Ways you can have Custom artwork made of your dog
Have you ever thought of how you can have art made of your dog??? Here is a list of New Zealand based artists and small businesses who can help you celebrate your beloved pet with custom pet portrait products. There is something here for all budgets and final uses of framed art, mounted block art, digital portraits, mugs, hoodies, stickers, jewellery and more. There’s fine artists, digital artist, photographer, jeweller, dog clothing designer and more. Find inspiration to treat yourself, do it to commemorate your pet, celebrate a gotcha or barkday (yes, we celebrate dogs’ birthdays now 😄) or gift it a dog lover for Christmas or a birthday.
Physical fine art drawing/ painting
Pet Portraits NZ watercolour portraits
Pet Portraits NZ makes watercolour portraits. Rebecca Macdonald makes beautiful A3 and A4 watercolour portraits in a realistic style from your provided photograph. She loves to draw animals and will draw any from small pets, cats, dogs, horses and more.
Fiona Kertesz fine artist
Fiona Kertesz is a New Zealand pet portrait artist who specialises in fine detail, realistic portraits of pets either in an oil painting or pencil drawing. Your finished product is shipped to you ready to be framed. Choose from small to extra large material.
professional photographs of your dog
Yellow Lab Dog & Family Photography
That’s me! I’m a dog & family photographer in Auckland. Yellow Lab specialises in photographing dogs and people WITH their furbaby best friends so they can remember their bond and love forever. Photoshoots take place in studio and on outdoor locations. A favourite portrait is the dog flower wreath portrait. The wreath is custom made to your favourite colours or the accent colour you use in your home’s decor. I offer matted prints, enlargements, digital packages, folioboxes, collections, artmounts and large wall art. Find out more about dog photography here. Hair and makeup is also available before you join your pooch in the spotlight. It’s an experience my clients LOVE.
Besides art mounts (like a printed canvas but better) and enlargements, Yellow Lab offers matted prints that you can easily frame for the wall. If you’re not keen on having a lot of photos on display, there is a folio box that has a see through lid (reveal folio box) you can change out the front artwork and is great for display purposes and you don't have to frame it. It’s an ever changing artwork itself that’s a conversation piece in your home’s decor.
You can see examples of the different photography products here.
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paint your pet yourself
Paintvine paint and wine evenings
Paintvine have experiences all over New Zealand where you meet at a restaurant, they provide the art supplies and tell you how to paint while you sip on your drink of choice. They have different paintings they make, and everyone paints the same thing, EXCEPT on their paint your pet nights where you bring your own pet photo as reference material.
Their Paint Your Pet evenings are really popular. This Paint Your Pet eve is the next available one in Auckland. Keep an eye out on their event pages as they’re updated regularly. I did it with a couple of friends and we had SO many laughs!!! I won’t mind doing it again.
Digital portraits of your pet
Royal Paws regal paintings
Royal Paws make regal pet portraits of A4, A3 and A2 size digitally. You choose to have your dog’s/ cat’s face put onto a duchess, a prince, a governor, fair lady, astronaut, a knight, a duke and much more. It’s such a different portrait. It’s ridiculous, funny and epic at the same time! Which one would I use for Max???
Minblobs custom cartoon pet illustrations
Minblobs illustrates and draws your pet or your family with your pet in cute anime style unlike any other New Zealand artist. She creates the poses from scratch and works from different reference material to get your and your animal’s likeness. She is incredibly talented! Minnie also offers custom add ons like taking your portrait and adding Christmassy decor or add hearts, chocolates and flowers for Valentines. Book through Instagram.
Pickle’s Pawtraits digitally hand drawn custom pet portraits
Pickle’s Pawtraits needs no introduction. They’ve been spotted on tele and are generously sponsoring prizes for the SPCA calender 2023 fundraiser. Most dogs I know on Instagram have had a Pickle’s Pawtrait made. Me included! Your photo of your dog is digitally drawn in their signature style in your choice of different pastel background colours. You can choose to only have the digital or have it printed on stickers, a physical A3 or A4 print, a mug with your pet’s face or their new wearable range of hoodies, long sleeve or short sleeve shirts.
Little Rover Paper illustrated dog products
Little Rover is another New Zealand small business that inspired by a pure love of our pets. Jodeanne makes custom pet products. Her minimaistic drawing style makes cute products to wear your love for your dog on your sleeve. You can have your pet’s art made into a physical art print, stickers and hoodies, crew tops or a mini tee for children. I love that you can put your dog’s custom paw print on one of the sleeves of a hoodie. In fact you can make your dog’s paw print into a stamp or stickers. I personally love the dog laying upside down and want to take a photo next time Max sleeps like that so I can have it made onto a crew top. OR can you imagine how my kids will freak for a tee shirt with their doggy’s face on it.
Unique ways to use your dog’s paw print or picture
Words Of Heart personalised art block
Wordsofheartnz is a true inspiration with feel good reminders & poems you can display in your home. I’m a big fan of the personalised doggy silhouette made up of different words. I really need to get on making one of Max. I bet I could make up a whole silhouette just with all the little nicknames we have for him. She also has a cute personalised keepsake block with your dog’s photo next to a touching poem.
Otiboaty Boutique paw stamping kit
Otiboaty Boutique has a mess free paw stamping kit so you can use your doggy’s paw print to frame as art, have it engraved into jewellery or tattoo. Kirstie is known for her stylish dog bows and bandanas.
Fingerprints paw print jewellery
Fingerprints makes silver jewellery with your pet’s paw print of pendants, pandora compatible charms, cufflinks, keyrings, necklaces, framed charms.
Spicy Pet custom pet sticker
Spicy Pet will turn your favourite photo or artwork into a sticker with their custom sticker print packs. They also make cute ID tags (I love their glitter range) and often use them for custom bandana iron-ons. Check out their car stickers while you’re there. I have the “Tell your day I say Hi”.😜
Is there a NZ artist or business you know that needs to be on this list? Email me and let me know.
Do you need gift ideas? Read 99 Best gifts for dogs and dog lovers in New Zealand.
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