Remember them Furr-ever

Commission your Pet’s Portrait today!

They deserve nothing less, and neither do you!

PROCESS:

Gather a few of your favorite Pet Photographs and email the artist at: artist@shawnalee.com
Include information about your desired size and media. ShawnaLee will provide information specific to your portrait request.
Once subject, pose, size, media & pricing is confirmed, a non-refundable first payment is required to reserve your place on the portrait list.
Most portraits are fairly straightforward. ShawnaLee will compose your subject in the most flattering way to be interpreted through the media of your choice. Some portrait commissions are more complicated and may begin with a few small thumbnail sketches for you to approve before official work begins on your portrait.
When your portrait is complete, a digital image of your will be emailed to you for your approval. Requested adjustments, if possible and artist approved, are gladly done at this time.
The balance is due when you’re thrilled with your pet’s portrait and prior to pickup/shipping from the artist’s Middlebury CT art studio. Shipping, if requested, is additional. Framing not included.
Each commissioned work from Portraits by ShawnaLee is hand signed and will be accompanied with a Certificate of Authenticity that is also hand signed and dated by the artist. Recommendations for care for your portrait are included.
Payments may be made in Cash (drop off only); Check/Bank Note made out to: ShawnaLee W. Kwashnak, or via Venmo.
*if you would like your professional photographs used, a written copyright release will be required before ShawnaLee can use them as references.

PRICING:

Pricing includes the thoughtful creation of a quality portrait that you, your friends and/or your family will love and cherish for years to come. When you commission or purchase a work of art, you are making it possible for an artist to continue to grow in experience and ability to provide a wonderful service. Portraits by ShawnaLee is a woman owned sole-proprietor business that has been officially creating pet portraits since 1992. Prices cover the artist’s time, quality materials, experience and love of art and animals to portray your subject in a beautiful light!

The prices below are current fees for portraits similar to the examples shown. Each hand drawn or painted work of art has its own unique needs - from complexity of fur, to desired compositional elements.

Additional subjects in the same size are 50% more; Pastels for color added to Charcoals 20% more.

Fees are Pretax, exclude Travel, Photography (if required), Shipping or Framing.

Thank you for choosing Portraits by ShawnaLee to capture the spirit and purr / paw-sonality of your fur-baby! I look forward to creating a treasured portrait for you, your loved ones, friends & or family!

Commission Prices ~ 2024

These prices are for portraits that are similar to the examples shown.

Come back often for updates on offerings from our studio. Be sure to check out our Events page.

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Charcoals

Oils

Highly prized!

Traditional Fine Arts Oil Painting captures your pet’s likeness in brilliant life-like and buttery oil paint colors. These highly sought after paintings are detailed enough, while also being a bit impressionistic in all the right ways. Oil paintings typically take one to three months to complete depending on studio volume and the size of your desired painting. Large paintings may take six months or more! They are long lasting and timeless! Hand painted from your provided photographs.

Additional pet subjects 50% more.

8x10” single subject: $640 + tax

11×14″ single subject: $1200 + tax.
12×16″ one or two subjects: $2300 + tax

Oils - Pet with their Person

Highly prized!

Traditionally hand-painted portraits in oils on linen of a person with their “best friend” pet.

What gets better than this?

11x14: starting at $3000 + tax

12x16” starting at $4000 + tax

14x18” starting at $5000 + tax

16x20” starting at $6400 + tax

18x24” starting at $9000 + tax

Limited Time Studio Offers

Grisaille example

Happy Cat
An example of a Grisaille Oil Painting Pet Portrait. Happy Cat is painted on a 8x6" canvas. Offered for an incredible price of $180 + tax for a limited time. Offer ends Midnight Oct 15th 2024. Email the artist your interest & pet photos. You may drop off cash, mail a check (postmarked by 10/15/24) or via Venmo (QR code found under events). Thank you!
This painting is a $400 value.
Grisaille example

Miss Ginger
An example of a Grisaille Oil Painting Pet Portrait. Miss Ginger is painted on a 6x6" canvas. Offered for an incredible price of $150 + tax for a limited time. Offer ends Midnight Oct 15th 2024. Email the artist your interest & pet photos. You may drop off cash, mail a check (postmarked by 10/15/24) or via Venmo (QR code found under events). Thank you!
This painting is a $400 value.
Grisaille example

Charlie
An example of a Grisaille Oil Painting Pet Portrait. Charlie's portrait shown here is only about half done. It is shown in the early stages of Grisaille compared to Miss Ginger's. I will repost once his portrait is more developed. I am having somuch fun I don't want it to end! Will I get to paint your pet too? Charlies painting is actually part of a larger montage for our own family collection, but is still a great representation of what a 6x6" oil painting would be. Offered for an incredible price of $150 + tax for a limited time. Offer ends Midnight Oct 15th 2024. Email the artist your interest & pet photos. You may drop off cash, mail a check (postmarked by 10/15/24) or via Venmo (QR code found under events). Thank you!
This painting is a $400 value.
Grisaille example

Jumper
An example of a Grisaille Oil Painting Pet Portrait. Jumper's painting is actually part of a larger montage for our own family, and as shown is a great representation of a 6x6" oil painting. Her painting shown here is still being worked on and will be reposted soon. Offered for an incredible price of $150 + tax for a limited time. Offer ends Midnight Oct 15th 2024. Email the artist your interest & pet photos. You may drop off cash, mail a check (postmarked by 10/15/24) or via Venmo (QR code found under events). Thank you!
This painting is a $400 value.
Grisaille Special Studio Offer

Deadline Midnight Tuesday October 15th
I am exploring different ways to create luxurious and beautiful pet portrait paintings. For a limited time this offer will be open so that my studio time can be optimized. These darling paintings will be ready in time for Christmas gifting. artist@shawnalee.com

FAQ’s

Are you local?

ShawnaLee is a local Connecticut artist specializing in Portraiture of pets, people or homes. She grew up in Ridgefield and currently resides in Middlebury CT. Her family has ties that go back to the early days of Stamford and Rowayton CT.

Do you do portraits of reptiles?

Yes! If ShawnaLee can see it, she can draw or paint it!

One of my favorite memories is of a Bearded Dragon that one of my longtime students would bring to our classes and be our subject! Don’t worry, a great photo is all the artist needs to create your reptiles portrait!

Are you available for events?

Yes! A sponsorship of a fine arts portrait artist will make heads turn at any event! This is an excellent booking for celebrating your clients or treating your event guests to an engaging experience. Guests will clamor to get their pets portrait sketched right before their eyes and be able to take their pet’s sketch home right away. Watching an artist work is a great conversation piece and brings a valued excitement to your event - besides guests will remember your event for years to come! Guests often express how therapeutic it is to watch their pet’s portrait being sketched while they watch. The artist recommends that guests print out a favorite photo for referencing and that a sign up list is used so that the artist can make the best use of time. ShawnaLee typically can create approximately* 10-15 quality event sketches (charcoals or graphite) in three hours time.

Please inquire about booking ShawnaLee to sketch for your guests. *Less portraits may be created if time is spent in brief conversations, of which is equally valued for your guests well-being.

How much will my portrait cost?

Great question!

That depends! There are numerous factors to consider when pricing a commission portrait - the basic information needed includes size, media and number of subjects. An idea of the level of detail desired is also important for understanding the portrait you’d like to collect. Once you feel confident about all the details, a non-refundable first payment gets your portrait going! The balance is due when you’re thrilled with your portrait and prior to scheduled pick up or shipping (additional fee).

Do you do posthumous portraits?

Yes. Please gather a collection of the best photographs you have available and let ShawnaLee take a look at them. She’d be happy to make recommendations. This is the fun part as there is a meditative part of taking in limited information and letting it speak to the artist’s mind.

In instances where photographs are very, very old, or almost indecipherable, a portrait may still be possible. Take a look at the “Kamelmacher family” portrait created from poor references. It may take a bit longer, but we think it’s worth it. In instances where precious family photographs are utilized, the artist may request digitized images, or you may opt to schedule a photo shoot ($100/hr) with ShawnaLee to photograph your collection so that the artist has a digital image to work from and your heirlooms remain with you while your portrait is being created.

Do you work from life?

When providing demonstrations, or under planned arrangements, ShawnaLee is happy to work from life.

This is a great question, because working from life is the BEST way to draw or paint. From life work also has a very special and very different feel and look! However, when working from life is not possible or convenient, ShawnaLee has the expertise to provide a quality portrait from your supplied photographic references. Skill and experience matter!

How does the process of commissioning a portrait work?

The majority of commission projects follow a simple routine: email artist@shawnalee.com.

Decide on your favorite pet photo(s); additional ones may be needed to aid the artist in the studio.
Pay first payment (cash, check or via Venmo)
ShawnaLee creates your portrait & sends you a digital photo for your approval. Concerns, if any, (artist approved & up to three) are considered and addressed to your satisfaction. Another digital image is emailed to you for your approval.
Final payment is required at this time.
Schedule a pick up of your portrait! Shipping is additional.

Are home portraits different?

Yes! For home portraits rendered in full color, such as Charcoals with pastels, or pen & ink with watercolors, or painted in oils, an exact color confirmation is needed. Colors are interesting things - especially with photography and visual interpretations. For example, photographs interpret colors differently than fine artists do. Bright sunny days tend to wash-out color in photographs - Or sometimes outdoor paint fades to a less desirable color. It’s important to get your home’s color right the first time.