How to Choose an Art Style for Your Pet's Portrait

The right art style for your pet's portrait is the one that matches their personality and fits the room where it will hang; coat color and contrast are the tiebreaker. A laid-back senior often shines in soft watercolor, while a chaos goblin of a puppy might be begging for bold pop art.

Below, we walk through all seven of our styles honestly, including when each one is a great fit and when another might suit you better.

Four questions to ask before you choose

1. What's your pet's personality? Calm and gentle, goofy and loud, regal and aloof? The portrait should feel like them.
2. Where will it hang? A cozy bedroom, a bright modern living room, a home office, a kid's room? Think about the colors already there.
3. What color is their coat? Some styles create more contrast with certain coats, which helps your pet stand out.
4. Who is it for? A heartfelt memorial, a funny gift for a sci-fi fan, or a statement piece for your own wall?

Keep your answers in mind as you read through the styles.

The ten styles, honestly

Pop

Pop is bold, colorful, paint-splatter pop art. It's energetic, fun and full of detail.

• Great for: playful, high-energy pets; short and smooth coats with strong features; black or white pets, who stand out against the bright colors.
• Rooms: modern living rooms, kids' rooms, game rooms, bright apartments.
• Think twice if: your décor is very soft and neutral, or the portrait is for a quiet memorial (unless your pet was pure fun, in which case it may be perfect).

Watercolor Blue

Watercolor Blue is a soft, dreamy watercolor portrait on a gentle blue background.

• Great for: almost any pet. Warm coats like golden, red, orange and chocolate look especially lovely against the cool blue.
• Rooms: bedrooms, nurseries, coastal and neutral spaces, anywhere calm.
• Also good when: your photo is older or a little soft. Watercolor styles tend to be forgiving.
• Think twice if: you want something bold or graphic to make a statement.

Watercolor Earthy

Watercolor Earthy has the same soft watercolor feel in warm browns and earth tones.

• Great for: gray, black, white and brindle coats, which contrast nicely with the warm background; also golden and brown pets in homes full of warm wood.
• Rooms: farmhouse, rustic, traditional and boho spaces, or any room with lots of natural wood and warm lighting.
• Think twice if: your pet's coat is very close to the background color. A deep brown dog on a brown wash can blend at the edges, so preview both watercolors and compare.

Sparkle

Sparkle is a cute, polished, semi-realistic portrait on a dreamy blue sparkle background.

• Great for: fluffy small breeds, sweet-faced pets and anyone who wants their pet to look their absolute cutest.
• Rooms: bedrooms, nurseries, feminine or whimsical spaces.
• Good as: a cheerful gift, or an uplifting way to remember a pet.
• Think twice if: you prefer understated or rustic décor.

Royal

Royal is a classic museum-style oil portrait of your pet wearing a jeweled crown, a crimson velvet robe trimmed with ermine, a pearl necklace and a lace ruff, with a gold nameplate at the bottom.

• Great for: pets with a regal bearing or a big ego, long-eared dogs like spaniels, fluffy cats, and anyone who wants a funny-but-elegant statement piece.
• Rooms: living rooms, studies, hallways and above a mantel. The deep green and burgundy tones suit traditional and moody, dark-wall spaces especially well.
• Good as: a gift for the person whose pet clearly rules the house. See our royal pet portrait page for more.
• Think twice if: your space is very light and minimal, or you prefer a soft, airy look.

Galactic Knight

Galactic Knight turns your pet into a sci-fi knight with a glowing green sword, painted in an oil-portrait look.

• Great for: confident, heroic pets (or ones who think they are), and households of sci-fi fans.
• Rooms: home offices, game rooms, media rooms, a teenager's bedroom.
• Good as: a memorable, laugh-out-loud gift for the movie lover in your life.
• Think twice if: you want a classic or serene piece for a formal living room.

Vector Look

Vector Look is a bold cartoon or animated look on a clean white background.

• Great for: pets with distinctive markings, big ears or expressive faces that translate well into clean, simple shapes.
• Rooms: modern, minimalist and Scandinavian spaces, kids' rooms and offices. The white background fits almost any wall color.
• Think twice if: you want soft textures or a realistic look.

The General

The General is an antique oil portrait of your pet in a historic military uniform with gold epaulets.

• Great for: dignified dogs, cats with attitude, and big personalities in small bodies. Bulldogs, dachshunds and seniors with a distinguished gray muzzle look especially grand.
• Rooms: studies, libraries, hallways, traditional living rooms, above a fireplace.
• Good as: a funny yet classy gift that people love to talk about.
• Think twice if: your space is very modern and minimal, though some people love it there precisely for the contrast.

Stained Glass

Stained Glass rebuilds your pet as a luminous leaded glass window, with bold black lines, jewel-toned panes and an arched frame.

• Great for: pets with strong markings and clear faces, like tuxedo cats, Dalmatians and Border Collies, and for a distinctive memorial.
• Rooms: reading nooks, hallways, staircases, and traditional or eclectic spaces.
• Good as: an unusual gift for someone who loves church windows, Tiffany lamps or bold graphic art. See our stained glass pet portrait page.
• Think twice if: you want soft, realistic fur texture.

Dress-Up

Dress-Up is the funny one: you type an outfit, such as a chef, astronaut or wizard, and your pet appears in it in a polished storybook-style painting. Leave the box empty and it chooses a funny outfit for you.

• Great for: pets with big personalities and deadpan faces, and any pet who clearly works from home.
• Rooms: home offices, kitchens, game rooms and kids' rooms.
• Good as: a laugh-out-loud gift. See our funny pet portrait page.
• Think twice if: you want a serene or traditional piece.

Quick picks at a glance

• Calm, soft and timeless — Try: Watercolor Blue or Watercolor Earthy
• Bright, bold and playful — Try: Pop or Vector Look
• Cute and polished — Try: Sparkle
• Funny and unforgettable — Try: Royal, Galactic Knight or The General
• Regal and classic — Try: Royal or The General
• Bold and graphic — Try: Stained Glass, Pop or Vector Look
• Hilarious — Try: Dress-Up
• A gentle memorial — Try: Watercolor Blue, Watercolor Earthy or Sparkle

Matching the style to your coat

Contrast is what makes your pet pop off the background. A few rules of thumb:

• Warm coats (golden, red, orange, tan): cool backgrounds like Watercolor Blue or Sparkle create lovely contrast.
• Cool or dark coats (black, gray, blue): Watercolor Earthy, Pop and Vector Look's white background all help them stand out.
• White and cream coats: colorful styles like Pop, or the darker tones of The General and Galactic Knight, define their shape well.
• Patterned coats (tabby, merle, brindle, tricolor): Vector Look and Pop show off markings in a graphic way, while watercolors soften them.

These are starting points, not laws. A black cat can look stunning in Watercolor Blue, too.

Matching the style to your room

• Warm wood, earthy colors: Watercolor Earthy or The General
• Light, airy, coastal or Scandinavian: Watercolor Blue or Vector Look
• Colorful and eclectic: Pop
• Kids' rooms and nurseries: Sparkle, Vector Look or Pop
• Office or den: Galactic Knight or The General

Still can't decide? Try more than one

The easiest way to choose is to see your own pet in a few styles. Previews are free, so you can try two or three before picking a favorite, then hang the winner and keep the runner-up in mind for a second portrait or a gift. Your pet's name can be added free in any style.

Ready to try it?

Upload a photo of your pet, pick a style and see a free, watermarked preview in about 30 seconds, with no account or card needed. Then try another style and compare. You only pay if you love the preview, and we email a digital proof before anything is printed. Find your pet's style.