AI or hand-painted pet portraits: an honest comparison
We make our portraits with AI and print them on canvas, and we say so. Here is how that compares with commissioning a painter, including the cases where the painter is the better choice.
Three things sold under one name
“Custom pet portrait” covers three quite different objects.
- A hand-painted portrait. An artist paints your pet in oil, acrylic or watercolor from your photos. You receive an original.
- A photo-edit portrait. A designer cuts your pet’s head out of your photo and places it on a costume painted in advance. You receive a print.
- An AI portrait. An image model paints a new picture from your photo, in a chosen style. You receive a print. This is what we make.
None of the three is dishonest. What matters is that the seller tells you which one you are buying.
Side by side
| Hand-painted | AI, printed on canvas | |
|---|---|---|
| What you receive | An original painting | A giclée print on canvas |
| Made by | A painter, by hand | An image model, from your photo |
| Time | Weeks, sometimes months | About a minute to see it, a few days to print |
| Price | Hundreds of dollars, often more | Under a hundred |
| Seeing it first | Usually a deposit, then a draft | A free preview before you pay |
| Surface | Real paint, real texture | Flat print on woven canvas |
| Changes | Agreed with the artist | Try another photo or style |
Choose a painter when
- You want an original object made by a person, with brushstrokes you can touch.
- You want a say in the pose, the setting or the details.
- The portrait is an heirloom, and the making of it is part of its meaning.
- You have the budget and the weeks to wait.
A good pet portraitist is worth every dollar. Look at their previous commissions, ask how many rounds of changes are included, and expect to wait.
Choose an AI portrait when
- You want to see the result before spending anything.
- You want it soon: for a birthday next week, or tonight as a digital file.
- The point is the joke and the likeness, on a real canvas, at a price that lets you do it for every pet in the family.
What AI does well, and where it falls short
It is very good at likeness when the photo is good: markings, eye color and the set of the ears carry over, and the costume and lighting are painted consistently. It is fast, and it lets you try several titles on the same photo.
It falls short where a painter excels. You cannot direct it in detail. A weak photo gives a weak portrait. And the surface of the print is flat: the brushwork is in the picture, not on it. That is why we show every portrait before asking for payment.
Four questions to ask any seller
- Is the portrait painted by hand, edited from my photo, or made with AI?
- Will I see my own portrait before I pay?
- What exactly is it printed on, and how is it finished?
- What happens if it arrives damaged, or does not match what I approved?
Our own answers: made with AI and printed as a giclée on archival canvas; yes, a free preview; the canvas is described here; and a damaged or misprinted canvas is reprinted free or refunded, as set out on our returns page.
Keep reading
- How to photograph your pet for a portraitSix rules for a photo that makes a great portrait, and what to do about black coats and restless cats.
- Pet portrait size guide8 × 10, 11 × 14 or 16 × 20 inches: where each one works, and how high to hang it.
- Which royal title suits your pet?General, Admiral, Colonel, Queen, Duchess or Princess: a field guide by character and by coat.
- What is a giclée canvas print?What the word means, how the print is made, how long it lasts, and how to look after one.
- Pets at court: a short history of royal pet portraitsFrom Louis XIV’s hunting dogs to Queen Victoria’s spaniel and the dogs playing poker.
See your pet’s portrait first
Add one photo, choose a title, and your preview is ready in about a minute. It is free, and you only pay if you order.
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