As a picture framer and pet portrait artist, I’ve had the privilege of handling thousands of artworks over the years. But nothing brings a design counter to life quite like a pet portrait. Whether it is a hand-painted canvas commission, a sleek modern digital illustration, or a beautiful high-resolution photograph from a professional shoot, these pieces carry an incredible amount of emotional weight.
Our pets aren't just animals; they are family members. And when we choose to hang their images on our walls, we aren't just decorating - we are celebrating a best friend or preserving a cherished memory.
Because pet art and pet photography are so deeply personal, a generic, off-the-shelf frame rarely does them justice. Over the years, I’ve framed countless painted and photographed pets, and I’ve learned exactly how to use framing design to make their personalities shine.
If you have a pet portrait or photo ready for the wall, here is my insider guide to choosing the perfect frame, mat board, and glass combination.
Matching the Frame to Your Pet’s Coat and Personality
The first design choice is selecting the timber frame profile. A great rule of thumb is to let your pet’s natural coat and personality guide your frame selection. You want a timber tone that complements their fur, rather than clashing with it.
- Soft, natural oaks: Natural Australian oak profiles look spectacular with light, warm coats. If you are framing an image of a Golden Retriever, a Cavoodle, a ginger cat, or a palomino horse, the soft grain of oak harmonizes beautifully with their fur, creating a warm, organic look.
- Rich walnuts and mochas: Deep, dark timber frames ground darker coats beautifully. They provide a sophisticated boundary for Black Labs, Rottweilers, chocolate Pugs, or dark tabby cats, pulling out the rich, hidden undertones in their fur.
- Minimalist blacks and whites: If your pet has a striking coat like a Dalmatian, a Border Collie, a grey Weimaraner, or a stark white Siamese cat, stick to a crisp monochrome frame. A slim matte black or a satin white frame allows their natural high-contrast markings to take centre stage without visual distraction.
Pet Art vs. Pet Photos
People often wonder if they should frame a custom painting the same way they frame a candid photograph. The answer is no. Custom art and lifelike photography require different design treatments to truly look their best.
For Custom Pet Art (Illustrations, Oils, Pastels and Watercolours)
Custom art is highly stylised. Digital illustrations lean toward graphic minimalism, while watercolours, oils and pastels are rich in texture. An example of this traditional texture can be seen in the pastel and charcoal works of my pet portraits, whose detailed commissions capture a pet's individual spirit.
Art thrives when it has room to breathe. For flat prints and watercolours, I often recommend a wider, more generous mat board or even double-mat to separate the art from the frame. If you’ve commissioned a hand-painted canvas portrait, opt for a canvas floating frame. This is a specialised timber frame that leaves a thin, deliberate gap around the edge of the canvas, making the painting look like it is suspended inside the frame.
For Pet Photography (Professional Shoots and Candid Snaps)
Photographs capture raw, lifelike detail - the glint in their eye, the texture of their nose, the whiskers on their chin. To keep the focus entirely on that expression, stick to clean, modern presentation.
A slim, contemporary frame paired with a stark white or off-white mat board creates a classic gallery finish. If you are framing a casual phone photo that is slightly blurry or low-resolution, here is my favourite pro-tip: convert the photo to black-and-white and pair it with a dramatic, dark charcoal mat board. This instantly masks any digital imperfections and elevates a candid phone snap into an artistic, high-end gallery masterpiece.
Protecting Your Pet Portrait With UV Glass
Pet portraits are highly sentimental, and quite often, they are created as memorials for a beloved pet who has passed away. Because these pieces are irreplaceable, protecting them from environmental damage is vital.
Most people place pet frames on desks, bedside tables, mantels, or living room walls - areas that receive a lot of harsh Australian sunlight. Standard picture framing glass acts like a mirror, catching harsh glare and making it difficult to see the portrait from different angles. More importantly, standard glass lets UV light pass straight through, which will cause your printed photos to fade, shift colours, or turn brittle within just a few years.
When framing something this close to your heart, I always advise upgrading to Tru Vue UltraVue® Glass. It features an optical anti-reflective coating that makes the glass virtually invisible, eliminating reflections so you can see your pet’s face perfectly from anywhere in the room. Plus, it filters out up to 70% of harmful UV rays, ensuring your portrait stays as vibrant as the day it was made.
The Ultimate Memorial Incorporating Collars, Tags, and Mementos
If you are creating a memorial for a late pet, you don't have to limit yourself to just a flat photograph. One of the most beautiful things we do at Frame Today is build custom memorabilia shadow boxes and multi-opening matboard designs that tell a complete story.
A shadow box frame is a deep frame that allows us to mount three-dimensional objects alongside a photo or artwork. We can cleanly mount your pet’s actual collar, their engraved name tag, a favourite small toy, or even a moulded paw print next to their portrait.
Our team uses specialised, non-invasive mounting techniques (like hand-stitching with archival thread) to secure the items safely without using harsh glues or adhesives that could damage the mementos. This turns a simple photo into a deeply comforting, high-end family heirloom that beautifully preserves your pets legacy.
Bring Your Best Friend's Portrait to Life
If you have just received a hand painted pet portrait, uncovered a stunning photo on your phone, or want to create a beautiful memorial display, the best way to choose a design is to see it in person.
Bring your pet artwork or photos into your nearest Frame Today store. Our expert consultants will lay your piece down on the design counter, and together, we can play with different timber grains, mat board layouts, and shadow box depths until we create a frame that perfectly captures the unique spirit of your best friend.
