Pet portraits turning into a “craze”, Eltham artist Craig Maher says

More pet owners are turning to creatives like Eltham’s Craig Maher to transform their furry friends into lifelike portraits. And the artist believes it’s a new trend taking the city by storm. Here’s why.

Craig Maher started drawing pet portraits about eight months. Picture: Rob Leeson.

An Eltham artist who portraits pets as a side gig says it’s turning into a craze among Melbourne petowners.

And he said putting the faces of many household animals to paper was in such popular demand he would consider the business as his primary source of income next year.

Craig Maher started Creations By Craig in January after he drew his own two dogs to “pass the time” on a rainy weekend away in Lorne.

Craig Maher’s pet portrait business started after he drew his own two dogs. Picture: Rob Leeson.

“I have been drawing since I can remember, but I hadn’t really done anything with detail until I drew my two dogs — after I drew them both my wife and I realised I still had it,” he said.

Mr Maher said he drew about three pets a week at the start of the year, but that figure had now increased to almost ten.

He said most of his customers wanted portraits for pets who were just days away from being put down or pets who had already died.

“There really seems to be a trend where people want their pets portrayed in a form of art,” Mr Maher said.

“The feedback I get from customers really tells me it’s almost like a craze.”

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Mr Maher would often draw dogs, cats, horses and a variety of farm animals in charcoal or pencil.

But he said his strangest request was a ferret.

“I didn’t even know what a ferret looked like until I googled it,” Mr Maher said.

“The trick is starting with the eyes — every animal has their own distinctive set of eyes … that’s where their character is.”

Bookings can be made via his website, Creations by Craig.

Portraits are $80 for an A4 sketch.

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