So you’re thinking about commissioning a pet portrait? Great! But before you imagine me casually doodling your dog between theas, let me give you the real scoop of what happens behind the pastel pencils. Spoiler: it’s not just art — it’s admin, detective work, emotional labor, and a tiny bit of magic.

Oh, and yes, I do have a real business — Chamber of Commerce and all. But thankfully, I don’t depend on it to make a living, because if I did… I probably would’ve had to shut it down ages ago. 😅

No More Freebies, Sorry!

I’ve learned (the hard way) not to dive into photo reviews before a commission is confirmed. People would send me a bunch of photos, I’d spend time reviewing, editing, and mentally planning the whole drawing… and then? Ghosted. So now, I only get to work once a commission is official.

Time = money, folks. Even for artists.

How It Actually Starts

When someone is serious about commissioning a pastel pet portrait, I create the invoice. Once that’s paid (or a 25% deposit is made), we get started. The client receives an intake form where they can share:

🔸Address details (for shipping)

🔸Personality traits of the animal

🔸Preferences: progress updates or one big reveal?

🔸Whether I’m allowed to post the drawing process on social media (surprises = secret until later!)

All the details, terms, and pricing are clearly listed on my WebShop — because transparency is key.

Let’s Talk Photos

Next, the client sends me their favorite pictures of the pet. I check:

🔸Is it sharp enough?

🔸Are the eyes visible?

🔸Good lighting?

🔸Not taken from 100 miles away?

If there really isn't a usable photo (this happens with older photos, especially if the pet has passed away), I’ll work with the client to find a solution. Either I make it work with what we have (yes, I’ve pulled off minor miracles), or they get their money back.

That said, so far I’ve managed to create something beautiful every time — even when sweating over blurry 999 phone pics.

Do I wish I’d said no sometimes? Absolutely. But hey, live and learn.

Artistic Boundaries Are a Thing

I always reserve the right to decline a commission if I feel it’s not a good fit. I want every pet to shine, and I want the client to feel they got true value. But I also want to feel proud of what I put out into the world.

Once we agree on a photo, I’ll tweak it for the best sharpness and composition, print it to size, and cut it out to test against different background colors. I send the options to the client, and sometimes we need a few rounds — sometimes it’s love at first sight.

Then I take a photo of the finished pastel drawing and send it to the client. Sometimes it’s right the first time, other times it takes a few rounds of feedback — all part of the process! 🎨 In the end, the client has to be happy… but so do I.

I’ve once made the mistake of finishing and delivering a portrait I wasn’t 100% proud of. I went against my gut, and yes — now it’s floating around online like an artistic ghost I wish I could erase 👻. Lesson learned. The customer may be king, but my artistic style, standards, and reputation matter just as much.

Saying no when something doesn’t feel right? That’s a whole skill on its own. And believe me, I had to learn it the hard way!

Sometimes a client asks for a specific background color — maybe to match their interior — but not every color works with fur. My goal is to make the animal look as lifelike and vibrant as possible, and certain colors can totally throw that off. So: we chat, we test, we figure it out.

And yes — all of this happens before I even put one line on paper.

Finally, I Can Start Drawing!

Delivery Day!

Depending on where the client lives, the portrait is picked up, dropped off, or shipped.

If shipped:

🔸Wrapped in wax paper with a cute sticker

🔸Sandwiched between cardboard

🔸Bubble wrap, business card, handwritten thank-you

🔸Certificate of authenticity — printed and signed

🔸Boxed up with love

🔸Address label, postage, and off to the post office

I send the track & trace and include unpacking instructions (because, yes, people do cut through their artwork 😱).

Once it's arrived, I wait for the big message: “It’s here!” — hopefully followed by: “We love it!!”

🎲 Things I Can't Control (But Still Lose Sleep Over)

Sometimes, despite all the love, care and cardboard I wrap around your pastel portrait, things go sideways. Like that one time I sent a drawing to Canada… tracked, traced, kissed it goodbye… and it took four months to arrive. FOUR. MONTHS. 😳 Customs apparently had bigger plans. 🕵️‍♀️📦

So yes, when I send artwork internationally, I pack it like it’s royalty — wax paper, bubble wrap, cardboard armor, handwritten notes, Certificate of Authenticity, the works. But after that, it’s out of my hands and in those of international postal wizards and border control elves.

📬 If your parcel goes missing during international shipping, it’s technically at your own risk.

BUT — and this is important — I do try to help. I’ll contact the shipping service, file complaints, send doves, light a candle. And if the artwork is really lost forever and I have the time, I may even remake it once out of goodwill. That’s not a promise, but it’s part of who I am — an artist with a soft spot and a stubborn streak. 😉

Let’s just hope it never comes to that. Most of the time, things arrive just fine. Really.

Spam, Scams & Social Media Shenanigans

Let’s talk spam commission requests.

We artists get dozens of these on Instagram, Facebook, X — you name it. Some even look legit at first. I can often tell it’s a scam from the wording alone, but yes, I’ve fallen for a few. You lose hours, money, and brain cells.

I’ve been ghosted, threatened, cursed out… you name it. I get why newbie artists burn out. But I’m older, a little wiser, and still here to tell the tale. 💪

"Can You Give Me Tips?"

I love when people ask for tips on drawing, materials, or feedback. It’s flattering! But also very time-consuming. I’ve given free advice, asked for a Google review in return… and yeah, that rarely happens. 🙃

So I’ve stopped doing that unless I’m in a really generous mood. Artists have to protect their energy, too.

Help an Artist Out 🎯

If you like what I do, like, share, comment on social media. It really helps!

I post mainly on Facebook (where I have the most followers), and sometimes on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Reddit. But let’s be honest: the algorithm gods don’t smile on you unless you feed them likes.

Even I don’t share other artists enough, because I don’t want to clutter my own feed. But we all need that little boost — it’s how others discover us.