Pet Cartoons and Caricatures
Your Fur Baby Never Looked So Good!
Live pet caricatures are a fun addition to pet-friendly events, fundraisers, breweries, festivals, and private parties.
Guests love watching their pets come to life on paper and leaving with a personalized keepsake they’ll actually treasure.
CLICK HERE to learn more about live pet caricatures for events.
Custom pet portraits and pet cartoons are created from your photos and make wonderful gifts, memorials, and keepsakes for pet lovers.
Whether you want something sweet, funny, or completely over the top, I can turn your favorite pet photos into custom artwork you’ll treasure for years.
CLICK HERE to learn more about custom pet portraits and cartoons.
What's the difference?
These are drawn LIVE and take MINUTES
These are drawn from Photos and take HOURS.
Live Pet Cartoons for Events
The Doggy Fundraiser (Orange Beach & Gulf Shores)
Jamie, a Gulf Shores rec director, brought me in to draw dogs and their people at a “doggy day” fundraiser—and she did everything right.
She promoted caricatures ahead of time, had guests pre-pay, and even assigned a volunteer just to manage the line.
The result?
A flawless event. Every pup and person got drawn, the fundraiser hit its goals, and they brought me back the next year in Orange Beach.
Lesson:
Pet caricatures aren’t just a cute add-on. They can be the centerpiece of a successful event when they’re planned well.
How Live Pet Cartoons for Events Works
It's as easy as a walk in the park
-
Check Availability
Send me your event date, location, and basic details so I can see if I’m available.
-
Get a Quote
I’ll ask a few quick questions about your event, guest count, and setup so I can recommend the right amount of time.
-
I Arrive and Set Up
I bring my own supplies and lights. I usually just need a small space and a few chairs.
-
Guests Bring Their Pets to My Stand
I draw fast, flattering pet caricatures live while guests watch, laugh, and enjoy the process.
-
Everyone Leaves With a Custom Keepsake
Your guests go home with a fun, personalized drawing of their pet they’ll actually want to keep.
People don't always realize how booked my calendar is.
There are very few people who do what I do. According to one booking site, there are fewer than 1000 full-time caricature artists worldwide.
I really hate having to tell folks I'm booked because they waited too long. If you want this, if you have to have it for your next event, BOOK EARLY
Fun Pet Cartoons That Capture Personality
And Make Meaningful Gifts
Some of my favorite custom pet portraits and and cat and dog caricatures started as gifts.
This one was a gift from a mom to her teenage daughter… and if you’ve ever tried to shop for a teenager, you know exactly how that goes. She already had everything she needed, and her mom was racking her brains trying to find something that wasnt too babyish, but also not too grown up, AND not too expensive.
So she went on Facebook asking for ideas—and I happened to see her post.
At first she wasn’t even sure what she wanted. We talked through a few ideas, and eventually landed on doing a custom husky portrait of her daughter with her dog. She sent me photos, and I created the piece entirely from that.
And here’s the thing… getting personality from photos is harder than drawing someone in person.
But even from the pictures, you could feel it. The daughter had this calm, almost serene energy, and the husky matched her perfectly. Same vibe. Same quiet presence. That’s what I’m always trying to capture in my pet portraits—not just what your dog looks like, but who they are.
I met up with the mom the day before the birthday and showed her the finished piece.
She was so excited!
She took it home, wrapped it, and—this almost never happens—she actually filmed her daughter opening it and sent me the video.
And I got to watch her reaction.
“This is so cool… this is so cool…” over and over again.
That’s the part I love.
I don’t usually prefer doing commissions. I love drawing live because I get to see the reaction right there in front of me. That moment when someone lights up—that’s everything.
But this time, I still got to have that moment.
And that’s what makes a custom dog portrait or husky portrait like this so special.
It’s not just something you hang on the wall.
It’s something to remember a cherished pet for years to come.
Cat Cartoon
Dog Cartoon
Yes that's even a Turtle Cartoon
When people hear the words “pet portrait,” they usually picture something very realistic… almost like a photograph.
That’s not really what I do.
My drawings are more like funny pet portraits—but not in a ridiculous or over-the-top way. They’re funny because they’re true.
I’m not just exaggerating features for the sake of it. I’m paying attention to personality. The little expressions. The way your dog looks at you. The energy they have.
That’s what people respond to.
One of the things I hear all the time is how cute my drawings are—both for pets and for people. And I think that’s because I focus so much on the eyes. For me, that’s where everything starts. The eyes really are the window to the soul, whether it’s a person or a dog, and once that’s right, everything else falls into place.
That’s also why I often draw people and their pets together.
There’s usually this connection between them—almost like they start to match each other over time. Same expressions, same energy. It’s kind of like old married couples… but with dogs. Or cats. Or on occasion other animals.
And capturing that relationship is what makes these more than just a dog portrait or a pet caricature.
It turns them into something personal.
Something you recognize instantly.
Something that feels like them.
Digital Pet Portraits
Along with my traditional work, I also create digital pet portraits, and they are a really great option depending on how you want to use the artwork.
A lot of people choose a digital dog portrait because it simply shows up better on screens.
If you want something for your profile picture, your phone, or social media, digital color is much richer, cleaner, and easier to see than a hand colored piece.
That said, these are not AI.
Every digital piece still starts as a hand-drawn sketch, just like my traditional artwork. I draw it first, send it to you for approval, and then bring it into my drawing app where I create the clean line work and digitally paint the color underneath.
So while the final piece is digital, it is still real custom artwork created by hand — not generated by a computer.
People also love digital portraits because they are flexible. You can use them for prints, profile photos, invitations, gifts, or even wedding materials if your pet is part of the big day.
And since the artwork is digital, it can also be updated later with different themes, outfits, or backgrounds without starting over from scratch.
How Custom Pet Portraits Work
It's easy
-
Contact Me Send me a message and tell me what you have in mind. Let me know how many animals you’d like included, whether you want a traditional hand-drawn piece or digital artwork, and your general timeline
-
We Discuss Pricing Once I have the basic details, I’ll give you a quote based on the number of animals, artwork size, style, and turnaround time.
-
Send Your Photos After we’ve discussed pricing, you’ll send over your reference photos. Good photos are extremely important. The better the photos, the better the finished portrait will be.
-
Contract & Deposit If everything sounds good, I’ll send over a simple contract. A 50% deposit is required to begin the artwork, with the remaining balance due upon delivery.
-
I Create Your Artwork Pet portraits take hours to complete and are much more detailed than live event caricatures. Each piece is created carefully by hand or digitally depending on the option you choose.
-
Revisions Your portrait includes up to 2 reasonable redraws or revisions during the process. Additional redraws beyond that may require an extra fee.
-
Delivery Most local clients prefer an in-person handoff or meetup, though shipping is available for an additional charge. Framing is also available as an add-on.
Please note: Rush orders may require an additional fee depending on the timeline requested.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Cartoons & Pet Portraits
What’s the difference between Live Pet Cartoons and Pet Portraits?
Live Pet Cartoons are drawn LIVE at events and usually take just a few minutes per pet. They’re fast, fun, interactive, and designed as entertainment and keepsakes for guests.
Pet Portraits are created from photos and take HOURS to complete. These are much more detailed finished pieces designed for framing, gifts, memorials, and special keepsakes.
Why do Pet Portraits cost more than Live Pet Cartoons?
Pet portraits from photos involve much more time and detail. Each portrait includes personal consultation, multiple redraws if needed, and a finished piece designed specifically for display or gifting.
Live pet cartoons are still flattering and frame-worthy, but they’re created quickly during the energy and excitement of a live event.
What kinds of pets can you draw?
Dogs are the most common, but I can also draw cats, birds, reptiles, rabbits, horses, and just about any other pet.
Are your pet cartoons mean or exaggerated?
No. My style is fun and flattering. I focus on capturing your pet’s personality without making them look harsh or ugly. (unless of course, that's what you want. But you might do better with another artist if that's what you want!)
Can you draw more than one pet in a portrait?
Absolutely. Multi-pet portraits are available and make wonderful family keepsakes.
What kinds of events work well for live pet caricatures?
Pet-friendly festivals, fundraisers, adoption events, community gatherings, private parties, and outdoor events are all great fits for live pet caricatures. They create a fun interactive experience while giving guests a personalized keepsake to take home.
How much do live pet caricatures cost?
Live pet caricature events start at $199 per hour.
Special pricing is available for nonprofits and rescue organizations — inquire for details.
How much do pet portraits from photos cost?
Custom pet portraits from photos start at $199 per animal.
How do I book or learn more?
Just contact me through the form below, and tell me a little about your event or the pet portrait you have in mind.
Styles and Pricing