Guide

Custom pet art, compared

If you want a piece of art made from a photo of your pet, there are a few genuinely different formats to choose from. Prices below are general market ranges, not exact quotes. They vary by artist, studio, and size.

Swipe to compare →

Format	Typical Price	Physical 3D Depth	Preview Before Paying	Framing Included	Typical Turnaround
Sculpted Bas-Relief (Shadow Pets)	$299 USD	True 3D bas-relief (~15mm carved depth)	Yes, free digital preview before payment	Included (14" × 11" glazed timber shadow box)	Preview in minutes · Ships in 2–3 weeks
Hand-Painted Portrait	$50–$500+ USD	Flat canvas or paper	Rarely (deposit or full payment upfront)	Usually extra or unframed	2–8+ weeks depending on artist
Digital Illustration	$20–$150 USD	Flat digital file or print	Post-purchase revision proof	Self-printed or optional add-on	2–7 days (digital file)
Custom Plush Keepsake	$40–$120 USD	3D soft stuffed toy	Sometimes photo proof before shipping	Not applicable (unframed plush)	3–8 weeks

Hand-painted portrait

Roughly $50–$500+, depending on the artist and size

A traditional painting (oil, acrylic, or watercolor) commissioned from a photo, either by a local artist or an online marketplace of independent painters.

Best ForAnyone who wants a genuinely one-of-a-kind, painterly art piece and isn't in a hurry.

Trade-OffQuality and turnaround vary a lot by artist, prices can climb quickly for larger canvases, and you typically don't see the finished piece until it's already done.

Digital illustration or portrait

Roughly $20–$150

A digitally illustrated or stylized portrait (cartoon, line art, watercolor-style digital render) delivered as a file you can print yourself or have framed.

Best ForBudget-conscious buyers, or anyone who wants a specific illustrated style and is happy printing it themselves.

Trade-OffIt's a flat digital file, not a physical object. You're responsible for printing and framing it, and quality depends heavily on the individual illustrator.

Custom plush toy or stuffed animal

Roughly $40–$120

A soft, huggable stuffed-animal version of your pet, made to resemble their markings and coloring from a photo.

Best ForKids, or anyone who wants something tactile rather than something to hang on a wall.

Trade-OffIt reads as a toy or plush keepsake rather than as art, and likeness accuracy varies by maker.

Sculpted bas-relief portrait

Roughly $150–$300 (Shadow Pets is $299 USD)

A dimensional, sculpted bas-relief crafted from your photo, then hand-sanded, hand-painted, sealed, and mounted in a deep shadow box frame. This is what Shadow Pets makes.

Best ForAnyone who wants a physical, gallery-style object with real depth and texture rather than a flat print, and who wants to see an exact preview before paying.

Trade-OffCosts more than a flat digital print, and because it is dimensional, it works best from a clear, well-lit photo where the pet's features are visible.

Want to see a sculpted relief of your own pet?

Upload a photo and you’ll see a free digital preview of your exact piece within minutes. Nothing is charged until you approve it.

Craft Your Piece How it works