The Best Way To Memorialize A Cat: A Cat Painting By PortraitFlip! (Sponsored Guest Post)

It is very difficult to move on with your life  after losing a cat.  Our beloved feline friends leave paw prints on the hearts of every pet parent!

Pet memorials help a lot in this unfortunate situation. Most everyone understands how much people are affected by your loss and you also get a reason to survive.

Memorial gifts can really soothe the pain that a cat parent has and give them something to cling onto.

How Does A Cat Memorial Portrait Help?

Cat Charcoal -Portrait Flip

One of the hardest parts of losing a cat, (but it can also bring comfort),  is thinking back over your cats' history and remembering all of the things you and your feline friend did together. Eventually the pain becomes easier to bear.  

Thinking of the deceased cat is normal,  it is important to let your emotions out. Eventually, while it will always hurt, the pain becomes easier to bear. 

A cat memorial portrait of the purry friend can be a lot of help.  It allows you to emotionally connect to it,  and talk your heart out in front of it. It justifies the blank spaces which were created after the cat left you.

Looking at the painting will be of great help to subconsciously soothe the mind.

Something non-commercial like a handmade painting has a very pure thought behind it and acts as a great medium to connect with.

How Can You Get A Painting Easily From A Custom Photo?

Cat Oil Painting-Portrait Flip

The folks at PortraitFlip are serving people with genuine handmade paintings from photos, that they then deliver right to their doorstep! 

They have made it very simple to cater to tailored orders with their 3 step online ordering service:

1. Upload the photos of your cat.
2.    Select one medium from Oil, Charcoal, Pencil, Watercolor, Colored Pencil or Acrylic.
3.    Select one framing option among Rolled, Gallery Wrapped or a Frame and place the order.

YOU CAN ALSO ADD THE NAME OF YOUR CAT

PortraitFlip’s executives will guide you through by suggesting the best photo, they will make any changes that you may want.

They feature a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee so you can be assured of getting what you want.

They offer Free Shipping Worldwide and an option of Express Delivery to cater to rush orders.

One of the best things about PortraitFlip is that they understand the emotional value of the painting which makes them create a painting which you would definitely like to hold onto for your whole life!

In A Nutshell:

Cat Pencil Sketch Portrait Flip

Memorials have an enormous impact in helping people heal from the loss of their pet.

When you lose a beloved pet don't make huge expectations of yourself. Eventually you will be able to get back into your routine. 

Something like a cat memorial portrait by PortraitFlip can be a huge help in the healing process. It will help you to stabilize the whole journey of moving on!

During this difficult time spend time with those who bring you comfort and be gentle with yourself!! 

Find PortraitFlip:

Website: www.portraitflip.com

YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCWeM6IABe4gS1dp19BQP56g

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/portraitflip/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/FlipPortrait/?ref=br_rs

Twitter: https://twitter.com/portraitflip?lang=en

FTC disclosure: this is a sponsored guest post that was written by Portrait Flip with some editing done by me. I received a small fee for featuring their product.

Winner!! Custom Canvas Pet Portrait By Petsy and the Petsy Indiegogo Campaign!

Thank you to all who entered our give-away sponsored by:

In total there were 61 LEGAL ENTRIES...(the 61 includes the bonus entries, anyone who came back and commented multiple times, those comments were disqualified.) Only the FIRST comment was entered.

So, out of the 61 comments, I entered the numbers on random.org and the lucky comment number that was chosen is #29

The kitty who was lucky #29 is:

DEZIZ!!!

and her blog is:

DEZIZ WORLD

HUGE CONCATULATIONS!!

WE KNOW HER MAMA

IS GOING TO LOVE THIS!!!

TO THOSE WHO DIDN'T WIN
THERE IS A 
Petsy Indiegogo Campaign:

CLICK TO VISIT THE

PETSY INDIEGOGO CAMPAIGN

TO SEE THE AVAILABLE PERKS!

Custom Canvas Pet Portraits By Petsy are "Painted Love" (Give-Away!)

Heads up my pet friends! Mother's Day is right around the corner! Can't think of the PERFECT GIFT for the pet-loving mother in your life? I have you covered!! (Oh and you can gift a pet lover this for ANY holiday, not just Mother's Day!) I was thrilled when I was contacted by Kassy, one of the founders of Petsy, the creators of custom canvas portraits of pets that are ANYTHING but ordinary. These custom canvas portraits are vibrant, fun and EXTRAORDINARY!!

If you are anything like me, there is nothing worse than purchasing art that depicts a generic cat or dog. A cat  or dog that is NOT YOUR cat or dog. Sure, it may be cute, but it doesn't convey the heart and soul of your pet. BECAUSE IT ISN'T YOUR PET. Your artwork, while nice to look at, won't strike a chord, it won't resonate, it won't touch your soul. The personalized pet portraits from Petsy WILL RESONATE WITH YOU, they will make you smile, they will touch your soul. Why?  Because they are unique, one-of-a-kind  portraits of YOUR PETS!

Why Was Petsy Created?

"It all started with a penguin."
"Or should we say, a cat called Penguino."
Alex and Kassy  are a brother / sister duo from New York who realized pretty quickly that their cat Penguino was something special. They  started an Instagram account to showcase his extreme cuteness, and the account exploded in popularity. Before they knew it he had fans all over the globe eager to check in to see Penguino’s daily antics.

"Penguino" Courtesy of Petsy

Inspired by his impact, they began searching for a way to showcase his beauty. The options were limited: generic Tuxedo Cat decor, or artists who’d commission a piece for an exuberant amount of money and long lead times.

So they started making their own.

"Penguino" Courtesy of Petsy

Using Alex’s background as a software engineer with Kassy’s background in graphic design, they set out to create a platform that would transform photos of furry friends into a brand new, sentimental concept:

"Painted Love."

"And that’s how Petsy was born. "

PETSY'S MISSION STATEMENT

"Our mission is to showcase our beloved pets in a new light. Using a mix of machine learning, sentiment mapping, and human-guided design, we are able to capture the very essence of your pet and his personality.  The result?  An experience of Painted Love, unlike you’ve ever felt before."

Petsy Personalization Of YOUR Pet!

One of MANY things I love about Petsy is that their artwork is FUN!! It captures the personality and essence of your pet with bold and fun colors!  All of the canvasses are printed with vibrant, fade-resistant ink!

Ready for this? Your canvas will arrive stretched and mounted on a wooden frame, ready to be hung!! No Assembly Required!! An ENORMOUS PLUS for someone like me and I bet...a number of you are the same!

How Does The Ordering Process Work?

Choose Your Canvas Size

There are 4 different  sizes available:

 8×12″, 16×24″, 24×36″, 40×40″

Choose Your Pet Profile

(You can have up to 8 pets on one canvas but they all must appear in one photo)

Pick A Canvas Style

For inspiration visit their photo gallery.
You can choose from landscape, portrait, or a square-shaped canvas

Choose Your Photo

For me, that was rough. For the purpose of my reviews I submitted a few photos of Cody and a few of  Dakota.

A HUGE PLUS  for me was that I could use  photos from my phone OR my social media!! I didn't have to worry about having fancy, perfect photos, and you won't have to worry about that either! For me that was an ENORMOUS RELIEF and made everything extra easy-peasy!!  You don’t have to stress about finding the perfect photo; the Petsy designers will contact you if they need additional pictures. (Take a look at their  photo guidelines here. )

I didn't select ANYTHING. I wanted to leave the ENTIRE creative process in the talented hands of Kassy and the team at Petsy.  After all, THEY are the artists and I wanted to completely respect their talent, and I was excited to see how my pets would be portrayed. I didn't want the stress of choosing for myself.

In the photo below, the photo that I sent of Cody is on the left and his canvas portrait is on the right.

The photo of the canvas portrait that I took does NOT do it justice. In person it is simply exquisite and it makes me smile. 

After placing an order, your design will be ready for review in less than 72 hours. Below is the proof that I received of Cody's canvas.  The proof DOES show the vibrancy and is true to what I received, unlike the photos that I took.

Cody's canvas size is an 8x8 

You can also have them make revisions on the canvas after you view your proof. I didn't make any changes on Dakota's, but I did on Cody's. On the first proof that I received Cody's eye color was a little off, and we actually changed it maybe 2 or 3 times. Cody has clear green eyes and Petsy did capture the color purrfectly.  The background color I let them use their imaginations and create a piece based on their talent. I am so happy because I LOVE the colors they chose to accent my handsome boy(s)!  

The handling of my changes couldn't have been easier!  I received communication from Petsy EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, more importantly, in a FRIENDLY, PATIENT, PROFESSIONAL AND CARING MANNER!

Once you confirm the artwork, your Petsy will ship directly to your doorstep via UPS.
When I say the ENTIRE process was stress-free, professional, friendly and fast, I am NOT exaggerating!

Whether you have a concrete idea, or, like me, you want the Petsy artists to inspire you with their own ideas, they will bring the spirit of your pet to life on a GORGEOUS, one-of-a-kind canvas.
When my canvasses arrived, I shrieked with joy and...I had tears in my eyes. From the photos I submitted, Kassy chose (without my influencing her decision), my two favorites photos of my boys. The only sadness I feel is that the photos on this blog do NOT do these canvasses justice. They are EXQUISITE.

The photo below shows where my portraits are hanging in our kitchen, (the ugly painting on the right is one that I did at one of those painting parties).  The color of our kitchen walls are actually more green than these photos convey. I hung them in our kitchen so I can see them first thing in the morning, at every meal, EVERY SINGLE DAY. They are the most BEAUTIFUL pieces of artwork of my boys that I own. Their personalities shine through these portraits. I will cherish them always.

When you order your canvas you will be as thrilled and as emotional as I was. I am CERTAIN you will be. Using your guidance, the Petsy artists will digitally paint each order to create a stunning, personal work of art. Just like your pet, your Petsy is unique! REMEMBER:Petsy never uses templates or filters. Their team has years of experience in graphic design and computer vision, allowing their art to evolve and innovate. Whether you want a timeless classic, something trendy, or a modern conversation piece, they will bring your vision to life!

Get Social With Petsy!

Petsy on Facebook 
Petsy on Instagram

GIVE-AWAY!!!

Kassy is kind enough to offer our readers WHO RESIDE IN THE U.S. AND ARE 18 AND OVER the chance to win a 8x12 canvas! (ONE WINNER an approximate $100+ VALUE!!)

I normally would use Rafflecopter for the give-away but today I will make it easier (for those who don't like Rafflecopter ).

JUST  LEAVE A COMMENT THAT CLEARLY STATES THAT YOU WISH TO BE ENTERED!!! (IF YOU DO NOT CLEARLY STATE THAT YOU WISH TO BE ENTERED INTO THE GIVE-AWAY YOU WILL NOT BE ENTERED). 

EARN BONUS ENTRIES FOR LIKING PETSY ON FACEBOOK AND FOLLOWING THEM ON INSTAGRAM (I linked to their accounts above),  AND STATE IN YOUR COMMENT THAT YOU DID SO (INCLUDE YOUR INSTAGRAM NAME AS WELL).

 Winner will be chosen by random.org and will be announced on or around May 9th, 2018. (The Give-away is open now and will end May 7th, 2018 at 5pm EST) Good luck!

 

 This  review and give-away is sponsored by Petsy. I received an 8x8 canvas of Cody and a 8x10 of Dakota. I also received monetary compensation for writing my reviews and administering my give-aways on both of my blogs. 

Caturday Art-Meet Mellie!!

This post is loooong overdue! A few months ago, while at a BlogPaws Chat I met the talented artist, Mellie Test. Someone had won a prize of a portrait of their pet that went unclaimed, and Mellie asked if I would like one done of Cody. Would I? OF COURSE!

In this photo are some of the other pets Mellie has done, if you look carefully there is an original photo of Cody and right next to it is his portrait!

Photo Courtesy of Heartfull Pets

She also used the photo on the left that is rather blurry right here, but I love the finished  portrait which is on the right.

Photo Courtesy of Heartfull Pets

Isn't it just great! I asked Mellie to share some info about herself and here you go, in her own words!

I've always loved art, but stopped considering myself an artist because I don't think photorealism is much fun - I have my own style. This fall, while working at Pet360 (I managed the network site, the PetMD email newsletter and did all the conference artwork (print and web) for last year's BlogPawsConference as well as installing network ad tags and pretty

much anything else they needed :) , since a few of my coworkers (fellow "Pack" members)  would bring their pups into the office, I finally decided to use them as inspiration and started doing portraits in my spare time at home and gifting them to my coworkers. As word spread around the office, I

started getting requests and gladly creating them!

I started (sheepishly) posting my work on my personal Facebook page, and started getting commissions from friends and acquaintances, especially around the holiday season.

It's something I really enjoy, and I love that people seem to really appreciate them.  I just started playing around with putting portraits on wooden necklaces into which I drill holes and attach string and clasps, and

they've gotten rave reviews so far, as well!

You can find me here:

http://facebook.com/HeartfullPets 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/HeartFullPetPortrait 

I am on Instagram as myself but usually post in-progress and/or final 

portrait pics: 

http://instagram.com/mellietest 

VISIT THE BLOG HOP HERE!

Wordless Wed. A Purrfectly Pawfect Portrait!

Dakota and Cody painted by Ashley Beech Reid 2010

The above portrait was painted by Ashley Beech Reid

It is a retirement gift from me to my husband

I  couldn't be more elated with the results!

Ashley  is highly professional

and her work is extremely affordable!

Commission a pet portrait of your Pug's mug or your Persian's puss and Ashley will donate 10% to the animal shelter/rescue/cause of your choice.
  For more information  visit www.ashleyreid.net

Pet Portraits To Purr About!

There is a gem that is hiding on Facebook and on the net that I am so happy that I found! Her name is Ashley Reid (on Facebook she can be found under "Ashley Beech Reid") and she is a "Pet Portrait Artist".  There are many out there but in my book Ashley is heads and tails above the rest. Why? Well one reason is that I am the daughter of a talented artist myself (and I dabble in sketching) and I KNOW good stuff when I see it, the other is that Ashley isn't just working to benefit herself, she will donate 10% of any commission/gift certificate purchase to the animal shelter, rescue, or cause of your choice! She already has made 19 donations since Feb 27th, 2010.....that's no small kibble.


Ashley will do portraits of your cat or dog from photographs that you send her and the results are pure Purrrrrfection!!

Ashley grew up in Beaver County, PA and  possesses a BSA in Art Education and a Master's in Art (both earned at Edinboro University) and she works in a variety of mediums (mostly Acrylic and Oil paint) and her work is available in a wide variety of sizes and pricing.

When I found Ashley I pounced on the opportunity to have Dakota and Cody together in one painting, showcasing their special relationship, painted for posterity, to have a unique and original memory that I will cherish forever. I can enjoy it that much more knowing that I have benefited some animals in the process.

To contact Ashley or view her extensive gallery online visit http://www.ashleyreid.net/

Do you know another artist or a unique cat product that you would like to see featured in my blog? You can comment directly through this blog, send me a message through Facebook (Caren Osrin Gittleman) or follow me on Twitter with a direct message at http://twitter.com/CatChatCaren