Animal Portraits & Pet Art: 18 Ideas for Every Pet and Room

What counts as animal portraits and pet art?

An animal portrait is a picture whose main job is to capture one individual: the shape of the head, the markings, the eyes and a little of the attitude. If a friend can look at it and say "that's Biscuit," it's a portrait. If it could be any bay horse or any gray cat, it's decor.

Pet art is the broader idea. It includes portraits, but also illustrated and playful pieces, and the same artwork printed on things you use every day. One good piece of animal portrait art can live on a canvas in the hall, a mug at work and a card in the mail. For a full breakdown of portrait styles, formats and prices, see our main pet portraits guide. This article is the idea book that goes with it.

Animal portraits beyond cats and dogs

Most pet art you see online is dogs and cats, but plenty of people share their lives with other animals and want them on the wall too. Our artist works from any pet photo where the face is clear, so the real question is the photo, not the species. Because you see a free preview before paying, you can check that the result looks like your animal before you commit a cent.

Two honest caveats. Very small animals (a hamster, a finch) need a close-up photo, and features that are hard to read, like a dark tortoise in shade, may take a couple of tries with different shots. You never pay for a preview you don't want.

The many forms pet art can take

Before choosing a style, decide what the art is for: a statement on the wall, a small daily smile, or a gift. Here are the main forms, and the table below sums them up.

Pet art forms compared: look, best place and price

Use this as a quick map. Prices are starting prices from our catalog; wall art sizes and frames change the total.

18 pet art ideas for the home

Good pet art feels like it belongs to the room, not like it was stuck on as an afterthought. These ideas work with almost any animal.

• A pet gallery wall. Three to five portraits of one pet in different styles, in matching black frames.
• One portrait per pet. Same style and frame for each animal, hung in a row like family photos.
• The big statement canvas. A 24×36 canvas over the sofa makes your horse or dog the star of the room.
• A soft nursery print. A watercolor of the family pet on a blush or sage backdrop.
• A kid's room character. The family rabbit as an astronaut or superhero, hung at kid height.
• The office guardian. Your cat as an admiral behind your desk, for every video call.
• A memorial corner. A gentle watercolor or the Forever in My Heart angel portrait on a shelf with the collar and a candle. Our pet memorial canvas guide covers it with care.
• The Christmas swap. Trade your everyday portrait for a Santa Paws version each December, then swap back in January.
• Seasonal mantel styling. Lean a small 8×10 holiday portrait among the greenery.
• Barn or tack-room art. A horse portrait print in a simple oak frame for the barn office or mudroom.
• Entryway welcome. A small named portrait by the door says who runs the house.
• Kitchen pet art. A mug with your rabbit or parrot on both sides, used every single morning.
• A cozy couch set. A pillow and a blanket with the same artwork make a matching set for the living room.
• Desk companions. A pet journal and a laptop sticker for days away from home.
• Bookshelf art. A small framed print propped between books, no nail needed.
• Bathroom surprise. A pop art portrait in the powder room surprises guests.
• Pet's own corner. Hang a cartoon portrait above the feeding station or the crate as a name plate.
• Holiday cards with your art. Send a set of cards with your pet's Christmas portrait.

How to choose pet art for your animal's personality

The best pet artwork matches the animal, not just the sofa. Start with how your pet acts, then check the room.

The calm, gentle soul (an older horse, a sleepy rabbit, a cat who lives on the windowsill) looks right in watercolor. The soft edges echo the mood.

The clown (a guinea pig who wheeks at the fridge, a dog who steals socks) is perfect for cartoon or pop art, where the humor is part of the point.

The boss (the parrot who rules the household, the cat on the highest shelf, the mare who decides when the ride is over) belongs in a royal portrait as The King or The Queen. The character portrait leans into that attitude.

The adventurer gets the astronaut or superhero look, a favorite choice for children's rooms. And for a pet who has passed, choose something gentle and timeless rather than jokey.

A quick decision rule if you're stuck: pick the style that makes you smile in the first two seconds of the preview. Since previews are free, try two or three before you choose.

Photo tips for a custom animal portrait

Your photo matters more than any other choice. A sharp, well-lit face is the biggest factor in a portrait that looks like your animal. Our guide on how to take pet pictures has more tricks for wiggly subjects.

• Get to eye level. Kneel for a rabbit or a dog, stand on a step for a horse, sit level with the perch for a bird.
• Use soft daylight. Near a window or outside in shade. Avoid flash, which flattens fur and can make eyes glow.
• Show the whole face. Both eyes, the nose or beak and the ears should be visible, without a hand or bars in front.
• Keep it sharp. Tap the eye to focus and take a burst.
• Send the original. Use the full-resolution file, not a screenshot or a cropped social media copy.

How to get your animal portrait made

You don't need to commission an artist and wait weeks. Here is how it works with us, from photo to wall.

Start on the Create page or a product page. Upload your photo, crop it if you like, choose a style, and type your pet's name. A free preview appears in seconds. Not quite right? Try another style or a different photo. When you love it, choose the format: digital download, art print, canvas, or the same art on a mug, pillow or other piece.

Printed wall art is made in 2–4 business days and ships in 3–5 in the US. Shipping is a flat $6.99, free over $75, and a digital download is emailed within one business day. Extra pets in the same artwork are $15 each, and bundles save 15% on 2 items, 20% on 3 and 25% on 5 or more. Every order is covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee, and 10% of each one goes to animal rescue.

Giving it as a gift? Packing slips never show prices, so you can ship straight to the recipient by entering their address at checkout. For Christmas, order by December 10 for delivery in the continental US. More detail on the whole process is on how it works.

Frequently asked questions