The Pet Portrait Artist: Kaitlin Gabriel

Thornton's Master of the Pet Portrait - Full Interview

Introduction

Amanda: Describe yourself (work, hobbies, interests, etc) outside of your pet portrait business.

Kaitlin: I work in software as a process specialist, but outside of that I love to cook and eat! My favorite dish to make is shrimp etoufee. I’m a big reader too - mostly fantasy or nonfiction. I’m also an animal lover of course, and when I’m not at home snuggling my own fur baby you might find me at the zoo!

Amanda: What initially sparked your interest in art and painting?

Kaitlin: I’ve drawn and painted ever since I remember, but way back when I was 8 years old I drew a kitten and that picture got into a county wide show! I still have the photo of little me next to the drawing hung up on the wall next to the work of other students.

Amanda: How did you discover your passion for creating custom pet portraits?

Kaitlin: After I graduated art school, I knew I didn’t want to go into any kind of illustration job - I love to illustrate but I’m happiest when it’s my own ideas! Eventually I was asked to paint my childhood pets by my parents and that’s when I rekindled my love of painting animals.

Amanda: Can you share a bit about your artistic background and training?

Kaitlin: I have a BFA in Children’s Book Illustration from Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design right here in Colorado. Before then, I hardly ever took art classes and simply followed my passion and got a lot of practice from that.

Amanda: What led you to specialize in pet portraiture specifically?

Kaitlin: I just love capturing their personalities so much! I am an animal lover through and through - I have never been without a dog or a cat in my life (most of the time more than one!). When I paint animals, whether I’ve met them or not, I fall in love with each and every one. It’s incredibly fulfilling.

Amanda: How do you balance your creative process with the business side of running your own art studio?

Kaitlin: Finances are always a challenge for me, but I have a wonderful partner that I met in art school who is well-versed in the business side of art and often takes care of all of the complicated parts.

Amanda: Can you share any challenges you've faced in your journey as a professional artist, and how you've overcome them?

Kaitlin: I think my greatest challenge was artistic burnout following art school. I had to completely stop drawing and painting because college made it such a regimen and took all of the passion out of art. I won’t ever regret the connections and friendships I made there, but it definitely took me a few years to remember why I loved art in the first place.

Artwork by Kaitlin Gabriel

Artwork by Kaitlin Gabriel

Artwork by Kaitlin Gabriel

Artwork by Kaitlin Gabriel

Behind the Brush: Business Insights

Amanda: What do you find most rewarding about bringing pets to life on canvas?

Kaitlin: Definitely seeing the reactions I get from giving the portraits to each person. I’ve had folks cry happy tears!! It’s wonderful to be able to bring so much happiness to people.

Amanda: How do you connect with your clients on a personal level to ensure their vision is reflected in the final portrait?

Kaitlin: Honestly, most of my experience is just folks trusting me with capturing their fur babies. I will ask some questions here and there to make sure I give them what they want, but most of my effort goes into really envisioning the pet’s personality and trying to show as much love to them as their owner does. After over six years of doing pet portraits, I haven’t had a single complaint.

Amanda: How do you approach marketing and promoting your custom pet portrait services?

Kaitlin: Most of it is posting online and ensuring that my portraits are in front of as many eyes as possible. I also very occasionally gift a portrait to someone who I really appreciate. Many of them end up commissioning me for more or spread the word about my work. It also comes up in conversation quite a bit and so naturally folks find out I paint just by talking about animals. Most importantly, it’s not a forced process, a lot of it is just doing my best work and letting folks come to me!

Amanda: What do you hope clients experience or feel when they receive one of your custom pet portraits?

Kaitlin: My hope is always to make someone feel like they have a piece of their loved one that they can cherish for years to come. I want them to really feel the love I put into their painting and represent the devotion they have to their pet. 

Amanda: Can you share a memorable experience or story from a past client commission?

Kaitlin: Very recently I had the pleasure of painting two sheepdogs that were commissioned as a Christmas gift for my client’s neighbor. As I drove away, I actually saw the sheepdogs coming outside with their owner (who had no idea!!) and I couldn’t resist rolling down the window and telling him how cute I thought his dogs were. They both ran up to the car all happy and excited and it was one of the most adorable things I ever witnessed!

Amanda: How do you ensure each portrait captures the unique personality of the pet?

Kaitlin: I truly believe it’s all in the eyes. I give special attention to the eyes every time. If I can do that, the rest falls into place.

Amanda: What mediums and techniques do you use to bring the portraits to life?

Kaitlin: I solely use acrylic on canvas from beginning to end. I start out very sketchy, making sure to lay down the dominant colors first, then as I go along I put in more and more details. I have videos on my Instagram showing this process!

Amanda: Can you describe your creative process from initial consultation to final delivery?

Kaitlin: Most of the time when I receive an inquiry, we go over the pet(s) they’d like me to paint and I make sure to get multiple photos which helps especially if I’m not simply painting from photograph but putting two pets from two separate pictures into one painting. From there I do an initial sketch, often showing the client if I feel the need to ensure I’m doing what they like, and from there I just go for it until I’m satisfied! Then, because most of the time my clients are within 50 miles, I hand deliver the painting right to their doorstep.

Amanda: How do you handle special requests or specific details from clients?

Kaitlin: I think what’s unique about my work is I’m not trying to create a perfect photorealistic painting. I want each painting to have a unique life to it, so I often enhance the colors and use broad strokes to capture more of an impressionistic rendering of each pet. I want anyone walking into your home to know right away that they are paintings and not photographs!

Amanda: Do you offer any additional services or products alongside your portrait commissions?

Kaitlin: A lot of people don’t know that I have a sticker machine and I have the ability to make your painting into a sticker if you wish!

Amanda: How do you handle shipping and delivery of the finished portraits?

Kaitlin: Shipping is a super easy process, I just ensure the painting is well protected for its journey. Most of the time however I drive it right to your door and hand deliver it! I love being out and about and even more I love seeing clients react to their paintings.

Amanda: How do you ensure client satisfaction throughout the portrait creation process?

Kaitlin: Communication! I want to make sure I’m crystal clear on every client’s wishes and would rather over communicate than the opposite!

Amanda: Are there any upcoming projects or developments in your business that you're excited about?

Kaitlin: I’m planning on doing a series of sketchy experimental pet portraits that I’m hoping to hang in a local brewery or small business! I haven’t started searching for the business yet so send any recommendations my way!

Amanda: What advice would you give to someone considering commissioning a custom pet portrait?

Kaitlin: Send as many pictures as you have and tell me if there’s a particular photo you really want me to paint. Also let me know if it’s a gift and whether I have a hard deadline to adhere to.

Amanda: How do you prioritize customer referrals, and do you offer any referral incentives?

The Final Flourish

Amanda: How do you stay inspired and motivated in your artistic practice?

Kaitlin: I love to stay active in the art world. I go to galleries and small businesses that support local artists, and I assist many of my old art school friends in their businesses as well. It inspires me to see so much success and passion!

Amanda: What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are interested in pursuing a career in pet portraiture?

Kaitlin: First and foremost, practice! Secondly, always remember to balance your passion and the work. Don’t take on so much that you stop enjoying it. Last, use your network! Advertise to friends and family, your neighbors, and don’t be afraid to ask them to refer you. Make sure to keep your connections as well. A huge portion of my business is repeat customers, so don’t be afraid to forge a relationship! I’ve also made good friends this way who support me in my business.

Amanda: What role do pets play in your life outside of your work as an artist?

Kaitlin: Pets are my ultimate comfort. I have a small corgi who is my world, and one of the cuddliest dogs I’ve ever had. I also had an older dog who passed last year at the age of 14, who was definitely my soul-pup. He was there for me through some of the hardest times of my life and I’ll never have another dog like him.

Amanda: Can you share any testimonials or feedback from satisfied clients?

Kaitlin: Kaitlin absolutely conveys the spirit and beauty of any animal she paints. I truly cherish the portraits she has done for me after the loss of several pets. They are a constant reminder that they were so loved. Kaitlin’s art definitely speaks volumes to who she is as a person, how talented she is, and how much she cares about her clients and their furry sidekicks. -Alyssa Redenius

Amanda: Can you share where our audience can view examples of your work and get in touch to commission a portrait?

Kaitlin: If you want to see my latest work go to my Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/katespuppyportraits

Amanda: Is there anything else you’d like our audience to know about you or your custom pet portrait business?

Kaitlin: Thank you so much to all of my clients for your support of my business. You allow me to do something that I love and put some good into the world. I will always appreciate you! 

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