Welcome to Studio Ca•Gu

Thank you for taking an interest in commissioning a portrait.

​Custom portraits are available in 9.5 "x12", 12" x15.5 (most commonly chosen ), and 19.5" x 27.5". All of the portraits are drawn with high-quality pastel pencils on high-quality pastel paper. Prices start from $350 for a 9.5 "x12" pastel portrait and then the price increases with size and number of subjects.

Please ensure that the photo/photos are of high quality for the portrait to show as many details as possible. I will work with whatever images you have of an animal that has passed away; however, the result may not be as desirable with low-quality pictures or images with the subject distorted. If you still need photos, it may be worth taking some in the meantime.  

I will contact you for the next step once you have moved toward the top of my list. Once we have agreed on the photo and size, I will send you an agreement to sign and return, at which point a 50% deposit is required. This deposit is non-refundable unless an unlikely event prevents me from doing your piece. The entire balance will be due on completion of the portrait and before shipping (if applicable) 

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Photography Tips

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• Photos should be in focus at a high resolution. It is ideal if individual hair and details in the eyes are visible when zoomed in.​

• Photos of your animal should be taken in natural lighting; bright but overcast days are ideal. Avoid the use of flash or artificial lighting. Pay attention to shadows that may be cast on the subject. Try to avoid having the sun behind your subject. 

• Photos should be taken at eye level with your pet, with enough distance to avoid warping and distorting their features or creating a false perspective. Always try to include the whole head/chest/body of your subject, as the image can always be cropped if needed. 

The internet is a great place to find tips and hints for taking quality images of your animal. Here are a couple of helpful websites:

https://naturalhorsemansaddles.com/horse-portraits-with-smartphones/

https://expertphotography.com/dog-photography-tips/

If you are unsure about the quality of your photos, please send as many as you like in their original file size and format, and I will see if they are usable.  

Most importantly, the decision depends on what pose/expression you want from your animal as you know their personality and what portrays them best!

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