Retro Reverence brand mark: the studio name in vintage serif lettering above a decorative flourishRetro Reverence

From the Studio

The Almanac

Retro Reverence works like a small publishing house, and every collection is its own publication. The Almanac is the reference volume: gift help, how-to guides and plain answers about how the work is made.

Decorating Ideas

Black Cat and Jack O Lantern wall art hanging in a styled room: a black cat on cold stone steps above a glowing carved jack o lantern

Moody Halloween Decor Ideas: Vintage Style Halloween Wall Art

Moody Halloween decor is candlelight, black cats and old glass instead of inflatables and neon. Here are five ways to get the look, and where to hang the art so it lasts past October.

Stockings by the Hearth wall art hanging in a styled room: three stockings hung from a rough-hewn mantel above a tended fire, a wreath with brass bells overhead

Christmas Gallery Wall Ideas With Vintage Style Art

A Christmas gallery wall is easiest with three to six pieces that share a palette. Here are three layouts that work, with sizes and spacing, plus how to go moody or rustic.

Turkey Dinner wall art hanging in a styled room: a carved turkey on a pewter platter by candlelight with a glass of red wine

Moody Fall Decor Ideas: Vintage Style Art for Thanksgiving

Moody fall decor is deep harvest color, low candlelight and still life art, without a single skeleton. Here are four ways to get the look, and where to hang the art.

Custom cat portrait of a cat sitting on a bookshelf among leather-bound classics, framed and hanging on a wall at home

Dark Academia Decor Ideas: Art That Makes a Room Feel Like an Old Library

Dark academia decor makes a room feel like an old library at night: dark wood, stacked books, low lamps and moody art. Here are the five elements, and how to choose the art.

Gift Help

A dog resting its chin on the table in the Dinner Guest scene, a custom pet portrait styled as a Christmas gift idea

Christmas Gifts for Cat and Dog Lovers That Get Hung, Not Returned

Another candle, another mug, another thing that ends up in a drawer. Here’s the gift that actually gets hung on a wall, for the cat person or dog person on your list.

Custom cat portrait of a ginger and white longhaired cat curled into the branches of a lit Christmas tree with tinsel and glass ornaments, from the new Heirloom Christmas scene

Our New Christmas Pet Portrait Collection Just Went Live

Seven new Christmas scenes for cats and dogs, from tangled tree lights to a cat who’s already claimed the gift box. Here’s what’s new in the Heirloom Tails Christmas collection.

Custom dog portrait of a dog proudly carrying a stick far too big for the doorway, framed and hanging on a wall at home

Gift Ideas for Dog Dads (That Aren’t Another Mug)

The best gift for a dog dad is the one that’s about his dog, specifically. Here are six ideas ranked by how personal they are, with timing tips for birthdays and Christmas.

Ordering & Printing

Custom cat portrait before and after: the customer’s original photo beside the finished illustration of a cat sitting on a bookshelf among leather-bound classics

What Photo Should I Send for a Pet Portrait?

Send a sharp, full-size photo taken in daylight, with your pet’s face toward the camera and both eyes and ears visible. Here is the full checklist, plus tips for black cats and dark coats.

Custom cat portrait of a cat curled up asleep inside a porcelain bathroom sink, framed and hanging on a wall at home

How Much Does a Custom Pet Portrait Cost?

A custom pet portrait from Retro Reverence costs $19 as a digital file, from $59 as a fine art print and from $95 as a gallery canvas. Here is what each price gets you, and what moves the number up or down.

Custom cat portrait of a cat nestled into the branches of a lit Christmas tree, framed and hanging on a wall at home

How Long Does a Custom Pet Portrait Take? (Christmas Order Dates)

A custom digital portrait arrives within 3 business days of receiving your photos. A print or canvas takes about 1 to 2 weeks. Here is the full timeline, and the last days to order for Christmas.

Gingerbread Man Cookie wall art hanging in a styled room: a ribboned gingerbread man beside rolled dough with a cutout and tin cutters

How to Print a Digital Download at Home or at a Print Shop

A good digital art file prints beautifully three ways: on your home printer, at a local print shop, or through an online print lab. Here is how to choose, what paper to ask for, and which frame fits.

Custom dog portrait size comparison showing the small dog scene beside the large dog scene at the dinner table

Canvas vs Print: Which Is Better for Wall Art?

A fine art paper print is crisper, costs less and looks best framed. A gallery canvas has texture, needs no frame and has more presence on the wall. Here is how to choose, and what giclée means.

How It’s Made

A watchful cat sitting between wooden stair banisters, keeping an eye on the house, the everyday pose behind The Supervisor heirloom portrait

Vintage Style Pet Portraits That Look Like Your Actual Pet

A vintage style pet portrait should look like your pet, not a pose. We capture the box they claimed, the stick too big for the door, the stare through the banisters. Here’s why that’s the whole idea behind Heirloom Tails.

A dog waiting patiently by the leash and boots in the Heirloom Entryway scene.

They’re Wild. They’re Wonderful. They’re Yours.

A personalized, vintage-style artwork celebrating the silly little quirks that make your pet unmistakably yours. Not a photo copy, but a one-of-a-kind piece made just for you.

Pet Loss

A dog resting on a floral cottage sofa in a warm, quiet room, a gentle everyday scene from the Heirloom Tails collection

Grieving a Pet: What Actually Helps (And What’s Normal to Feel)

Losing a pet is its own kind of grief. Here’s what’s actually normal to feel, how long it tends to last, and what genuinely helps.

Custom dog portrait of a dog sprawled over an open book beside a lit fireplace, illustrated in a vintage painterly style

What to Get Someone Whose Dog Died

The gifts that help most are the ones that show you knew their dog. Here are six ideas, when to give them, and what to say.

Custom cat portrait of a cat sunning itself on a windowsill among terracotta pots, illustrated in a vintage painterly style

What to Get Someone Whose Cat Died

Cats live in the small places of a home: the windowsill, the good chair, the warm laundry. The gifts that help most honor those places. Here is what to give, and when.

Custom dog portrait of a dog wrapped up in a blanket like a burrito, only its face showing, illustrated in a vintage painterly style

What to Write in a Pet Sympathy Card

Keep it short, use the pet’s name, and share one real memory if you have one. Here are 15 messages for friends, family, coworkers and more, plus what to leave out.