Our Final Verdict
We give PortraitFlip Pet Portrait a rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars.
Quality: 5/5
Options: 5/5
Value: 4.75/5
Today, most people have hundreds (if not thousands) of photos of their pets. It’s not hard to get those photos turned into prints to decorate your home. But what if you could get those pictures turned into hand-painted pieces of art, instead?
That’s the idea behind PortraitFlip.
This company takes photos and transforms them into real paintings done by real people. You can choose from seven different mediums and even combine pictures to get all your pets in one beautiful scene. And because these pieces are created by real people with real paint brushes, you can customize them any way you want.
I had the opportunity to get a PortraitFlip painting done of my cat, Makoa. I chose the acrylic medium because I loved how much the examples looked like real works of art. While I had an idea that this was a product I would enjoy, I had no idea just how much I would love it!
Find out what sets PortraitFlip apart from other photo-to-painting companies and why I’m so happy with my awesome piece of pet art by reading my full Pet Portrait review, below.
About ProtraitFlip
PortraitFlip got its start in 2018. Back then, the company was just a few market executives, customer care associates, and a handful of artists. Today, the company has bloomed to over 250 artists and a team of professionals responsible for ensuring every customer gets exactly what they order.
The company is based out of Newark, Delaware, but its team comprises hundreds of talented artists from across the globe.
What Products Can You Get From PortraitFlip?
PortraitFlip offers a long list of photo-to-painting options. They specialize in recreating pictures with an artistic bend, especially portraits of people and pets.
The paintings can be direct recreations of single photos or compilations that bring together individuals from multiple photos into a single piece of art. You can choose up to 15 pets (or 15 people) to include in a single painting.
These paintings are available in a number of different mediums, including:
- Oil
- Pencil
- Charcoal
- Watercolor
- Colored pencil
- Acrylic
- Pastel
I chose the acrylic option for Makoa’s painting because I liked how much the example pieces actually looked like paintings rather than a simple recreation of the photo.
Some options look more painting-like while others are more realistic looking with very fine details. All these options make it easy to find exactly what you want.
For each medium, you can choose from nine size options for the final painting, running from 12” by 12” to ” 48” by 72”.
What Pets Does PortraitFlip Paint?
As far as I can tell, there are no limits to what kinds of pets PortraitFlip will turn into gorgeous paintings. As long as you have a photo, they can transform it into art.
For me, I chose a photo of my cat from when he was an adorable little kitten because I wanted a way to remember those days. This service is great for making memories last and is a wonderful option for memorializing pets that have passed on.
Of course, it is also great for celebrating pets that are still with us. And, because you can combine multiple pets from multiple pictures, it is the perfect way to get that furry family photo without having to train all your pets to sit next to each other.
Overview
Here is an overview of what to expect when getting a custom piece of art done through PortraitFlip. We’ll look at how the process works, how long it takes to receive your order, and their customer satisfaction guarantee.
How It Works
To get started with PortraitFlip, you first need to decide what medium you want and how big you want the portrait to be. Next, you’ll upload your photo (or photos) of your pet (or pets) and add any notes you want the artist to incorporate.
After you’ve ordered your painting, you’ll receive an email with the digital customization proof attached. This proof will be cropped to the correct size and adjusted digitally based on your notes. Basically, this acts as the reference for the artist so they know what to paint.
Once you’ve approved the proof, your artist will get to work on the actual painting. After this is complete, you’ll receive another email with a photo of the completed project. Once approved, your painting will ship.
PortraitFlip gives you multiple opportunities to make adjustments to your painting so you can be sure it is exactly what you expect when it finally arrives.
Processing Times
For standard pictures, it can take up to 15 days for the artist to complete the painting. Once approved, shipping takes up to an additional eight days.
If you’re in a hurry, you can opt for expedited processing. With this more expensive option, the painting will be completed within 10 days and express shipped to arrive within four days.
I opted for the standard processing time and received my painting within 18 days of ordering it. This was pretty impressive since I placed my order the week after Black Friday.
Guarantee
Pet Portrait has a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee. If you don’t love your portrait when it arrives or if there are any issues with the product, you can return it for a 100% refund within 7 days of receipt.
The company goes out of its way to ensure this doesn’t happen by giving you multiple opportunities to review the photo proof and final painting before shipping.
In Summary
Pros
- True hand-painted pieces
- Highly customizable
- Can combine photos
- Multiple mediums and sizes
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
Cons
- Expensive
- Quality can vary by artist
- Not a quick turnaround
Key Features
Truly Hand-Painted
There are a lot of companies out there that turn your photos into “works of art.” But most of these rely on digital filters to make your picture look like it has been painted or drawn. But a real artist never actually touches the print.
That is not the case with PortraitFlip. Each of their products is completely recreated from scratch using paint brushes, pencils, or charcoal wielded by a real-life person. The result is a true piece of art, not a print, that you will want to show off to all your houseguests.
So Many Options
PortraitFlip has 7 different medium options to choose from so you can pick the right one to match your decor and preferences. Each medium has something a little different to offer and each has a different feel to match your pet’s personality.
You also get to choose from 9 different size options to ensure the painting fits your house perfectly.
Satisfaction Guaranteed
From the moment you start the process with PortraitFlip, you have many opportunities to make sure you get exactly what you want.
To start, you can add notes to your order that go straight to the artist.
Once the digital proof is done, you have a chance to make changes to how the photo is cropped as well as what is left in and out of the scene. Because these are real artists, you can even give more specific directions about how to complete the painting.
Once the portrait is complete, you’ll receive a final proof. If there is anything you don’t like about the painting, you can ask the painter to fix it before the product is shipped.
Are PortraitFlip Pet Portraits a Good Value?
If you look at the prices of PortraitFlip paintings and compare them to other photo-to-painting sites, you might think their prices are high. But remember, most of these other companies do not actually deliver real paintings. Rather, they create digital prints that have been put through artistic filters to make them look like paintings.
If you were to commission a portrait from an artist in a one-to-one exchange, you would likely be paying a minimum of a thousand dollars and potentially up to tens of thousands of dollars. Hand-painted portraits on PortraitFlip start at just $89, which is impressively cheap when you think about what you’re actually getting.
FAQ
Who are PortraitFlip’s artists?
PortraitFlip employs over 250 artists from around the globe. They hail from the US, Canada, India, China, and Indonesia. Each is a master in at least one painting medium.
You can’t choose your artist, which means there is some variation in quality between different paintings you might receive. But you can feel confident that the company’s hiring policies and quality assurance practices will provide products you’ll love.
What material are the paintings painted on?
This will depend on the medium you choose. Oil and acrylic are painted on high-quality canvas, while pencil, charcoal, watercolor, and others are painted on paper.
How do I know my product was hand-painted and not printed?
You can tell! My acrylic painting not only smelled like paint when I unwrapped it, but I could see the paint texture clearly. And, while it looks very much like my proof photo, it is not an exact copy.
Our Experience With PortraitFlip
I have ordered pet portraits from a few other photo-to-print sites before, but never from one that claims to hand paint the portraits. So, I was really excited to get this product and see if that fact made a difference.
I chose a picture of my rescue cat, Makoa, from when he was just a kitten. He is only six months old now, but he already looks full-grown. I was excited to have his cute little kitten stage memorialized in a piece of art.
One of the first things I noticed as I unwrapped my new portrait, was that the box did not smell like printer ink. My previous pet portraits all had a subtle yet distinct ink smell since they were prints. This one smelled, without a doubt, like paint!
As soon as I unwrapped it from its protective coat of bubble wrap, shrink wrap, and corner protectors, I could immediately see the difference. Each brush stroke was evident. And the paint had a texture to it that you just don’t get from prints.
The painting is absolutely gorgeous. It looks just like the photo but with some key differences that really elevate it and transform it from picture to art.
For one, it has more highlights, which really makes Makoa pop off the canvas. And the background was given a little more character and texture which makes the whole piece look more interesting.
I was also happy to see that the artist captured Makoa’s damaged eye without drawing too much attention to it. He wouldn’t be “Makoa-Jack pirate cat” without that eye. But that doesn’t mean I want it to be the focal point of his portrait.
Overall, I am extremely happy with this painting. It now hangs in my daughter’s bathroom (because Makoa is her true love) and looks absolutely stunning. I get comments on it every time we have a guest over.
Conclusion
If you want to turn your pet into a work of art, don’t settle for print shops that use filters to digitize photos. Instead, I highly recommend looking at PortraitFlip. You will pay more for their services, but you just can’t beat the value or beauty of a hand-painted piece of art.
My acrylic painting of Makoa has truly brightened my house and brings a smile to my face every time I see it. Whether you’re looking to memorialize a lost pet or celebrate a furry family member, you won’t regret paying a little extra to get their likeness in a true masterpiece.
