it, you get a full refund.

Which style for which photo?

Bright, clear photo, eyes visible: any style works.
Older or slightly soft photo: Soft Watercolor, Vintage Cameo or Pencil Sketch are forgiving.
Strong black-and-white markings: Classic Noir or Modern Duotone make them stand out.
Busy background: don't worry. We can remove a busy background.

Not sure your photo is good enough? Our guide on how to take a good photo for a pet portrait covers what matters. And if the only photo you have isn't perfect, send it anyway. We'll tell you before anything is printed if it won't work.

Choosing a size

Small, 8×10 in (from $79): shelves, desks, bedside tables, and gallery walls.
Medium, 12×16 in (from $119): the all-rounder for a wall on its own or above a console.
Large, 18×24 in (from $159): a statement piece above a sofa, bed or fireplace.

Every size comes in vertical or horizontal. Choose the one that matches your photo: a pet sitting up usually suits vertical, and a pet lying down or stretched out usually suits horizontal.

Choosing a frame

Frames come in white, black or brown (options vary by size).

White: light, airy rooms and the Soft Watercolor and Pencil Sketch styles.
Black: a crisp edge for Classic Noir, Modern Duotone and Pop Art.
Brown: warm wood tones, Vintage Cameo, and traditional rooms.

How ordering works

Upload your favorite photo and choose a style, size and frame.
Your pet's name is included at no extra cost. Add dates or a short line in the order notes.
Within 1–2 business days we email you two free digital proofs to choose from. Nothing is printed until you've seen them.
Your portrait is printed and framed by a professional print partner and arrives ready to hang. Standard US shipping is free.