Custom portraits of your pet lovingly done!
Jeri will capture the essence of your favorite pet with a custom acrylic painting based on a photograph you provide –
- A perfect gift
- A special remembrance
- Something “priceless” for you
Meet The Artist
Jeri McLees has always loved animals but never dreamed that the feeling would evolve into painting pet portraits. But when she attended a “paint & sip” party, her subject was her fuzzy white dog and it turned out quite nicely. Some friends saw it and asked her to “do” their pets and after a while…Pet Essence was born.
Jeri tries to capture the spirit of the furry companion in her artwork– shy, happy, loving, grumpy, or ??? – so don’t be surprised if she asks you questions about your pet’s personality before she begins.
Jeri lives in Murrieta, California with her two furry companions – Brooke, the dog, and Billiken, the cat. She says that Billiken is quite the critic – often reaching for her paint brush with his paws while she works – but Brooke is content just to hang around with “mom”.
Jeri’s Wall
(Move mouse cursor over the images below to view the subjects or touch the screen on a mobile device)
Testimonials
This was the second most wonderful gift I ever received; the first being a bicycle when I was in second grade.
The paintings of my precious Wylie & Laini are perfect. Their sweet personalities and faces just jump out of the canvas. The portraits will hold a place of honor in our home.
You brought back such sweet memories of our three pets. Although they are gone from this earth, each time we look at them, they are here with us again.
I wanted to thank you again for your beautiful paintings! My gosh, they are so special. It was so sweet of you to do this.
What do you give a son or son-in-law for Christmas when they have everything? The portraits of each of their dogs were their favorite gifts.
Frequently Asked Questions
(Click on the questions or tap on your mobile device to view the answers)
How much do your paintings cost?
If you want a portrait done in 11×14 or 12” square, the cost is $200 plus shipping. I would not recommend anything smaller. If you want something larger, the price might increase a bit but you would know that “up front”.
What kind of paintings do you do? Do you do pencil sketches?
My speciality is pet portraits using acrylic paints, although sometimes I add a bit of other medium to the painting. At this time, I do not do pencil sketches.
Do you do pictures with more than one pet?
Yes I do. There is no extra charge for one extra pet; although if you have multiple pets we will need to “e-chat” as that might affect the ideal size of the portraits. I have also done separate portraits of pets. If I do that, there is a discount in the cost of the second painting.
Do you do other subjects besides pets?
I have done paintings of others subjects upon request. Please let me know what you are thinking about and I will let you know whether I can do it or not.
If I want you to paint a portrait and I live across country, how does this work?
It’s pretty easy. You send me a good quality photo (or photos if you want me to select) of your pet via email along with a short description of his/her personality and, of course, his/her name. I prefer to paint portraits of their faces and a little of their bodies rather than a full body – as I like to concentrate on the “essence”, which I believe is reflected in the pet’s eyes.
How long does it take?
Upon receipt, I will review the pictures and give you a time line of when you should expect it to be completed. The portraits are, of course, “first come/first served” and once I start they can take up to a week to complete. If you have a specific deadline (like a birthday or anniversary) please mention that in the contact form and I’ll make every effort to meet it, as long as you give me at least three weeks from the date you send me the photo.
Are the paintings on canvas?
Yes I do paint on stretched canvas; however, I can paint on other mediums if requested. I use canvas panels and recently I did a pig on an old cutting board.
Do you offer framing?
I do not. Framing is such a personal choice plus it would be expensive to ship the portrait framed. However, the portraits are “wrapped” (meaning the sides of the canvas are painted as an extension of the painting) so many people choose not to frame and hang ‘as is’.
How much is shipping?
I use a local UPS store for shipping as they are the experts in making sure there is no damage to the canvas. I charge whatever they charge but I cannot estimate the cost as it depends on your locale. I have shipped two canvases across country and the cost was about $38. If you live closer and have only one canvas, the cost will be less.
What if I'm not satisfied?
Fortunately, I’ve never had a dissatisfied customer. I did have a request a while back for a different background color which I did for no extra charge. If you do not like the painting I did for you, we can talk and determine how best to resolve the issue. I absolutely want you to be a satisfied customer.
How do I pay you?
I accept payments via PayPal (including credit cards). I charge an initial deposit of $50 at the time you submit your portrait request. Upon completion, I will send you a photo of the portrait for you to approve via email. Upon approval, I will send you a PayPal invoice for the remaining balance plus shipping cost. Upon receipt of payment, I will ship your painting to you.
Order Your Pet Portrait Today!
Jeri is looking forward to hearing from you so she can begin work on a beautiful portrait of your pet today!
If you have any questions please complete the contact form below and Jeri will get back to you right away.