Custom Artwork Commissions and Pet Portraits

Let’s create something meaningful together.

A custom piece of art is a personal process — and you don’t need to have it all figured out before reaching out.

You can share a photo, a story, a memory, a feeling, or even just the beginning of an idea, and we can shape it together.

I create colorful, expressive artwork that captures more than just what something looks like. I want each piece to feel meaningful, personal, and full of life.

I create:

  • Pet portraits

  • People and family portraits

  • Meaningful places and memories

  • Memorial pieces

  • Symbolic and storytelling artwork

  • Wildlife and animal artwork

  • Personalized gifts

  • Custom artwork inspired by something special to you

Have an idea?

You can contact me anytime at info@payalemery.com.

Choose Your Commission Type

1. Pet Portraits

Your pet is part of your story, and I love creating portraits that capture their personality, spirit, and the little things that make them completely themselves.

My pet portraits are created from your favorite photographs and painted in my colorful, vibrant, expressive style.

They are not meant to be perfectly photographic copies.

Instead, I use the photograph as inspiration while adding expressive color, movement, personality, and my own artistic interpretation.

Pet portraits can also make incredibly meaningful gifts or memorial pieces for a beloved pet.

 

2. Custom Artwork

Custom artwork can be created around almost anything meaningful to you.

This might include:

  • People or families

  • Children or siblings

  • Couples

  • Meaningful places

  • Favorite memories

  • Memorial artwork

  • Wildlife or animals

  • Symbolic artwork

  • Personal stories

  • Special moments

  • Imaginative ideas

  • Artwork created as a meaningful gift

My style is colorful, expressive, vibrant, and emotional rather than perfectly photorealistic.

I may use your photographs as references, but I also bring my own artistic interpretation into the painting through color, composition, brushwork, texture, and feeling.

For portraits involving several people, I can sometimes combine multiple photographs to create one composition.

We’ll talk through the idea together before and during the painting process so the finished piece still feels personal to you while also feeling like my artwork.

3. A New Version of Previous Artwork

Sometimes people fall in love with a painting that has already sold.

Certain pieces may be recreated or reimagined as a completely new original painting.

Because each piece is painted by hand, the new artwork will never be an exact duplicate.

Colors, details, brushwork, composition, sizing, and other elements may naturally vary, making your piece its own original artwork.

In some cases, we can also personalize the new painting by changing colors, adding meaningful details, adjusting the composition, or creating it in a different size.

If there is a previous painting of mine that you love, please contact me and we can talk about what might be possible.

 

How Custom Commissions Work

1. Tell Me Your Idea

You can send me photographs, a story, a memory, a feeling, or even just a rough idea.

You do not need to know exactly what you want before contacting me.

Many commissions begin with something as simple as:

“I love this photo.”

“I want something that reminds me of this place.”

“I want to capture this memory.”

“I have an idea but I don’t know how to turn it into a painting.”

That’s completely okay.

We can figure it out together.

2. We Plan It Together

Before I begin, we can talk about things like:

  • Size

  • Composition

  • Colors

  • Photographs

  • Background ideas

  • Meaningful details

  • Anything you especially want included

I may also suggest ideas based on what I think will translate well into a painting.

3. Your Painting Begins

Once we have an overall direction, I begin creating your artwork.

The finished painting will reflect my own colorful, expressive artistic style.

That means I may change colors, simplify or exaggerate certain details, adjust backgrounds, combine references, or make artistic choices that help the painting feel stronger.

4. Progress Preview

I usually share progress during the painting process so that we can discuss important ideas or adjustments before the piece is completely finished.

Most discussion about composition, colors, details, and ideas happens during this stage.

5. Finished Artwork

Once the artwork is finished, only minor refinements can be made.

Major changes to the composition, subjects, background, or overall concept generally cannot be made after the painting is completed.

Once everything is complete and final payment has been received, your artwork will be prepared for pickup, delivery, or shipping.


Commission Pricing

Pet Portrait Pricing

8 in. x  8 in.:  $125 
10 in. x 10 in.:  $150
12 in. x 12 in.:  $200
14 in. x 14 in.:  $250
16 in. x 20 in.:  $300
20 in. x 20 in.:  $350
18 in. x 24 in.:  $400
24 in. x 30 in.:  $450
30 in. x 40 in.:  $800
 
There is an additional price of $75 for each additional pet in the same painting

Pet portrait pricing is based on standard portrait commissions.

More complicated compositions, multiple pets, detailed backgrounds, unusual sizing, or additional elements may affect pricing.

I will always let you know the price before beginning your commission.

Custom Portraits & Other Commissions

Pricing for people, family portraits, larger compositions, and other custom artwork varies depending on:

  • Canvas size

  • Number of people or subjects

  • Complexity

  • Background

  • Level of detail

  • Amount of planning involved

Family and people portraits are priced separately from my standard pet portrait pricing because they generally require significantly more time, planning, detail, and painting.

Please contact me with your idea and any photographs you would like me to see.

I can then help recommend a size and provide a quote before we begin.

Email: info@payalemery.com

 

 

Payment

A 50% non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your commission and begin work.

You can choose to pay 50% or pay all of it first.  Please let me know if you need a payment plan. 

The remaining balance is due once the painting is completed and before pickup, delivery, or shipping.

I will send photos of the completed artwork before final payment.

The deposit covers the time, planning, materials, and work involved in beginning and creating your custom piece.


How Long Does a Commission Take?

I no longer guarantee standard completion deadlines for artwork.

A commission may take approximately three months, while some pieces may take considerably longer depending on:

  • Complexity of the artwork

  • Size of the painting

  • Number of subjects

  • Other commissions currently in progress

  • Other art projects and exhibitions I am working on

Some artwork may be completed sooner, while more complicated pieces or busy commission periods may take longer.

If you need artwork by a particular date — such as for a birthday, anniversary, holiday, or other gift — please let me know before booking.

I will always do my best to accommodate special dates when possible, but completion dates are not guaranteed unless an express or rush arrangement has specifically been made.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What photos should I send?

Clear photographs in natural light work best, but they do not have to be perfect.

You are welcome to send several photographs.

Sometimes one photo has the best expression while another has better lighting, positioning, colors, or details.

I can often combine information from multiple photographs and help determine what will translate best into a painting.

What if I don’t know exactly what I want?

That’s completely okay — many people start this way.

You can share a feeling, story, memory, photograph, person, animal, place, or idea, and we’ll shape the concept together.

You do not have to design the painting yourself before contacting me.

That is part of the creative process.

Can you combine multiple photos?

Yes.

Depending on the commission, I can often use multiple photographs as references when creating one painting.

This is especially helpful when creating family portraits, sibling portraits, memorial artwork, pet portraits, or paintings involving people who were not photographed together.

Will the painting look exactly like the photograph?

My artwork is expressive rather than perfectly photorealistic.

I use photographs as references, but I also interpret them through my own style.

Colors may become brighter, backgrounds may change, certain details may be simplified or emphasized, and I may make artistic choices that help the finished painting feel stronger.

My goal is for the artwork to feel recognizable and personal while still looking like an original Payal Emery / Artistic Nurse painting.

What if I want something changed?

I share progress during the painting process so that important adjustments can be discussed early.

Small refinements are always welcome.

However, once the painting is finished, only minor edits can be made.

Major changes to the composition, pose, subjects, background, or overall painting need to be discussed during the painting process rather than after completion.

Can you recreate artwork that has already sold?

Sometimes!

If you love a painting that has already sold, contact me.

Depending on the piece, I may be able to create a new original painting inspired by it.

Because every piece is painted by hand, your painting will not be an exact copy.

It will be its own original artwork.

Do you ship artwork?

Yes.

Original artwork can be shipped.

Shipping time may vary because original artwork sometimes needs additional preparation before it can safely leave the studio.

This may include finishing, varnishing, drying, protective wrapping, and preparing the proper materials to protect the artwork during shipping.

I want your painting to arrive safely and beautifully.

Ready to Create Something Together?

If you're thinking about a commission — even if you're only exploring the idea — I would love to hear about it.

You can send me your photographs, story, memory, or idea and I can help you figure out what might work best.

There is no pressure to have everything figured out before you reach out.

That’s part of the creative process.

Thank you so much for trusting me with your stories, your pets, your families, your memories, and the things that are meaningful to you.

Creating something personal for another person is something I never take lightly, and I am truly honored every time someone chooses me to create a piece for them.

Contact Payal:
info@payalemery.com

Original artwork by Payal Emery — Artistic Nurse


As always, THANK YOU very much for your support, your love, your purchases, your kind words.
 
You are supporting our artwork, our dreams, our life, and also giving a voice to animals and people around the world.
 
You are spreading your magic by doing so, and changing the world!