While my work primarily focuses on product design, I love exploring visual storytelling and craftsmanship in different mediums. Over the 2024 holidays, I took on the fun challenge of creating custom Renaissance-style pet portraits for my family and friends. I try to give personal, creative gifts whenever possible. This was a chance to blend technology, illustration, and traditional finishing techniques into something unique and memorable.
Using Midjourney as a base render, I prompted a Rembrandt-inspired portrait with the help of a --cref parameter. Midjourney isn't great at working from photos, so it required meticulous regeneration of certain portions of the image to capture the essence of each pet. Once I got it 95% of the way there, I hand-painted details in Photoshop to perfect each likeness, expression, and personality. Each one took between one and three hours to complete.
Using Midjourney as a base render, I prompted a Rembrandt-inspired portrait with the help of a --cref parameter. Midjourney isn't great at working from photos, so it required meticulous regeneration of certain portions of the image to capture the essence of each pet. Once I got it 95% of the way there, I hand-painted details in Photoshop to perfect each likeness, expression, and personality. Each one took between one and three hours to complete.
The Process
First, I selected a few photos of my subject. I needed photos that captured a detailed view of each pet's face, but also wanted several so I could see them from several angles, their character personality, and any identifying mannerisms or markings.
This is Catticus Finch, who will help me demonstrate! This is the photo I fed into Midjourney using a --cref (character reference) prompt.
Next, I massaged the prompt and tried a few different photos to see what would generate the closest likeness. I specifically looked for results that felt like the subject, even if major characteristics were off. I knew I could regenerate eyes, ears, markings, or hand-paint details in Photoshop. Here is the output from one of my initial prompts that would eventually result in the final product:
Prompt: Rembrandt-inspired renaissance oil painting portrait of a noble cat with an extravagant princely Bridgerton collar --cref https://s.mj.run/1fpZUZ0leWk --style raw --v 6.0
I selected the bottom left cat, since I could see Catticus' body language and fur texture best in this version. It still had a long way to go, but seemed to best capture his essence as the foundational render. Look at the wonky eyeballs and weird doubled-up collar, though!
Midjourney base render of Catticus, prior to refinement
Next, I lassoed small sections and regenerated regions to get him as close as I could with the help of AI. I regenerated the left eye, the white markings on his face, the fur on his shoulder, his collar, tag, and crown. Each took several iterations to get right. Once I was generally happy with the likeness, I took a high-res version into Photoshop, refined his facial markings, and added his name to the collar's tag. Voilà!
Below are all of the portraits with their real-life counterparts for your enjoyment!
Once the portraits were done, I got them printed on styrene and applied a mod podge finish by hand, giving each piece an almost hand-painted texture before framing. The final result? A set of regal, silly portraits that celebrate each pet in a grand, classical style with a dose of humor! They were a hit.
This was a fun exercise in visual composition, attention to detail, and bringing a concept to life—skills that translate directly into my professional work. It also reinforced my love for creating engaging, meaningful experiences, whether through a digital product or a piece of art that makes someone smile.
