Can You Really Tell If a Pet Portrait Is AI or Hand-Drawn? Here’s What I’ve Learned

Introduction
Lately, I’ve noticed a lot of online shops popping up that claim to offer “custom pet portraits.” Some of them are truly hand-drawn by artists, while others are quickly generated by AI software. At first glance, both can look nice, but if you look a little closer, the differences are easier to spot. I’ve spent time comparing both types, and I thought it might be helpful to share how you can tell them apart — and why it actually matters.

1. The eyes tell the story

One of the first things I always notice in pet portraits is the eyes. AI images can look shiny or overly smooth, but often they feel a bit “empty.” They don’t capture the spark or emotion that your pet’s eyes really hold. On the other hand, when an artist paints or draws the eyes, you can almost feel your pet looking back at you. It’s subtle, but it makes a huge difference.

2. Repeated patterns and “perfect fur”

If you look closely at AI-generated portraits, you might see that the fur patterns repeat unnaturally, almost like wallpaper. It looks neat, but not real. Pets don’t have “perfect” fur — they have messy whiskers, uneven markings, and quirky little details. A real artist notices these things and includes them, which is why hand-drawn portraits often feel more alive.

3. Flexibility and personalization

Here’s something most people don’t think about: AI can only give you what it’s programmed to. If you don’t like the result, your options are limited. But with a real artist, you can actually say, “Hey, could you make the background softer?” or “Can you adjust the fur color a little?” That back-and-forth makes the artwork personal instead of generic.

4. Emotional connection

This is probably the biggest difference. When you receive an AI portrait, it looks nice on the screen, but it doesn’t usually hit you in the heart. When you hold a hand-drawn portrait, especially one made from your own pet’s photos, you feel the time and effort that went into it. You know someone studied your pet carefully, paid attention to its quirks, and put hours into creating something just for you. That human touch is irreplaceable.

5. Uniqueness and authenticity

AI tends to reuse styles and patterns. Sometimes you’ll even see portraits from different shops that look strangely similar. That’s because they’re pulling from the same system. But when an artist draws by hand, no two pieces are the same. Even if two people asked for portraits of the same dog breed, the results would be completely different, because the artwork is tailored to that one animal.

So, why does it matter?
At the end of the day, whether you choose AI or artist-made depends on what you want. If you just want something quick and cheap to post online, AI might do the job. But if you want a piece of art that actually feels like your pet — something you’d hang in your living room or pass down as a keepsake — then an artist’s work is worth it.

Final thoughts
I’m not here to say AI is “bad.” It’s useful for a lot of things. But when it comes to honoring a pet you love, most people want something real, something with soul. That’s why I personally prefer hand-drawn portraits made by actual artists.

👉 If you’re curious about what that looks like, we create custom portraits drawn by real artists, not machines. They’re personal, emotional, and one-of-a-kind — just like your pet. Click here to see more.