Acrylic dog portraits

Aptly named man’s best friend, a dog’s unconditional love, loyalty, and companionship leaves an indelible impression on the heart. Immortalize your beloved canine in an elegant, custom portrait—crafted to treasure for years to come. A neutral background provides space for your dog to be the singular focus.

All portraits are created with professional-grade acrylic paints on gallery-wrapped canvas, ensuring the longevity of your painting.

Contact the artist to discuss.

Custom realistic dog portrait of Golden Retriever Toby by Ontario artist Carolyn Nikolai | Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 10 x 12
Custom realistic dog portrait of Rico by Ontario artist Carolyn Nikolai | Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 16 x 16
Custom realistic dog portrait of Blair by Ontario artist Carolyn Nikolai | Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 16 x 16
Custom realistic dog portrait of Jack Russell Reba-Jean by Ontario artist Carolyn Nikolai | Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 12 x 12
Custom realistic dog portrait of Husky mix Mocha by Ontario artist Carolyn Nikolai | Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 12 x 16
Custom realistic dog portrait of Schnauzer Jax by Ontario artist Carolyn Nikolai | Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 12 x 16

  • "We are so happy with the portrait of Muffin. You truly have a beautiful talent. The detail of his curly hair, the precision to the photo, we are in absolute awe. I was going to give the portrait to my husband next week but I was just too excited. He absolutely loves it, so does Muffin. Muffin is two now but we miss his baby face. Now we can see it everyday on our wall."

    — Gabby & Bane G. (Toronto, ON)
    Portrait of Muffin, Golden Doodle. Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 10”×12”.

  • "I will never be able to thank you enough for this painting. It perfectly captured Rani in every way. You are truly perfection at what you do. Thank you again for helping us remember our girl."

    — Naushin V. (Ottawa, ON)
    Portrait of Rani, Cocker Spaniel mix. Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 12”×16”.

  • "It’s so perfect. You are amazing – you really captured Holiday. We lost Holiday in August and have been planning on doing this for my husband, but just haven’t found the person that I thought could capture Holiday. This is so so special and so perfect. Thank you so much. I really really love it. Thank you!"

    — Rachel H. (Marshall, VA)
    Portrait of Holiday, German Shepherd. Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 10”×12”.

  • "Carolyn was an absolute joy to work with! She was prompt in correspondence and is clearly knowledgeable of her trade, not to mention incredibly talented. I commissioned a custom portrait of a family dog that meant so much to my Aunt and Uncle, and Carolyn captured Fritz’s expression and personality perfectly. She was also able to do our custom portrait in just about a months time, far quicker than I ever anticipated. Thank you again, Carolyn, for the wonderful custom dog portrait. I can’t wait to get another portrait done!"

    — Julia M. (Carrollton, TX)
    Portrait of Fritz, German Wirehaired Pointer. Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 16”×16”.

Custom realistic dog portrait of Shih Tzu Simon by Ontario artist Carolyn Nikolai | Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 20 x 20
Custom realistic dog portrait of Boston Terrier Loca by Ontario artist Carolyn Nikolai | Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 10 x 12
Custom realistic dog portrait of Golden Retriever Brody by Ontario artist Carolyn Nikolai | Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 12 x 12
Custom realistic dog portrait of Black Labrador Retriever Tuggs by Ontario artist Carolyn Nikolai | Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 10 x 12
Custom realistic dog portrait of Silky Terrier Joey by Ontario artist Carolyn Nikolai | Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 16 x 20
Custom realistic dog portrait of black Pomeranian Oreo by Ontario artist Carolyn Nikolai | Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 12 x 16

  • "I am beyond ecstatic about the piece she did for my wife as a surprise birthday gift. What an amazing talent Carolyn is! Not only did she do a phenomenal job recreating my three dogs together but she is incredibly easy to work with. Her attention to detail is impeccable and she really takes pride in producing the best portraits and art. I would highly recommend her to anyone serious about quality and professionalism. Carolyn thank you so much again for creating such a beautiful piece we can all enjoy for a long time!"

    — Mike N. (Mountain View, CA)
    Portrait of Nyla (Rottweiler mix), King (Pit Bull), and Ruby (Rottweiler). Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 24”×36”.

  • "Love, love, love how you captured the essence of our beautiful Pongo who passed suddenly a few weeks short of his 14th birthday. He was a perfect gentlemen and such a valued member of our family and community. Your talent, sensitivity, and compassion has been so appreciated. Many thanks from the Kines family."

    — Koren K. (Winnipeg, MB)
    Custom portrait of Pongo, Golden Retriever

  • "Carolyn was able to capture our darling Welsh terrier ‘Lenny’ so beautifully and accurately. Her work is incredibly detailed and powerful, as our pet’s resemblance and personality is completely conveyed. Thank-you Carolyn for creating a piece for our family to cherish forever."

    — Nicole S. (Whitby, ON)
    Portrait of Lenny, Welsh Terrier. Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 12”×16”.

  • "Words cannot describe how happy I am with the finished portrait of Briggs. This portrait is like looking at the picture from the day it was taken. Carolyn’s work is precisely detailed, and her true talent shines through."

    — Jenna L. (Nepean, ON)
    Portrait of Briggs, Chocolate Labrador Retriever. Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 12”×12”.

Custom realistic dog portrait of Pekingese Frederick by Ontario artist Carolyn Nikolai | Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 12 x 12
Custom realistic dog portrait of Golden Retriever Jasper by Ontario artist Carolyn Nikolai | Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 12 x 12
Custom realistic dog portrait of Jack Russell Rupert by Ontario artist Carolyn Nikolai | Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 12 x 12
Custom realistic dog portrait of Foxy by Ontario artist Carolyn Nikolai | Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 16 x 20
Custom realistic dog portrait of Bulldog Frankie by Ontario artist Carolyn Nikolai | Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 18 x 18
Custom realistic dog portrait of Chihuahua Bingley by Ontario artist Carolyn Nikolai | Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 16 x 20

  • "I commissioned a portrait of our beloved labrador retriever Zoey for a family Christmas present. The portrait is absolutely beautiful and so expressive. Carolyn was a pleasure to work with and captured Zoey’s expression and personality perfectly."

    — Jennifer M. (San Francisco Bay Area, CA)
    Portrait of Zoey, Labrador Retriever. Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 16”×16”.

  • "We cannot thank you enough for the stunning portrait of Abbie. You captured her spirit with grace and beauty and we couldn’t be happier! This portrait symbolizes for us her unconditional love, gentleness and free spirit – what a beautiful commemorative tribute to our baby girl who will live in our hearts forever. Thank you will never be enough."

    — Michelle & Pietro C. (Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette, QC)
    Custom portrait of Abbie, Golden Retriever

  • "I commissioned Carolyn to make a portrait of Stryker, my granddaughter Sara’s dog. Carolyn was able to capture the expression of his eyes and other detail in the painting with an incredible resemblance. Carolyn is talented, professional and patient. It was a real pleasure to work with her. Thank you for making a great gift for Sara."

    — Charlotte R. (Ottawa, ON)
    Portrait of Stryker, Labradoodle. Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 12”×16”.

Custom realistic dog portrait of Rottweiler Bowser by Ontario artist Carolyn Nikolai | Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 10 x 12
Custom realistic dog portrait of Moose by Ontario artist Carolyn Nikolai | Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 20 x 20
Custom realistic dog portrait of Mini Doberman Pinscher Major by Ontario artist Carolyn Nikolai | Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 10 x 12
Custom realistic dog portrait of Maggie by Ontario artist Carolyn Nikolai | Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 12 x 12