Learn to Paint Expressive Pet Portraits

Turn a blank canvas into a lifelike pet portrait using a simple, step-by-step method designed for beginners and improvers.

✔ No drawing skills needed

✔ No guesswork with colours

✔ No overwhelming techniques

LEARN FROM ME

Create bold, characterful artwork — even if you’ve never painted before

What You'll Be Able To Do

Each tutorial is designed to help you complete your own realistic pet portrait — and more importantly, you’ll understand the process so you can do it again with any subject.

You’ll learn how to:

Build a painting from the first sketch to final details

Mix colours accurately and confidently

Create realistic fur without painting every hair

Avoid common mistakes that hold beginners back

Develop a looser, more expressive painting style

Turn a reference photo into a finished painting

Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate.

Medium: Acrylic

Who this is for

These tutorials are perfect if:

You’re a complete beginner and don’t know where to start

You’ve tried painting before but get stuck halfway

Your paintings feel flat or unrealistic

You want a clear, repeatable process you can rely on

If you can hold a brush, you can do this.

🎥 How it works

You’ll follow along with a full, start-to-finish painting tutorial.

Step-by-step video lessons

Paint at your own pace (pause, rewind anytime)

No time limits — lifetime access

Watch on any device

You can paint alongside me or watch first and paint later — whatever suits you.

What’s included

Inside the course, you’ll get:

Full-length painting tutorial (from blank canvas to finished piece)

Materials guide (simple, beginner-friendly supplies)

Reference image to work from

Colour mixing guidance

Layer-by-layer instruction

Everything is broken down so you’re never guessing what to do next.

Why this method works

Most beginners struggle because they:

Try to paint everything at once

Focus on tiny details too early

Don’t understand layering

This course shows you how to:
👉 Simplify the process
👉 Work in the right order
👉 Build realism step-by-step

So instead of feeling overwhelmed, you feel in control.

🖼️ Imagine this…

Finishing your painting and actually feeling proud of it.
Hanging it on your wall.
Or even gifting it to someone.

That’s the goal here — not perfection, but real, visible progress.

an abstract photo of a curved building with a blue sky in the background

This class Exceeded my expectations!

Recommending for Any Level

Thanks to this class I dared to paint my own boxer dog. I really enjoyed painting Rusty in this class. I recommend this class for everyone that wants to paint a boxer.

Review From - Paint Your Pet From A Photograph

Sara Nyholm

This class Exceeded my expectations!

Recommending for Beginner Levels

I enjoyed this class very much! I hope there will be more! Thank you!!

Review From - Paint Your Pet From A Photograph

Gina Farrell

★★★★★
★★★★★

What Our Students Are Saying

This class Exceeded my expectations!

Recommending for Any Level

Thank you Alexandra for this great class, I have learnt a great deal on layering and more particularly the use of different blacks and greys to make a cohesive painting that looks very natural. Your teaching style is very good as well. I will definitely explore more of your classes.

Review From - Learn to Paint a Black Labrador

Jennifer Ditchett

★★★★★

This class Exceeded my expectations!

Recommending for Intermediate Levels

I really enjoyed this class and the teacher is very easy to follow and engaging. Excellent quality of video and audio. Recommended!

Review From - Learn to Paint a Black Labrador

Sara Nyholm

★★★★★

Over 700 students have taken my classes - find out what some have to say about them.

★★★★★

This class Exceeded my expectations!

I enjoyed this tutorial. I am a pet portrait artist mainly using soft pastels and pastel pencils. I have also painted with watercolors and gouache. I want to learn how to paint with acrylics and move away from putting so many details in my pieces. Thanks for the great instruction.

Review From - How to Paint a Golden Retriever

Nadine Kelley

'Used by beginners and hobby artists worldwide'

All my tutorials are designed to be easy to follow - even if you're a beginner.

No experience needed

Go at your own pace

No subscriptions

Lifetime access

Get Started Today 👇

Pet Portrait Tutorial

£15

Instant access • Lifetime access • Easy to follow at your own pace

£15 per tutorial — or save £13 when you buy all 3 painting tutorials as a bundle.

Learn how to create a characterful pet portrait you’ll be proud of.

This tutorial walks you through a clear, repeatable process you can use for any animal.

You’ll learn how to:

  • Build a portrait from sketch to finish

  • Capture likeness and personality

  • Paint fur, texture, and detail with confidence

  • Avoid common beginner mistakes

What you’ll get:

  • Full step-by-step acrylic video tutorial

  • Reference photo included

  • Materials list and palette guide

  • Lifetime access (watch anytime)

Perfect if you’ve struggled with pet portraits before and want a process that actually works.

🎨 Or get 3 tutorials for £32 → View Bundle

How To Paint Black Fur

£15

Instant access • Lifetime access • Easy to follow at your own pace

£15 per tutorial — or save £13 when you buy all 3 painting tutorials as a bundle.

Black animals can feel impossible to paint—but they don’t have to be.

In this step-by-step tutorial, you’ll learn how to create a realistic black Labrador using simple, effective techniques that take the guesswork out of painting dark fur.

I’ll guide you through the entire process, showing you how to build depth, colour, and detail without getting overwhelmed—so you can create a finished piece you’re genuinely proud of.

You’ll learn how to:

  • Use warm and cool tones to create depth and realism

  • Mix convincing blacks and greys with a limited palette

  • Build layers and glazes to add depth without overworking

  • Simplify detail using light, mid, and dark tones

  • Create a strong, lifelike portrait without painting every hair

What you’ll get:

  • Full step-by-step acrylic video tutorial

  • Reference photo included

  • Materials list and palette guide

  • Lifetime access (watch anytime)

You’ll also learn how to:

  • Sketch your subject onto your surface—even if you’re not confident at drawing

  • Set up your palette for consistent, repeatable results

By the end, you’ll be able to confidently paint an all black animal from scratch — without guessing what to do next.

🎨 Or get 3 tutorials for £32 → View Bundle

How to Paint A Golden Retriever

£15

Instant access • Lifetime access • Easy to follow at your own pace

£15 per tutorial — or save £13 when you buy all 3 painting tutorials as a bundle.

Learn how to paint soft, realistic fur and capture the warmth and personality of a golden retriever in this step-by-step tutorial.

In this lesson, I guide you through the entire process—from the first sketch to the final details—so you can follow along with confidence.

You’ll learn how to:

  • Paint soft, layered fur without overworking it

  • Mix warm, natural tones for a realistic finish

  • Capture light and depth in the face

  • Bring expression to the eyes

What you’ll get:

  • Full step-by-step video tutorial

  • Reference photo to work from

  • Materials list

  • Lifetime access (watch anytime)

Perfect for beginners to intermediate artists who want to improve their pet portraits.


🎨 Or get 3 tutorials for £32 → View Bundle

Not Sure Where To Start?

If you’re new, I recommend starting with:

🎨 Beginner foundations (materials, brush control)

🧠 Understanding color & composition

🖌️ Step-by-step guided tutorial

📈 How to improve fast

There’s nothing quite like finishing a piece and thinking—I actually made that.

Student Results

Here are some of the paintings our students have created by following along with our tutorials.

See What You Can Create

These are the kinds of results you can achieve by following along with the tutorials.

You don’t need to be an expert—just take it step by step, trust the process, and give yourself time to improve. Every piece you see here was built using the same techniques you’ll learn inside the tutorials.

HOW TO PAINT AN ALL BLACK ANIMAL
HOW TO PAINT A GOLDEN RETRIEVER
PET PORTRAIT TUTORIAL

Tutorial Bundle

PERFECT FOR LEARNING

Each tutorial builds on the same core techniques—so the more you complete, the more confident you’ll become.

Lifetime access to all content

Save when you learn more.

Get multiple tutorials together at a discounted price and build your skills faster.

Buy 3 tutorials individually: £45
Get all 3 for £32

🎨 Want to Save?

Get all 3 tutorials for £32 and start building your pet portrait skills faster.

✔ Learn different fur techniques
✔ Build confidence across subjects
✔ Save compared to buying individually

👉 Get the Bundle

Why Learn From Me?

I’m a professional artist specialising in pet and wildlife portraits, and my goal is to make painting feel accessible and enjoyable—not overwhelming.

These tutorials are designed to:

Break things down into simple, manageable steps

Help you actually finish paintings (not get stuck halfway)

Build confidence as well as technique

No fluff—just a clear process you can follow.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of tutorials do you share?
I share tutorials on painting techniques, selling your artwork online and growing an art business.

Do you teach art business topics?
Yes, I regularly share advice on marketing your art, building an audience and selling your work online.

Are your tutorials suitable for beginners?
Yes, many of my tutorials are designed for beginners as well as artists who want to grow their skills.

Where can I watch your tutorials?
I share tutorials on YouTube and teach more in-depth classes on Skillshare.

Free PDF: How to Price & Sell Pet Portraits Online — Proven Strategies for Artists.

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