Feedback for Pet Portrait Paintings

My white cat Mona was the second kitty Melissa had painted. I was so impressed with her painting of my black and white cat Gobi that I commissioned her to paint Mona. She caught this little, frisky cat’s stare into the camera, which I made of her while she sat by the window in Texas. Bold, direct, confident, little Mona had all the characteristics of a Power Woman and Melissa captured that.
Thomas Richards
November 17, 2021

Hi Melissa, The portrait of Jake arrived today, and I’m thrilled! It is so beautiful! It looks exactly like him. My husband is going to be so surprised next week, if I can wait that long to give it to him. I only wish I had more pets for you to paint:) Thank you for your wonderful work! You were a pleasure to do business with, and I will recommend you to all of my friends and family.

Melissa, I felt that if I could just hold my breath long enough she’d move, and come back to me; but I know that cannot be. Thank you for creating a beautiful piece of art that I shall treasure always.

I COULD NOT BE MORE THRILLED at the painting you created for us, Melissa. You really captured the personality and essence of our kitty and I love the way everything translates through your painting style. Thank you!

This didn’t bring tears to my eyes when she sent me the proof, but tonight it did when she shared on her page. This woman does amazing paintings and we were blessed for her to do another one for us. She painted Hank after he passed. If you want to honor your beloved pet in a forever one of a kind painting she is who you need to talk to. She captures each pet exactly how they are. It’s truly amazing how life like she gets them. She is so caring and will talk with you about everything you want out of the painting. We are grateful to her and her business.

Melissa rocks the party! Sometimes when a friend loses a pet, I send Melissa some pictures and have her work her magic making a small momento gift for my friends. So I’ve probably ordered half a dozen pictures from her, and without exception each recipient has been blown away by her talent. Most have been brought to tears. And while most of Melissa’s “first pass” pictures are spot on and need no tweaking, when a few tweaks are called for, Melissa has been so cooperative in making adjustments. I just can’t say enough good things about her. She’s one good egg.

We were amazed when we pulled the wrapping off of the portrait you did of our late, beloved Chewy. No detail was overlooked: the colors, our special requests, etc. During such a difficult time in our lives, it also meant so much to us that you completed this special project so timely. You have not only given us a piece of art, but something that we will obviously treasure for a lifetime

Hi Melissa, I just received one of your paintings from my son as a birthday gift. I am absolutely amazed by your talent and ability to capture the details of my two babies. One is recently deceased, so of course it took everything I had to hold back the tears. Thank you for bringing my babies to life of canvas. This is a gift I will treasure for many years to come!

Melissa was amazing to work with. The portrait came out better than I could have ever imagined. I ordered for a friend whose pet passed away. I cannot wait until she receives! It is so life like’

I had wanted a portrait of our pups for a couple of years, but hadn’t found anyone that I thought did great work, and was reasonable. I started searching the Internet, and came across your site, Melissa. After looking through all the information on your website, and seeing your prices, I knew I had found the right person to do the portrait. I completed the order, emailed some pictures and heard back from you almost immediately. After taking a few more pictures of Baxter to go with the view of the picture of Bailey, then choosing the background color, we were set. I was amazed at how quickly your turnaround time was, and how beautiful the portrait turned out. Then within a week of the completion, I received it. I can’t express how much my husband and I love the portrait. Thank you so much for this priceless gift for a couple that loves their dogs like children. I will be happy to recommend you to anyone!! Thanks again!

She cried so hard when she opened it.
She absolutely loves it.
We can’t thank you enough. So nice of you!!!! Thank you !! Thank you!
It meant the world to her. You are a Wonderful artist!!!!
Thank you!!

If only the other artists I had contacted over the past few years had been like Melissa. I wondered why I had earned such good fortune-seriously. One local artist did an excellent job a few years ago of Gobi and Mona, but when I recontacted a year afterwards, she did not reply. Another artist I contacted about commissioning a portrait exchanged e-mails with me but later discontinued contact. The communication process must have been too troublesome for her. The client, myself, had asked too many questions, perhaps, but that is speculative. It may have been for another reason. An artist apparently well-known whom I sent an e-mail to a few months ago did not reply. I wrote a letter to her; e-mails do not always go through, why not try a letter. No reply came. So different from communicating with Melissa.
My first query to her brought an affirmative response. She was ready to consider the work I proposed. When I sent pictures and she needed others for a different perspective, I sent those. Finally Melissa was ready to go to work and it wasn’t long after that a painting was ready to be shipped. This artist works and that is very much appreciated these days.
What about the painting? See for yourselves. She capture the essence of Gobi, the precious boy I met first on September 1, 2004, in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. He lived with me in two countries overseas and was shipped to Texas where we lived blissfully for years and drove with me and his sister Mona to Alaska a few years ago. He passed on August 29, 2021, going to a new haven. He relives with me through the painting.
My professor, a lover of cats as I am, gave me permission to share a portion of her message in this review after Melissa included a scan of her finished work which I sent to her. She wrote, quote, “Das eigentliche Bild von Gobi und das nachgemachte Gemälde haben mich sehr gefreut. Die Künstlerin hat die Schönheit, Gutmütigkeit und Tiefe von Gobi sehr begabt porträtiert.” She wrote that the painting of Gobi done from the photograph (which I also sent to the professor) pleased her very much. The artist-“Die Künstlerin”-captured the beauty, the good-naturedness and the depth of Gobi, in the very talented portrait.
I couldn’t be happier. Thanks to Melissa.
Thomas Richards
Wasilla, Alaska
October 19, 2021

My husband had no idea what he was getting for Christmas this past year – so when he opened up the painting of Jesse – you can see the joy in his face. The portrait of Jesse was his favorite present and how could it not be? Melissa did a great job in capturing the true essence of Jesse – that face, that gorgeous Golden face. We hang the portrait proudly in our home.

Thank you for such a beautiful tribute of my sweet Kernie-poo. I received this on my birthday and it brought tears to my eyes, Losing him suddenly was probably on of my greatest losses to date. You captured the joy and laughter he brought into my life everyday. His happy face hangs proudly in my office and I’ve received nothing but wonderful feedback from friends that have seen it (I posted it to FB). Thank you as well for the donation to Austin Boxer Rescue. They are an amazing organization that does wonderful work and brought us our other baby Major (I’m sure you’ll be getting a request for him in the future).

I couldn’t have asked for a better experience!! Melissa took the time to work with me while I struggled to find the best picture to honor Jack. We lost him very unexpectedly and she was patient and kind while I went back and forth doubting my decision. She kept me posted on her progress and was extremely responsive. Without a doubt-the best!

I want to personally thank Melissa for the beautiful portrait of Mandy and Ella for my friend Kelly’s 30th birthday. I was at first hesitant to order a online pet portrait, however working with Melissa from start to end was a pleasure and the end product was beautiful! I notified Melissa about 5 days before my friend’s birthday and she quickly got the portrait completed and she shipped it to me to make it on time! I was so amazed that she could do this in a quick turnaround and it’s rare that you get this type of customer service. Melissa truly cares about her customers and the portrait really captured the personality of the two dogs. Thank you for everything and your work is absolutely amazing! I will definitely pass your name onto fellow pet owners. Thank you so very much!

Yay! Lola’s painting came in today. I love it so much and Lola loves it too! Hanging up in my home right now. If you have a fur baby you want to get a painting done of, definitely check her out!

 

I enjoyed working with Melissa every step of the way! She is professional, responsive, and utterly accountable for her work. Furthermore, she has an exceptional talent for capturing the personality and character of family pets, which is an invaluable gift! The portraits of our beloved dogs will remain a cherished item in our household for years to come. Thank you, Melissa, for all of your hard work!