How I got people to notice my work

Sometimes you come up with an idea and you just know it could make someone happy.

But then comes the hard part: how do you even get people to notice it?

Because the truth is, people are not just going to magically find you. They don’t know what you’re making. You have to put it in front of them.

That’s exactly what I had to learn with my pet portraits.

The idea itself felt pretty simple. Lots of people love their pets, and a portrait can feel really special. The question was just how to begin.

So I started small.

First, I painted portraits for free for friends and family. I wanted to practice on real pets for real people.

Then I improved little by little. I got better paint and pens, and stopped cutting pieces out of Amazon boxes that were always a bit too small or damaged. I started buying the right-size cardboard instead of reusing boxes.

And I quickly realized something: people really loved receiving a portrait of their pet.

So I tried putting them online.

I posted on Instagram and in our newsletter, still offering them for free.

But nothing happened.

Not a single order.

I’ve seen this before with our cards: posting is usually not enough.

I had to try something else.

So I went out with my easel and paintbrushes, and started painting pet portraits out on the street.

I started offering them for $20.

And something happened that really encouraged me.

My first client gave me $100.

That moment really hit me, because suddenly it wasn’t just an idea in my head anymore. It was something real that someone valued — more than I expected.

great highway san francisco — Every time I start painting outside, people stop and get curious.

pop up san francisco soliaventure — And they are really supportive.

Since then, I’ve kept going out on weekends. Each time I do, I come home with enough orders to keep me busy for the week. Most of the time, I deliver the portraits around my neighborhood.

In the meantime, I slowly raised my prices from $20 to $25, and now to $30.

Not randomly, but because each portrait takes time. The materials cost money. And each one is personal.

I’m learning to value my work more, and to trust that my price is fair. People are still saying yes—sometimes even tipping me extra.

I’m also adding the option to include a frame. I like it because it makes the portrait feel more complete and even more giftable.

With Mother’s Day coming up, it could make a really special present.

👉 If you’d like a pet portrait, you can DM me on Instagram.

Now I’m taking this one step further.

I’m starting to do pop-ups in collaboration with local cafés, which feels like another nice way to put my work out there.

Next month, I’ll be painting live at Mission Blue and taking pet portrait orders there as well.

Live Pet Portraits by Zélia mission blue san francisco

And this week, I’m trying something a little different: painting pet portraits for people who didn’t ask me to.

People who don’t even know me, but who still bring something good into my life in one way or another.

For example, I painted my favorite singer’s dog and sent him a picture of it on Instagram. Maybe he’ll never see it. But if he does, and if he likes it, that would already make me so happy.

Do you know which singer owns this dog? The first person to reply to this email with the right answer will win a greeting card of their choice.