A Pet Portrait? Priceless!!

My painting!

By Julia Williams

“Like a kid on Christmas morning” doesn’t even begin to describe how I felt waiting for the Fedex guy to show up with a package the other day. I got up extra early, because I knew I’d have to sign for the package and I didn’t want to be in the shower when he arrived. Overkill, yes – but I wasn’t taking any chances on missing this delivery! As it happened, he didn’t arrive until nearly 4 p.m., and by then I was ready to crawl out of my skin. Have I mentioned that patience is not one of my virtues? LOL.

I carefully opened the big box so as not to damage the precious cargo within. One look…and I was smitten. My smile was so wide I could have eaten a banana sideways. Maybe even two bananas! So what was in there that had me so ecstatic?

It was a painting of my sweet girl kitty, Annabelle, and it was even more beautiful than I knew it would be! This was something I’d wanted to do for some time. My relationship with Annabelle is just so extraordinary that I wanted something to treasure forever. She’s almost ten years old, and though I hope to have at least ten more years with this special one-in-a-million kitty, we just never know how long we’ll have with those we hold dear.

The photo Sue used

I’ve never loved a cat so deeply and completely as Annabelle, and I’ve never felt so loved in return. I wanted a way to honor the beauty of our unique relationship while she’s here, as well as a way to keep her memory alive once she’s gone. To be sure, she will live in my heart for all time, but I think this painting will be a wonderful way to keep the connection strong.

I chose artist Sue Hains after seeing a photo on Facebook of another pet portrait she’d done. It was of Gwen Cooper’s Homer the Blind Wonder Cat, and it perfectly captured his personality. I looked at the other portraits of cats, dogs, horses and birds on Sue's website, and I just knew she would do a great job. We exchanged several emails and then I had the difficult task of deciding which photo to send Sue. In the end, I chose one that I loved for the sweet, soft expression on Belle’s face.

Like any good artist, Sue paints from her heart. She seemed as genuinely excited to paint Annabelle as I would be to receive the painting. Sue is super easy to work with, and I had no doubt she would be able to do Annabelle justice. I was not wrong. I am simply over the moon with my painting!

About Pet Portrait Artist Sue Hains

Sue Hains of Artisan Surfaces offers lifelike pet and animal portraits painted in a photo realistic style. Before beginning to paint, Sue consults with the client on the choice of photo, the background and other important details that help her capture a pet’s personality. Sue provides a digital image of the work in progress for approval, and will work with you to make sure you’ll be completely satisfied with the finished art.

The final unframed artwork is painted on black styrene, which has a smooth finish to allow for realistic detail. After receiving a protective finish, the painting is carefully padded and shipped to you. You can see a gallery of Sue’s custom pet portraits on her website.

As I said, I adore my painting and couldn’t be more pleased with it. If you’ve ever thought about getting a painting of your pet, I highly recommend Sue Hains. If you need further enticement, Sue would like to extend a special offer to our readers. Just mention the CANIDAE RPO blog when you contact Sue, and you’ll receive a 10% discount on your pet’s portrait!

Read more articles by Julia Williams