As you create your dog and cat art, you will find that you would like to find a market for your many non-commissioned pieces. When it comes to generic dog and cat art, keep the following tips in mind:

1. Full body renderings peak more interest than head studies, as buyers tend to feel that a head study alone is more specific to an individual animal--more like a portrait done for-hire than just a generic rendering of a breed.

2. Backgrounds add value and interest to an animal painting, giving it a more finished look. The time spent on it will generally result in more interest in the piece.

3. Purebreed renderings peak more interest than blended breeds, as buyers who live with that particular breed often feel an immediate affiliation with the piece.

4. Abstract or stylized pieces find a wide market, as buyers are often as interested in the colors or feel of the piece as they are in the subject matter.

5. Tips 1-4 above are subject to change. As an artist, you know that buyers' tastes are often unpredictable and sometimes you must be aware of the standard rules just so you can work outside them.

If any one of these guidelines helps you build a market for the style of art that you most enjoy creating, then stay true to it and build on it. As a companion animal artist, you already know that your work brings good things into the lives of those who view it. It's a special feeling to know that your passion also enriches others' lives as well as your own.

The author has worked with dogs and cats and their people for two decades. She also provides a venue for dog and cat artists with her online gallery, http://www.GreatandSmallGallery.com