How I got my start painting pets

I’ve been a dog lover all my life! I got my first dog (Biscuit), a wire fox terrier, when I was six after YEARS of begging my parents. He was my only sibling and my best friend. Here he is in dire need of a haircut.

I’ve been making art (or trying to) ever since I could talk, so of course I started creating portraits of him.

Here a much more presentable Biscuit wishes me well as I head off to my high school graduation ceremony.

When I was in college, Biscuit passed away at the age of 13. In grad school, we welcomed Biscuit’s distant relative, Bert, into our home. Bert still lives with my parents in Rhode Island. Part of the family lobbied for an Ernie but was unsuccessful.

Fast forward a few years…. I was painting pets to raise money for local animal shelters and rescues. Here is the original Instagram post that announced my first ever fundraiser with examples of my Bert and my friend’s dog, Keisha. When I saw how popular they were and that people wanted their pets painted even after the fundraisers ended….Alexandra Schmeling Fine Art began.

Since October 31, 2020, I have been painting pet portraits. Dogs are by far my most common request. Each painting was custom-made, and while I enjoy creating works that capture the individuality of each dog,