The hardest part of buying a custom portrait is not knowing what you'll get. So you see your portrait first, as a digital preview, and nothing is painted or printed until you approve it.
How it works
From your photo to your wall, with no surprises
Step 1: Send a photo
Share a favorite photo of your cat, or a few. Our photo guide shows what works best, and older photos are welcome too.
Step 2: Approve your preview
We prepare a digital preview of your portrait. Ask for one free round of changes, and approve it only when it looks like your cat.
Step 3: Painted or printed
Oil portraits are painted by hand by professional artists, working from your preview and your original photo. Canvas Prints are printed on canvas.
Step 4: Delivered
Your portrait ships to your door, or straight to the person you're surprising, anywhere in the US.
One free revision
Not quite right? Tell us what to change, such as the eye color, a marking or the crop, and we'll send an updated preview.
Nothing made until you say so
You can cancel for a full refund any time before you approve your preview.
A final check on oils
For hand-painted portraits, we check a photo of the finished painting against your preview and photo before it ships.
Three photo styles
Choose how your photo becomes a portrait
In every style the aim is the same: your cat, true to your photo, with their own eyes, markings and expression. Here's one photo of Cobble in all three styles.
Cobble's photo, used as it is Style 1
“Paint my photo exactly as it is”
No digital editing at all. We crop to the canvas shape if needed, and the portrait is made straight from your photo, background and all.
Good for: You already love the photo, favorite spot and all.
Digital preview: studio background Style 2
“Keep my cat, give it a studio background”
We keep your cat exactly as they are and replace only the room behind them with a soft, painterly studio backdrop.
Good for: A great photo of your cat in a busy room. Most people choose this one.
Digital preview: classic portrait Style 3
“Classic portrait”
A traditional head-and-chest composition with a studio backdrop, made only from what's visible in your photo.
Good for: A formal portrait for a special wall.
Studio note: the painter always works from your original photo as well as your approved preview, and your photo wins on colors, markings and eyes. Curious how previews are made? It's in our questions.
Photo guide
The better the photo, the more it looks like your cat
No need for a professional camera. A phone and a window do the job. Here's what helps most.
01
Daylight, no flash
Near a window is perfect. Flash makes eyes glow and washes out fur color.
02
Eye level
Get down to your cat's height rather than shooting from above.
03
Sharp eyes
Tap your phone screen on your cat's eyes to focus. Blurry eyes are the most common problem.
04
Close enough to see whiskers
Head and chest should fill most of the frame. No need to crop; send the original photo.
05
True colors
Please skip filters. If your cat's markings look different in different light, send two or three photos.
06
Several cats?
Send one clear photo of each cat. They don't need to be in the same picture.
Only have older or imperfect photos?
That's okay, especially for memorial portraits. Send everything you have, and we'll tell you honestly what we can do before you commit to anything.
Opening this November
Be first in line for a portrait
Leave your email and we'll write when orders open, with the holiday order-by dates. That's it: no newsletter, no daily emails.
Studio note: if you tell us your cat's name, we'll know who we're painting.