Hi! I’m Stephanie and this is Diggle.

**He is my baby and my best friend. I know what it’s like to love a pet.**
I adopted Diggle during a really difficult time in life, mainly as a way to soften the transition of divorce on my kiddos. I wanted them to have something to look forward to when they were at my house, and admittedly, I needed the company for when they were gone.
Little did I know this guy would end up rescuing us more than the one measly time we rescued him. He has become an integral part of our family, providing laughter, comfort, and unconditional love. I can’t imagine life without him now and I’m just so grateful I was led to him.
Let me share the story of how we met because it’s one of those instances in life that reminds me that there is a guiding hand in life.

**Here’s our story…. (BTW, you can skip to the TLDR if this is too long! :))**

It was the summer of 2015, and I had agreed to adopt a puppy for my kids. We had been looking at available pets online and had even visited a couple of local shelters, but we hadn’t found the right match. Then we saw pictures of Diggle, and something about him immediately won us over. Pretty much it the goofy ears and expressive eyes. We thought he was pretty cute, so one sunny September afternoon, we made the drive to the Jefferson County Animal Shelter to meet him and see if he was the right fit for our family.
It was a bit of a drive from home, and looking back, I still have no idea how we ended up at that particular shelter when there were so many others closer to us. But now, I believe we were exactly where we were supposed to be. Somehow, fate was guiding us toward him.

We drove over an hour to the shelter, only to discover that Diggle wasn’t there. He and his littermates had been taken to a PetSmart in Topeka for an adoption event. We were disappointed, but before we left, the woman working there called and learned that the puppies hadn’t been adopted and were on their way back.
Although it would be another 40 minutes, something made us decide to wait. We wandered around the farm-like shelter and visited the other dogs until my 7 year old son had an encounter with one of the more reactive dogs. He wasn’t hurt, but it scared him, and we decided it was probably time to leave.
Just as I was loading the kids into the car, a red van came winding up the long country road. It was carrying Diggle and his littermates. We decided to stay and finally meet the puppy who had brought us all that way.

The van finally arrived, carrying three chubby, 6 month old black and white puppies. There was Charlie, Diggle, and Roy. We took them into a fenced play area to meet them. Charlie was the confident, bossy leader. Roy was sweet, but so shy he hid under a chair. And then there was Diggle. Friendly, playful, calm, agreeable. ADORABLE.
When my kids started playing, Diggle immediately joined in. While Roy hid and Charlie wandered off to explore, Diggle played with my kids and made them laugh.
That’s what I needed more than anything at the time. We adopted him right away and never looked back.
When I think back to this day, we were only moments from missing him. Something made us stay and something made him show up in the knick of time. The important thing is we didn’t miss him and I think God had a hand in that.

TLDR;

I share this with you because I believe our animal friends have a soul and that our lives come together in a meaningful, purposefully intertwined way. Diggle came into our lives when we needed to smile and find joy in tough times. He is now family.
I believe your pet likely has a story too, how your meeting them was meant to be.
My goal in creating pet portraits is to capture the essence of your pet, the story of your pet, and for you to be able look upon the finished piece and say ‘yep, that’s my baby.’ Maybe even cry a little. No shame. I’m a crier.
As an artist, my greatest joy is creating something that moves people emotionally. If I can capture a little bit of the love and connection you share with your pet, then I’ve done what I set out to do.

Why get a pet portrait?

Our pets are family too and it’s a harsh reality that their time with us is fleeting. Although fleeting, these connections are no less beautiful or meaningful than our relationships with other people. Sometimes even moreso. At least that’s what I believe.

Commissions are a beautiful way to capture the love we have for them. Commissions make meaningful gifts, personal keepsakes, or simply a special way to remember a beloved friend.

Here’s what I can offer you:

Custom, one-of-a-kind pet portraits created in my signature style using watercolor, colored pencil, and ink on archival Arches watercolor paper.
Matted and carefully packaged in a protective cellophane sleeve. Keeping the piece unframed helps keep shipping costs more affordable and gives you the freedom to choose a frame that fits your space.
Thoughtfully created with attention to detail, while allowing room for my artistic style and interpretation to shine through.
Your vision matters. I welcome your ideas and will work with you to capture the personality, details, and feeling that make your pet uniquely yours.

Sound like something you’d be interested in?

Keep reading for more info and if it sounds good, send me an inquiry via the form below!

Here’s what I need to create a really good portrait:

To create a portrait that truly looks like your pet, I require a clear, high-quality reference photo. The animal itself will be closely based on the photo you provide so I can accurately capture their unique features and personality.

For the background, you have more creative freedom. I can create a simple, classic setting or incorporate meaningful elements, colors, or symbolism that are personal to you. While the background can be customized, the portrait of your pet will be based on your reference photo.

**So, what is a good reference photo?**

A good reference photo makes all the difference in creating a portrait that truly captures your pet. Natural lighting and a clear, well-positioned angle are ideal. Outdoor lighting or a naturally lit room works best, especially for pets with very light or very dark fur. Good lighting helps me see the subtle highlights, shadows, and variations in their coat.

Whenever possible, take the photo at your pet’s eye level rather than from above. A clear, well-lit photo will give me the best opportunity to capture your pet’s unique features and personality.

See below for examples of good reference photos.

See how these cuties are in focus and the pics are taken face-on? See how their shine and texture is caught by the light? That’s what I need to create a good pet portrait.

For good measure, here are some examples of reference photos I would not use.

To be clear, this has nothing to do with how cute your pet is. Trust me, THEY’RE CUTE! But see how these photos lack detail or are taken from too far away or at an odd angle? Unfortunately, I would not be able to use these photos.

Tips for getting a good reference photo:

go outdoors or use a room with good, natural light (try not to be in direct sunlight or directly under a light fixture)
get down on your pet’s level (putting your phone camera on the ground, in portrait mode, or turning it upside down works really well!)
offer a treat or use a word they know to get them to perk up and make eye contact with the camera

Note: I understand not every person is a professional pet photographer, nor is every pet cooperative for the camera. I also understand that some pets are no longer with us and getting a new photo is not possible. I will try my best to work with what you are able to send me.

Your Options:

I offer two ways to create your pet portrait, Classic or Personalized.

SIZES & PRICING

My pet portraits are created on Arches fine art watercolor paper and matted, but not framed. This allows you to choose the frame that works best for you, and save costs on shipping. Standard prices are below and do not reflect shipping costs or additional costs for more complicated pieces.

Small 8x10

Classic $300

Personalized $385

Medium 11x14

Classic $400

Personalized $485

Large 16 x 20

Large (16 x 20) (Best for Multiple Subjects!)

Classic $500

Personalized $585

The above prices are for a single pet in the portrait. Multiple subjects will increase the final price which will vary based upon how complicated the piece is to create. A quote will be provided before any work begins.

Here’s a look at the commission process!

Step 1: Inquiry

You send me your reference photos and ideas via the inquiry form below. I receive your inquiry form and admire how CUTE your pet is.
I reach out to you and we have a back and forth about your ideas and my timeline.

Step 2: Quote & Confirmation

We agree on an idea. I give you a quote for the final project.

Step 3: Deposit

You send a 50% non-refundable deposit to reserve your commission.

Step 4: I Create a Digital Concept

I use Canva to create what I call a “digital collage” in either the “Classic” option or the “Personalized” option.

Creating digital concept images saves me a lot of time sketching, which allows me to keep my costs lower. A lot of the time, these turn into a unique piece of art of their own. Please know, this is NOT AI. This is literally me, cutting and pasting this image together digitally, which can take hours, depending on the piece.

Note: These images will be watermarked at this stage. I will give them to you upon request via email at the end of the process without the watermark. Please do not share them until the end of the process.

Step 5: Approving the Digital Concept

I send the image back to you for you to make suggestions. I will revise the image as needed and send it back to you for approval for final approval.

Note: I will revise at this stage up to 2 times. After that, I will need to begin adjusting the final cost of your commission to account for my time.

Step 5: The Painting

I begin the painting process and send you a picture of the final piece!

From this……………………………………… to this……………………………… or this!

Step 6: Completion & Shipping

You’ll finalize the payment and I will ship the painting out within 2-3 days.

Note: Shipping is required even if you are local to me. Unfortunately, I do not have time to meet up and deliver every painting. I appreciate your understanding!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Deposits are non-refundable.
All artwork remains under my copyright unless otherwise agreed
Commissions are for personal use only
I do not copy other artists’ work or copyrighted images
Framing and shipping are not included unless specified

COMMISSION INQUIRY

If you’re interested in commissioning a piece, please complete the form below. I’ll respond within 3–5 business days.

Submitting a request does not guarantee availability.