One of the questions I hear most often from clients who are new to commissioning a portrait is some version of this: Does it matter which medium I choose? What's the difference, really?
It's a good question, and the honest answer is: it depends. Both pastel and oil can produce a stunning portrait. But they do feel different — to paint, and to look at — and understanding those differences can help you choose the one that's right for your pet, your space, and what you're hoping to hold onto.
Pastel: My Primary Medium
Pastel is the medium I work in most — it's what I reach for first, and it's what most of my clients choose. Soft pastels are applied by hand directly to the panel, building up color in layers. The result has a particular warmth and softness to it — a quality that suits animals beautifully, especially their fur, their eyes, and the quiet way light falls across them.
Pastel portraits are created in my Burlington studio, where the light is good and the squirrels outside the window provide occasional inspiration.
Winnie and Rita
Pastel portrait
Oil: A Different Kind of Depth
I do some of my oil portrait work at home — it's a medium I've been expanding into, and one I find exciting for the different qualities it brings to a portrait. Oil paint has a luminosity and depth that is distinct from pastel — colors can be blended more fluidly, and the finished surface has a richness that many clients find striking.
Oil portraits tend to suit clients who want something that reads as more traditional or formal — the kind of piece that anchors a room. They're also a strong choice when a client wants a larger work, as oil scales beautifully.
Sammy
Oil Painting
So How Do You Choose?
Here's how I think about it when a client asks:
Choose pastel if you love a soft, warm quality in the finished piece — if your pet has particularly expressive fur or eyes, or if the portrait will hang in a room with natural light. Pastel is also my most requested medium, which means I have the most experience bringing pets to life in it.
Choose oil if you're drawn to something with more depth and richness — a piece that feels weighty and lasting in a more traditional sense. Oil is also worth considering for larger commissions or for a pet with a coat that has strong contrasts and bold markings.
Not sure? That's completely fine. When you reach out, just tell me about your pet and your space and we'll figure it out together. I'm happy to make a recommendation.
A Note on Size and Price
Both mediums are available in a range of sizes. Most of my commissions are 8x10 or 11x14, though I work in other sizes as well. Pricing varies by size and medium — for pastel sizing and pricing visit the commissions page. For oil paintings contact me and I'll walk you through the options.
