Animal Self Portrait
Ever wondered what animal you'd be if you weren't quite so human?
An animal self portrait paints you, or someone you love, as the creature who lives inside.
A deer. A fox. A turtle. An elephant. Sometimes a creature I've never painted before, arriving just for you.
Your story. Your spirit. Your essence, held in feathers, fur, or scale, in a whimsical world made just for you.
These aren't pet portraits, and they aren't traditional portraits. They're something in between: a doorway into who someone is today, painted in the language I know best.
The animal that shows up for you today is the one who represents you right now.
If, in a few years, you feel a different creature emerging, commission another.
We change. Our portraits can too.
Two Ways to Begin
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a small, joyful portrait of one beloved being. Perfect as a gift, or as a first step into your own world.
Sizes: 8"x10" or 11"x14"
Subjects: One, with a simple setting
How we create it: A questionnaire, then one sketch with one revision
Timeline: 4-6 weeks
Starting at $150
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Sizes: 16”x20” and up
Subjects: One or more, in a world nuilt around them
How we create it: A call, a questionnaire, then sketches with 1-2 revisions
Timeline: 3-4 months
Starting at $750
What to Expect?
Little Animal Self Portrait
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Step 1 - You reach out through the form below.
Step 2 - You fill in a short questionnaire about your person, no call needed.
Step 3 - I send you one sketch, with one round of changes.
Step 4 - I paint, and it arrives signed, varnished and ready to hang.
Timeline:4- 6 weeks from first note to painting on your wall.
Signature Animal Self Portrait
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Step 1 - You reach out. Send me a note through the form below. Tell me a little about who you'd like painted: yourself, someone you love, or an ancestor. All are welcome.
Step 2 - We meet. A short call to get to know each other. I want to know your subject, and you want to know me. No pressure, no obligation.
Step 3 - I send you a questionnaire. Thoughtful questions that help me feel into you or your person: not just what they look like, but meaningful experiences, likes and dislikes, favorite places and more.
Step 4 - We refine together. I share first ideas and sketches, you give feedback, and we tune it until it feels right.
Step 5 - I paint. Slowly, layer by layer, over 2–3 months, with progress updates along the way.
Step 6 - Your painting arrives. Signed, varnished and shipped safely to your door. It's painted on a 1.75" deep gallery-wrapped canvas with painted sides, ready to hang as is or to frame if you'd like.
Timeline: 3–4 months from first note to painting on your wall.
Investment
Every commission is made with technical skill, intuition and deep presence. From the first mark to the last, each painting is layered slowly, with intention.
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$150
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$280
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Starting at $750
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Starting at $960
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Starting at $1600
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By quote
A 50% non-refundable deposit reserves your spot. The remaining 50% is due on completion.
What’s Included
Original mixed media and oil painting on canvas
Initial concept and sketch phase (Little: 1 revision Signature: 2 revisions)
Progress updates during painting (Signature)
Ready-to-hang (varnished, signed, wired)
Careful packaging and shipping within the US
Studio Letter announcing your painting's completion (with your permission)
Give the Gift of an Animal Self Portrait
Looking for a gift that no one else will give? A gift certificate lets someone you love discover the creature who lives inside them.
Little Animal Self Portrait, 8"x10": $150
Little Animal Self Portrait, 11"x14": $280
Signature Animal Self Portrait, 16"x20": $750
You receive a beautiful printable certificate to wrap or send. Your person reaches out whenever they're ready, and we begin in the new year. Certificates are valid for 12 months.
FAQ
Which one should I choose?
Choose a Little Animal Self for one subject, a gift, or a first taste. Choose a Signature portrait for several subjects, favorite places, or a deeper story.
Can there be multiple subjects in one painting?
Absolutely, in a Signature portrait. Pricing adjusts for complexity, and we'll discuss it during your questionnaire.
How long does the whole process take?
A Little Animal Self takes 4–6 weeks. A Signature portrait takes about 3–4 months from first conversation to painting on your wall.
What if I don't know what animal my person should be?
Perfect. That's what the questionnaire is for. I'll help you find it, or intuit it from what you share.
Can I commission an ancestor or someone who has passed?
Yes, absolutely.
Can I commission a second portrait later if I change?
Yes, and I hope you do. Some collectors commission one portrait now and another in a few years, when a different creature has arrived. Both can hang together. Your becoming is welcome here.
Do you ship internationally?
On a case-by-case basis. Contact me and we'll figure it out together.
Ready to Begin?
If a commission is calling you, don't wait for the perfect moment. Send me a note, and we'll take the first step together.
Not quite ready? Join my monthly letter below. You’ll be the first to hear when new commission spots open.