How is a custom portrait painting priced?
Published 18 September 2026
A custom portrait painting is priced by four things: the size of the canvas, the number of subjects in it, the level of detail it is painted to, and the medium. The first three determine how many hours a painter spends on the piece, and hours are what a portrait costs; the medium sets the materials and, for works on paper, a single level of finish. Everything else — the breed, the occasion, the difficulty of the coat — is the painter’s problem and is not charged for. This article explains each variable, what does not affect price, and how to read a quote.
The four variables
| Variable | Why it changes the price | Practical range |
|---|---|---|
| Canvas size | A larger canvas has more surface to cover and larger features to resolve | From a small head study to a large group piece |
| Number of subjects | Each additional face or animal is a separate likeness to draw, paint and proof | One to six in a single painting; more on request |
| Detail level | How far the painting is taken — visible brushwork, fully resolved features, or individual hairs | Painterly · Refined · Hyperreal (oil and acrylic) |
| Medium | Canvas or paper, and the time each takes | Oil · acrylic · charcoal · watercolour · pencil |
Size
Size sets the baseline. Painting time scales with area, though not perfectly — the face is where the time goes, and the background of a large canvas is fast. Most single-pet head studies are ordered in the mid sizes; large canvases are usually groups or statement pieces for a wall.
Number of subjects
Every subject is a separate likeness. A second dog in the painting is a second drawing, a second coat, a second set of eyes to get right, and a second thing for you to check on the proof. Group portraits are priced per subject on top of the size.
Detail level
This is the variable most studios do not offer and the one that changes the price most for a given size. Our three levels are:
- Painterly — visible, expressive brushwork; the likeness is unmistakable but the paint stays visible. Shortest painting time.
- Refined — fully resolved features, modelled fur and skin, lively brushwork in the background. Our most-ordered level.
- Hyperreal — individual hairs, iris texture, wet-nose highlights, built in many thin layers. Longest painting time; chosen for memorial and heirloom pieces.
The three are compared side by side on the detail levels page. Choosing a level lets you decide what the painting is for: a decor piece and a memorial piece from the same studio, at different prices, for honest reasons.
Medium
Acrylic on canvas is our default and oil is painted on request; the two are priced close to each other, because the painting time is the same; acrylic saves calendar time, not painter time. Charcoal, watercolour and pencil on paper are quoted at a single level of finish and are generally the more economical choices, charcoal most of all. The mediums pages explain what each looks like.
What does not affect the price
- Breed or species. A black Labrador is harder to paint than a yellow one; it costs the same.
- The occasion. Memorial, wedding, Christmas — the painting is the painting.
- The reference photo. A weak photo may limit which detail level we can offer, but it does not change the price of the level you choose.
- The painter. We price by the work, not by an artist’s name. That is the whole point of the studio.
- Volume. Trade pricing applies from one piece; there is no tier to reach.
- Combining photos. Building one painting from several photographs is not charged separately.
What else appears on a quote
A quote lists the painting price for the size, subject count, level and medium you chose, plus:
- Framing, if ordered — a separate line, by frame style and size.
- Shipping, quoted for your piece and your address. Shipping is never a flat rate for original art, for reasons explained on shipping and packaging.
- Payment terms: a deposit to start, the balance after you approve the digital proof.
Import duties and taxes at the destination are billed by the destination country and are not on the quote.
Why prices are not published
Most of our work is for trade partners — Etsy sellers, designers, frame shops, photographers, memorial services and galleries — who sell the paintings on at their own price. A published trade price would be one search away from their customers. So the price list is sent on request, to trade and private buyers alike, and the trade page explains the program.
How to get a quote
Send the photo, the size you have in mind (or the wall it is for), the number of subjects, and the detail level if you have a preference. You receive a written quote and an honest note on whether the photo supports the level you asked for. The quote is valid for 30 days.
Related questions
Does the breed or the animal change the price?
No. A Labrador and a Persian cat at the same size, subject count and detail level are the same price. Difficult coats are the painter's problem, not a surcharge.
Is a memorial portrait priced differently?
No — same three variables. Memorial pieces are often ordered at the Hyperreal level, which costs more than Painterly because it takes longer, but the occasion itself does not change the price.
Why don't you publish prices?
Because most of our work is for trade partners who sell it on under their own name. A published trade price would be found by their customers. The price list is sent on request, to trade and private buyers alike.
Ready when you are
Send a photo and your business type. You will hear back within one business day.