NYCityPets.com

A fantastic gift for a pet lover is a work of art that includes a beloved pet. Here is a list of local artists who will take your dog, cat, bird, office fish, or reptile perhaps, and subject them to immortalization:

Laurence Richardson at the PLP Gallery makes both pet and wildlife portraits with a sketchy, ethereal aesthetic. (497 St. Johns Place, Brooklyn, 646-234-0922)

Kate Williamson makes cartoonish, line drawn watercolor sketches of your pets. (917-566-1650)

Jodi Whitsell’s vibrant, fun paintings can be found in a few local veterinary offices.

A favorite in the West Village, Mimi Vang Olsen has done work for the Humane Society of NY and private works. (The Pet Portrait Painter at 545 Hudson Street , NYC, 212-675-5410)

Dan Nelken does some elegant photography in his Manhattan studio. (43 West 27th Street, #7R, NYC, 917-747-3384)

Delaney Ann McDonough has a charming portfolio of commissioned works in oil.

Etsy.com, a great source for finding local artists and handmade goods, lists a couple of local artists:

• Kate Black makes custom mixed media works (collage and drawing).
• Alpha Portraits come in three different sizes.

The only dog art gallery in NYC, the William Secord Gallery, has three fine artists who do works on commission.

And for a little surrealism in your pet portraits, you shouldn’t miss Rachelle Oatman. Seriously, check out this link to her NY dog. It is worth a look.