Custom Pet Portraits
Draw portraits of people’s pets from photos, delivered as prints or digital files.
- Ages
- 10–12
- Startup budget
- $55–$170
- Time per week
- About 4 hours
- Parent involvement
- Moderate
- Preparation
- Some prep
- Type
- Product
- Where to sell
- In person & online
- Time to start
- 1–2 weeks to build a sample portfolio
About this idea
People adore their pets, and a portrait of their own dog or cat drawn by a young artist is a gift they’ll treasure.
Portraits are commissions: each one is made for a specific customer. That teaches kids about deadlines, feedback and pricing their time.
A great fit for
- Confident young artists
- Animal lovers
- Kids ready to work to a deadline
What you’ll need
| Item | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| Drawing appMany good options are free | Free |
| Basic stylusOptional | $15 |
| Subtotal (without optional) | $0 |
Assumes: Assumes a family tablet or paper and pencils at home. Many drawing apps are free.
| Item | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| Market table feePer event. Kids’ markets typically charge $10–50; some are free | $25 |
| TableclothA bright color makes the table stand out | $10 |
| Display stand or risersGives products height so customers notice them | $15 |
| Sign and price cards | $5 |
| Pop-up tentOptionalOnly for outdoor markets without shade. Borrowing one works too | $100 |
| Subtotal (without optional) | $55 |
Bring about $20 in small bills and coins for change. You get it back, so it isn’t counted as a cost. Selling to family and friends first? You can skip these until your first market.
Total to start selling at a market
$55$170 with optional extras
What parents do
Parent involvement: ModerateRegular help with some steps, printing or online sales
- Handle all customer messages and payments
- Print and deliver finished portraits
Your child: about 4 hours a week making, selling and planning once it’s up and running.
Step by step
Build a portfolio
Draw 4–6 portraits of family and friends’ pets. These become your examples.
Pick one style and size
Offer one clear option to start, like a head-and-shoulders portrait printed at 5 × 7 inches.
Set up a simple order process
A parent collects the customer’s pet photo and payment. Agree on a delivery date, such as one week.
Draw and check in
Share a sketch with the customer (through the parent) before finishing, so changes are easy.
Deliver
Print on cardstock or send a digital file. Include a thank-you note.
Costs & pricing example
Cost to make one portrait
$0.60
Example price
$12
Profit per portrait
$11.40
How we worked out the cost of one portrait
- Printing on cardstock$0.40
- Sleeve and envelope$0.20
If your child sells 10 portraits at $12, that’s $120 in sales and about $114 profit after materials. The $55 startup cost, including a first market table, is earned back after about 5 portraits.
The main cost is time. If a portrait takes 2 hours, discuss whether $12 feels fair, and why artists price their time.
These numbers are illustrative examples, not guaranteed earnings. Prices vary by supplier and location.
Where to sell
Family, friends and neighbors
The best way to find first customers and reviews.
Markets (with a portfolio)
Show samples and take orders for later delivery.
A parent-run online page
The parent manages all messages and payments.
Skills your child will build
- Drawing from reference
- Working to deadlines
- Handling feedback
- Pricing time
Common challenges
- Customers wanting changes
- Try this: Agree that one round of changes is included, at the sketch stage.
- Taking too many orders
- Try this: Set a limit, like 3 orders a week, so schoolwork and fun still fit.
Safety & parent notes
- Online, parent-run
- A parent should handle all communication with customers, especially online.
- Never share your child’s full name, school, photo or location with customers.
A note for parents
Commissions are a wonderful lesson in valuing creative work. Help your child track how long each portrait takes and decide together what’s fair.
Helpful guides
Money & pricing
How Kids Can Price Handmade Products
A simple three-step pricing method kids can understand, with a worked example, plus why their time is worth something too.
2 min read
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