If you have a pet, you have hundreds of photos of them, and almost none on the wall. A paint by number of your pet is a lovely way to get one of them out of your camera roll: you turn it into a numbered picture and paint it yourself, area by area.
Why pets work so well
A pet portrait usually has what works best when converting a photo: a clear subject, eyes that draw attention and fur full of nuances that, painted area by area, takes on a texture that feels like a real painting.
How to choose the photo
- Sharp eyes. They are the first thing anyone looks at in the finished picture; if they are blurry, the portrait loses a lot.
- Natural light from the front, next to a window or outdoors. Avoid flash: it flattens the fur and creates odd reflections in the eyes.
- At their eye level, not from above. Crouch down: the photo gains expression.
- Let them fill the frame. If they look small in the middle of the living room, crop the photo when you upload it (the app lets you).
- A simple background. A plain sofa or a wall works better than a floor full of toys.
More examples in which photos work best.
Which difficulty to choose
- Easy: few, large areas. Ideal for a first picture or for painting on paper.
- Medium or Hard: the sweet spot for pets: the fur starts to get its shades and the eyes their shine.
- Expert: hundreds of areas and the closest likeness. For coats with lots of pattern, like a tabby or a tricolor.
Ideas to give it a life beyond your phone
- Print it and paint it by hand with pencils or watercolor: that is how it ends up in a frame. How to do it in printable paint by number.
- Give it to someone who loves that animal as much as you do, with gift mode: they paint it without knowing which photo it is and discover it at the end.
- Share the video of how it was painted: when you finish, the app creates a vertical timelapse ready for Reels, TikTok or your WhatsApp status.
When your pet is no longer here
Many people use a photo of a pet that has died, and painting it slowly can be a gentle way to remember them. If it is for someone else, it is better to tell them beforehand than to surprise them: it is a delicate gesture and it is kinder with some context.
Turn my pet's photo into a picture →