Theme · Ages 7+

Pet Pals

Every kid paints their own pet.

A birthday party theme where each kid arrives with a photo of their pet (or a pet they love) and leaves with a painted portrait of that pet. Real, frame-able artwork — taught by a fine artist who specializes in pet portraits.

Book This Theme

Painted portrait of a Jack Russell terrier — example of the technique kids learn

Why this theme is special

Most birthday party “art” gets thrown out within a year. This doesn't.

In a Pet Pals party, every kid paints their own pet — their actual dog, cat, hamster, or favorite animal — from a photo they bring (or one they pick from our reference library if they don't have a pet).

The finished pieces are personal, meaningful, and frame-worthy. Parents tell us they hang them on the wall. Kids tell us their friends ask where they got it.

This works because Elena specializes in pet portraits in her commissioned work — meaning the technical guidance kids get is real, not improvised.

How it works

1
Before the party
Each guest sends in a photo of their pet (or picks from our reference library). We print 5x7 reference photos for each kid.
2
At the party
Kids work from their reference photo, with Elena guiding the composition, color mixing, and brush technique.
3
Take home
Each kid leaves with a painted pet portrait on stretched canvas. Already dry enough to transport.

What's included

Stretched canvas (real, not cardboard)
Acrylic paints in a full pet-friendly palette (warm tones, fur grays, eye colors)
Reference photo printing for every kid
Guided portrait technique (pet anatomy basics, fur texture, eye placement)
Themed setup with paw-print accents
Take-home stretched canvas
“Artist of the Day” crown for the birthday kid

What kids learn

This is one of our most “real instruction” themes. In 90 minutes, kids learn:

Composition — placing a portrait subject on a canvas
Proportion basics — pet head shape, eye spacing, ear placement
Color mixing — fur tones, shadow and light
Brush technique — different brushes for fur vs. background
Signing your work — like a real artist

The party experience

Time	What happens
0:00 – 0:10	Welcome + show your pet photos around
0:10 – 0:20	Pet portrait demonstration: how to start
0:20 – 0:35	Background painting
0:35 – 1:25	Pet portrait painting
1:25 – 1:30	Sign and showcase

The natural next step

If your kid loved Pet Pals — that's exactly the moment.

Pet Pals is one of our most-loved party themes. The kids who really get into it often want to keep going. If your kid asks “when do I get to paint again?” — that's exactly the moment to consider our 5-Week Foundations program. Five weeks of real instruction, building toward a real portfolio. Many of our program students started exactly this way.

And if you love your kid's pet portrait, Elena also takes commissioned pet portraits — full custom paintings, in oil or acrylic.

Frequently asked questions

What if a guest doesn't have a pet?

We have a reference library of dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, guinea pigs, and other pets. Kids without pets pick the animal they'd most like to have.

How do we send the photos?

After booking, we send a link where each guest's parent can upload a photo. We need them at least 5 days before the party.

What if my kid wants to paint a wild animal?

That works too. Same skills, different reference photo.

Can siblings paint the same pet?

Yes — they can both work from the same photo. Their interpretations will be different, which is part of the fun.

What size are the canvases?

8x10 standard, 9x12 in the Masterpiece Party tier.

What if my kid is younger than 7 but really wants this theme?

We can simplify the technique for a 6-year-old. Younger than that, we recommend Nature & Animals theme instead.

Book a Pet Pals party

Tell us your kid's age, your party date, and how many guests. We'll send the photo upload link after booking.

Send Inquiry

Or reach out directly: elenamarmolbaena@gmail.com · (747) 329-0774