The Journal

Notes from the
atelier.

On studio process, the breeds we paint, and the history of the painted pet portrait.

A still life of framed pet portraits leaning against an atelier wall beside a palette, brushes, and folded archival paper

22 June 2026

Oil painting or print: choosing a medium for a pet portrait

Understand the real difference between an oil painting and a pigment print for a pet portrait — longevity, cost, and which suits your wall.

An atelier-style oil portrait of a Pug, the wrinkled brow and large expressive eye rendered in soft directional light, the compressed muzzle handled with painterly restraint

21 June 2026

Painting the Pug: notes from the atelier

How the Pug's flat face, expressive eye, and three-century court history shape every decision in the studio. Notes on the compressed muzzle, the wrinkled brow, and the painted register.

An atelier-style oil portrait of a Beagle, the tricolour coat caught in warm directional light, the expressive eye and long pendant ears rendered with quiet attention

19 June 2026

Painting the Beagle: notes from the atelier

How the Beagle's tricolour coat, expressive eye, and hunting-hound lineage shape every decision in the studio. Notes on warm light, character, and the painted register.

An atelier-style oil portrait of a Poodle, the dense clipped coat caught in warm directional light, the dark intelligent eye rendered with restraint

17 June 2026

Painting the Poodle: notes from the atelier

How the Poodle's clipped silhouette, dense single coat, and aristocratic painted history shape every decision in the studio. Notes on light, texture, and tradition.

A classical oil-style portrait of a Dachshund, used as a visual reference for an editorial on timelines and lead times in the custom pet portrait market

15 June 2026

How long does a custom pet portrait take? An honest timeline

An honest breakdown of how long a custom pet portrait actually takes, by service type. From three-day digital prints to multi-month hand-painted commissions.

A richly draped studio still life with a velvet cloth, gilded frame, and soft candlelight evoking the atmosphere of a European court atelier

15 June 2026

Royal pet portraits: a history of courts and their animals

From Tang dynasty Shih Tzu to Queen Victoria's Landseer commissions, royal courts have always painted their animals. Here is that tradition and what it means today.

A regal sovereign-style portrait of a Dachshund, the elongated silhouette and watchful eye rendered in warm formal light

13 June 2026

Painting the Dachshund: notes from the atelier

How the Dachshund's elongated silhouette, expressive eye, and three coat varieties shape every decision in the studio. Notes on proportion, light, and character.

An atelier-style oil portrait of a German Shepherd, the saddle markings caught in warm directional studio light, the intelligent gaze rendered with restraint

11 June 2026

Painting the German Shepherd: notes from the atelier

How the German Shepherd's saddle markings, intelligent gaze, and noble silhouette shape every decision in the studio. Notes on light, coat, and presence.

An atelier-style oil portrait of an Akita, used as a visual reference for an editorial guide comparing the major custom dog portrait services available in 2026

10 June 2026

Where to order a custom dog portrait in 2026: an honest guide

An honest, sourced guide to the major custom dog portrait services in 2026. Crown & Paw, West & Willow, Paint Your Life, PortraitFlip, Letterfest, and the alternatives, with the trade-offs that actually matter.

A still life of oil paint tubes, a worn palette, and a half-finished pet portrait on an easel in a quiet Belgian atelier studio

8 June 2026

A short history of the Renaissance pet portrait

From Veronese's lapdogs to Velázquez's mastiff in Las Meninas, trace how the animal became a presence in European portraiture and what that lineage means today.

A classical oil-style portrait of a Whippet, used as a visual reference for an editorial comparing affordable hand-painted pet portrait services

8 June 2026

PortraitFlip pet portraits: an honest review (2026)

An honest look at PortraitFlip based on Trustpilot, BBB, and customer reviews. Affordable hand-painted portraits, what people actually say, and who they're right for.

A regal sovereign-style portrait of a Saint Bernard, used as a visual reference for an editorial comparing pet portrait services with hand-painted oil offerings

7 June 2026

Paint Your Life pet portraits: an honest review (2026)

An honest look at Paint Your Life based on Trustpilot, BBB, and customer reviews. Hand-painted oil portraits, what people actually say, and who they're right for.

A royal-style portrait of a Standard Poodle, used as a visual reference for an editorial post about choosing between studio portrait styles

6 June 2026

How to choose between the three studio styles, when you cannot decide

A working painter's decision tree for choosing between The Atelier (Renaissance), The Sovereign (royal regalia), and The Oil (classical) for a custom dog portrait.

An oil-style portrait of a Labrador, used as a visual reference for an editorial post about photographing a dog for a custom portrait

5 June 2026

Five mistakes people make when photographing their dog for a portrait

A working painter's list of the five most common source-photograph mistakes that show up in finished pet portraits, and how to avoid each one.

An atelier-style oil portrait of a Maltese, used as a visual reference for an editorial post comparing pet portrait services

4 June 2026

Letterfest pet portraits: an honest review (2026)

An honest look at Letterfest based on Trustpilot, Judge.me, and customer reviews. UK-based watercolour pet portraits, what people actually say, and who they're right for.

An oil-style portrait of a German Shepherd, used as a visual reference for an editorial post comparing pet portrait services

3 June 2026

West & Willow pet portraits: an honest review (2026)

An honest look at West & Willow based on Trustpilot, BBB, and customer reviews. Modern minimalist pet portraits, what people actually say, and who they're right for.

An atelier-style oil portrait of a Great Dane, the noble head and watchful eye rendered in the seventeenth-century Flemish register, opening a survey of breeds most suited to renaissance portraiture

2 June 2026

Dog breeds most suited to renaissance portraits

A working painter's list of which dog breeds carry the seventeenth-century Flemish portrait register best, and why. From the Cavalier King Charles to the Mastiff.

An atelier-style oil portrait of a Golden Retriever, used as a visual reference for an editorial post comparing pet portrait services

1 June 2026

Crown & Paw pet portraits: an honest review (2026)

An honest look at Crown & Paw based on Trustpilot, BBB, and customer reviews. What they do well, where the friction is, and who they're right for.

A still life of oil painting tools, a dark velvet backdrop, and a large tufted cat silhouette sketched on archival canvas in a studio setting

1 June 2026

Painting the Maine Coon: notes from the atelier

How we approach the Maine Coon portrait in oil: the breed's ruff, tufted ears, and regal posture, and why the Renaissance style suits it best.

An atelier-style oil portrait of a Labrador Retriever, the dense coat catching warm directional studio light, the soft eye returning the gaze

31 May 2026

Painting the Labrador Retriever: notes from the atelier

How the Labrador's three coat colours, soft otter tail, and warm intelligent eye shape every decision in the studio, from light source to chosen style.

An atelier-style oil portrait of a Rottweiler, the black-and-tan coat catching warm directional studio light, the broad skull set forward and the eyes alert

30 May 2026

Painting the Rottweiler: notes from the atelier

How the Rottweiler's black-and-tan coat, broad skull, and watchful gaze shape every decision in the studio, from light source to chosen style.

An atelier-style oil portrait of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, the silken ears catching warm directional studio light, the soft brown eyes set deep beneath the brow

29 May 2026

Painting the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: notes from the atelier

How the Cavalier's silken ears, soft brown eye, and four coat colours shape every decision in the studio, from period style to angle of light.

An atelier-style oil portrait of an English Bulldog, the heavy brow and loose jowls caught in soft directional studio light, the small dark eyes set deep beneath the brow

27 May 2026

Painting the Bulldog: notes from the atelier

How the English Bulldog's heavy brow, loose jowls, and short muzzle shape every decision in the studio, from light source to chosen style.

A warm studio still life with oil paint tubes, a fine brush resting on a wooden palette, and a framed dog portrait propped against a linen backdrop

25 May 2026

Painting the golden retriever: notes from the atelier

How the golden retriever's feathered coat, soft eye, and spaniel lineage shape every decision we make at the atelier. Notes on oil, light, and form.

An atelier-style oil portrait of a French Bulldog, the brindle coat caught in warm directional studio light, the bat ears upright and the wide-set eyes catching the highlight

22 May 2026

Painting the French Bulldog: notes from the atelier

How the French Bulldog's brindle coat, bat ears, and wide-set eyes shape every decision in the studio, from lighting angle to period style.

A regal sovereign-style portrait of a German Shepherd, used as a visual reference for an editorial on what AI pet portrait generators can and cannot produce

20 May 2026

What an AI pet portrait generator can and cannot do

AI pet portrait generators are useful, fast, and free. Here is an honest account of what they produce, where they stop, and what comes after them.

A still life of oil painting brushes, a folded cloth, and a small framed animal portrait resting against a warm studio wall

17 May 2026

Pet memorial portraits: how families honor a beloved companion

A painted portrait has long served as a form of remembrance. How families across eras have honored beloved pets, and why the tradition endures.

A still life of oil painting brushes, a wooden palette, and a framed antique dog portrait resting against a stone atelier wall

14 May 2026

Dog breeds that shaped the history of painted portraiture

From Egyptian greyhounds to the Cavalier spaniels of Van Dyck, these are the dog breeds that recur across five centuries of major painted traditions.

A still life of paint-stained brushes, a folded velvet cloth, and a framed portrait leaning against a whitewashed studio wall

11 May 2026

Choosing a pet portrait style: a brief guide

Three studio styles, one subject. A practical guide to matching your pet's character and your interior to the right portrait tradition from our Belgian atelier.

A still life of a photographer's printed pet photographs arranged beside a painter's palette and brushes on a wooden atelier worktable

8 May 2026

The best photo for a pet portrait: what to shoot and why

Learn how light, distance, and eye contact make the best photo for a pet portrait. Practical guidance from our Belgian atelier on what to shoot and why.