Getting a Portrait of Your Dog – Should you Go Hand Painted or Digital?

Getting a portrait of your dog is one of the biggest growing trends among pet owners right now. Having a portrait of your family members may be common already, but dogs are becoming one of the most popular subjects for family portraits!

In the USA, there are around 90 million pet dogs, and so it’s hardly surprising that dog portraits are becoming so popular. Lots of people want to commemorate their favorite pooch and what better way than ordering a dog portrait to display in your home? There are lots of different types of pet portraits, and these include hand-painted and digital paintings. In this guide, we’ll be explaining the differences between each. We’ll also look at the advantages and disadvantages of each type of portrait style.

What Are Digital Portraits?

A digital portrait is a painting of a person or a pet that’s made using digital art software. Today, there are lots of different programs used by artists to create digital paintings and drawings. These can be a lot more convenient since they’re often faster to make, and any errors can quickly be undone. That doesn’t mean that digital portraits require less talent, however. The artist still needs to be incredibly talented to make the portrait look realistic.

Digital portraits can look very different from each other. There are lots of different techniques, programs, and brushstrokes that the artist can use. This leads to a lot of different varieties of styles, just like traditional art.

Digital portraits also don’t require a canvas. You can print the image onto other items, including t-shirts, mugs, and anything else you like. You can print hundreds of versions of the same picture, meaning you can create loads of brilliant gifts for your friends and family.

Are Hand-Painted Portraits Better?

The answer to this question depends on who you ask. It’s really down to a matter of opinion over which is best as both have their advantages and disadvantages. Most digital portraits look just as good if not better than their hand-painted counterparts. Some people simply prefer the fact that the artist creates the painting using traditional methods, however.

It really comes down to personal preference. But in terms of the quality, both hand-painted and digital portraits are comparable. A hand-painted portrait will have that authentic painting look. But digital portraits can still capture the effect of brushstrokes and dried acrylic or oil paint to look more realistic.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Digital Portraits

  • Pieces are generally easier and faster to produce. This means they’re often better valued and will be delivered to you faster.
  • Digital artwork often has a clean style that matches a lot of modern decoration.
  • You can print the digital portrait on anything, not just a canvas. Most digital portrait creators let you put your portrait on items, perfect as a gift for family members.
  • It’s now much easier to find digital portrait makers than traditional artists online.
    • May not look as authentic as a traditional portrait.
    • Often less versatile in the techniques the artist can use.
    • Digital portraits tend to be less unique, as there are no errors or imperfections.

 

Advantages and Disadvantages of Hand-Painted Portraits

  • Hand-painted portraits often look more unique and interesting thanks to slight errors and imperfections.
  • Traditional art has a specific look that is hard to capture using digital techniques. The portrait will look authentic when examined up close.
  • Traditional hand-painted portraits might be able to capture the character and personality of your pet better. But this depends more on the skill of the artist.
    • Hand-painted portraits tend to be more expensive as the materials such as paints, canvas, etc. affect the price.
    • Traditional portraits tend to take longer because they require a lot more care and attention to detail. If the artist makes a mistake, they can’t undo it in the press of a button.
    • The portrait can’t be copied or reproduced in any other format, so you won’t be able to print your portrait on gifts and items.