Guides & ideas
The ArtPixio blog
memorial
How to remember a pet you've lost: gentle ways to honour them
Losing a pet is losing family. Here are quiet, lasting ways to remember them – from keepsakes to a portrait made from your favourite photo.
13 June 2026
guide
The Best Pet Photos for Wall Art: Lighting, Angle and Focus
Learn how to take the best pet photos for portrait wall art. Practical tips on lighting, angle, focus and expression — plus how to rescue an older photo.
12 June 2026
gift
The best gifts for dog lovers that aren't tacky
Skip the novelty mug. Here are genuinely thoughtful gifts for dog lovers – including one made from a photo of their actual dog.
12 June 2026
guide
How to Photograph Your Pet for a Portrait
Simple tips for the best photo for a pet portrait: natural light, eye level, sharp eyes, and a clear face. Your phone is all you need.
9 June 2026
guide
How to Take the Best Photos of Black Pets
How to photograph a black dog or black cat without losing detail. Soft side light, a catchlight, and exposing up keep dark coats rich, not flat.
8 June 2026
styles
Oil vs Watercolour vs Charcoal: Which Pet Portrait Style Suits Your Pet
Oil vs watercolour pet portrait, plus charcoal and more — a plain-spoken guide to matching the right art style to your pet's coat, colour, photo and the feeling you want.
8 June 2026
guide
Canvas vs Poster vs Framed Pet Portrait: How to Choose
An honest guide to the print options for your AI pet portrait – real gallery canvas, framed canvas or poster. When each one suits, and how to size it for your wall.
7 June 2026
guide
Are AI Pet Portraits Any Good? An Honest Answer
Yes, it is AI – and we say so. Here is what AI does well with pet portraits, where its limits are, and why seeing yours before you pay removes the risk.
6 June 2026
styles
Which Art Style Suits Your Pet? A Friendly Guide
Watercolour, oil, regal, charcoal and more – a warm walk through our pet portrait styles and which pets and looks each one suits. Try any free before you pay.
5 June 2026
gift
The Best Gifts for Cat Lovers (That Aren't Naff)
Thoughtful, non-tacky gift ideas for cat people – from a custom canvas portrait of their cat to small treats they'll actually use. A warm gift guide.
4 June 2026
memorial
Pet Memorial Ideas: Meaningful Ways to Remember a Pet
Thoughtful, specific pet memorial ideas to honor a beloved dog or cat — from keepsakes and rituals to lasting canvas portraits that capture who they really were.
4 June 2026
memorial
Pet Sympathy Gift Ideas: Thoughtful Ways to Comfort Someone Whose Pet Has Died
Gentle, dignified ideas for supporting a grieving pet owner – what to say, what genuinely helps, and thoughtful keepsake gifts, including a custom portrait of their pet.
3 June 2026
guide
The Most Popular UK Dog Breeds: A Friendly Roundup
A genuinely informative guide to the most popular dog breeds in the UK – with a sentence of real character on each, from the Labrador to the Cavapoo.
2 June 2026
memorial
What to Write in a Pet Sympathy Card: Messages That Actually Comfort
Real, specific pet sympathy card messages for dogs, cats, and small pets — what to say, what to avoid, and how to sign off when words feel impossible.
31 May 2026
memorial
Coping With the Loss of a Pet: A Gentle, Practical Guide
Coping with loss of a pet is real grief. A warm, practical guide to the first days, hard decisions, kids and other pets, and ways to remember them.
27 May 2026
gift
Pet Portrait Gift Guide: Who It's Perfect For (and Who to Skip)
A practical pet portrait gift guide: exactly who loves one, who to skip, which style and size to pick, and how to nail the gift even on short notice.
23 May 2026
guide
Pet Portrait Size Guide: How Big Should It Be?
A practical pet portrait size guide: real measurements, wall-distance rules, and room-by-room picks so your canvas looks right, not too small or too big.
19 May 2026
guide
Where to Hang a Pet Portrait in Your Home: A Practical Room-by-Room Guide
Where to hang a pet portrait: room-by-room ideas, the right hanging height, light and frame tips, and placement for memorial pieces — practical, honest advice.
15 May 2026
guide
How to Photograph a Fluffy or Long-Haired Pet
Learn how to photograph a fluffy pet: lighting, angles, and settings that capture every wisp of fur so your long-haired dog or cat looks like themselves.
11 May 2026
guide
Multiple Pets in One Portrait: How It Works
Want all your pets in one portrait? Here's how multi-pet portraits actually work — photo tips, layout choices, styles, and how to preview before you pay.
7 May 2026
gift
Personalised Pet Gifts That Aren't Tacky: A Buyer's Guide
A practical guide to choosing personalised pet gifts that feel thoughtful, not tacky — what to avoid, what lasts, and how to get a likeness that's actually right.
3 May 2026
gift
Anniversary Gifts Featuring a Couple's Pet: A Practical Guide
Looking for an anniversary gift with your pet at the heart of it? Here's how to choose a meaningful couple-and-pet portrait, photos that work, and styles to consider.
29 April 2026
gift
Housewarming Gift Ideas With a Pet Portrait
Looking for a housewarming gift pet lovers will actually hang? Here's how to turn their dog or cat photo into a canvas portrait — sizes, styles, and timing tips.
25 April 2026
guide
How AI Pet Portraits Work (And Why Honesty Matters)
A plain-spoken guide to how AI pet portraits work — from photo to printed canvas — plus why honesty about AI matters and how to get a result that truly looks like your pet.
21 April 2026
guide
Pet Portrait vs Pet Photography: Which Is Right for You?
Pet portrait vs photography: an honest, practical guide to which captures your pet best, what each costs you in time and money, and how to choose with confidence.
17 April 2026
guide
How to Create a Pet Portrait From an Old or Low-Quality Photo
Turn a blurry, faded, or low-res snapshot into a pet portrait from an old photo. Practical fixes for grainy, dark, or pixelated pet pictures — what works and what doesn't.
13 April 2026
gift
Christmas Gifts for Pet Owners: Ideas That Actually Land
Real, specific Christmas gifts for pet owners — from practical kit to a canvas portrait of their pet. A buying guide that helps you pick the right gift for the right person.
9 April 2026
gift
Mother's Day Gifts for Dog Moms and Cat Moms: A Practical Guide
Thoughtful Mother's Day gifts for dog moms and cat moms, with real ideas by budget, timing, and personality — plus how to choose a gift that actually lasts.
5 April 2026
gift
Father's Day Gifts Featuring the Family Dog (That Dad Will Actually Keep)
Looking for a Father's Day gift dog dads will love? Real, specific ideas built around the family dog, plus a photo checklist and a no-pressure way to preview a canvas portrait.
1 April 2026
gift
Gifts for Someone Who Just Adopted a Pet: A Practical, Thoughtful Guide
The best gift for a new pet owner isn't random toys. Here's a practical guide to genuinely useful, thoughtful presents for someone who just adopted a pet.
28 March 2026
guide
How to Turn a Phone Photo Into Wall Art (Without the Guesswork)
A practical guide to turn a phone photo into wall art: how to pick and shoot the right shot, choose a style, size it for your wall, and print on real canvas.
24 March 2026
gift
Pet Portrait Etiquette: How to Gift a Portrait of Someone's Pet
A practical guide to gifting a pet portrait: when it's appropriate, how to get a good photo discreetly, choosing a style, and handling memorial gifts with care.
20 March 2026