The Princess

The Princess portrait occupies the space between fairy tale and fine art: a flowing pastel gown with delicate floral embroidery, a sparkling crystal tiara that catches the last light of a golden sunset, a single rose held just so. The setting is a palace garden where roses bloom on stone balustrades and the light has that particular evening quality that makes everything look slightly enchanted.

The painting style is reminiscent of the great Victorian fairy-tale illustrations (Arthur Rackham, Edmund Dulac) applied to the compositional rigor of a formal portrait. It is soft without being vague, romantic without being sentimental, beautiful in a way that holds up to the scrutiny of close looking rather than only working at a distance.

Dogs with fine, gentle features tend to be particularly stunning in this style: Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Maltese, Bichons, Shih Tzus. Long-haired cats (Maine Coons, Norwegian Forest Cats, Persians) carry the floral embroidery and pastel palette with effortless grace. But this style also creates wonderful unexpected portraits: a Rottweiler as a princess, or a stocky British Shorthair cat in a tiara, lands somewhere between absurdist comedy and genuine charm.

This is our most-gifted style for daughters, granddaughters, mothers, and anyone who refers to their pet as their princess without irony. It works as a birthday gift, a Christmas present, or a Mother's Day piece for the person in your life whose dog or cat is their constant companion and best friend.