Always Free Shipping to the Lower 48 States

Carved in wood.
Held in memory.

Custom portraits of the pets we love — carved into solid wood and finished by hand, from a single photo. Made one at a time, here in Wisconsin.

Start your piece See the work
Made to order from your photo Solid wood, carved & hand-finished Ships in 1–2 weeks
Custom carved wood dog portrait by Grain and Memory Studio

The Work

From a photo on your phone to a piece on your wall.

Every commission begins with your own photo. Here's a photo beside the finished carving, so you can see exactly what that translation looks like.

Hutson — customer photo used for a custom carved wood pet portraitTheir photo
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Custom carved wood pet portrait of Hutson, Made of poplar and set on frosted acrylicThe piece
HutsonMade of poplar and set on frosted acrylicView this style →
Reese — customer photo used for a custom carved wood pet portraitTheir photo
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Custom carved wood pet portrait of Reese, Cattle dog made of oak and poplar set on acrylicThe piece
ReeseCattle dog made of oak and poplar set on acrylicView this style →
Supra — customer photo used for a custom carved wood pet portraitTheir photo
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Custom carved wood pet portrait of Supra, Handsom orange cat made of poplarThe piece
SupraHandsom orange cat made of poplarView this style →
Cooper — customer photo used for a custom carved wood pet portraitTheir photo
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Custom carved wood pet portrait of Cooper, Made of poplar and set in a shadowbox behind glassThe piece
CooperMade of poplar and set in a shadowbox behind glassView this style →
Tucker and Saydee — customer photo used for a custom carved wood pet portraitTheir photo
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Custom carved wood pet portrait of Tucker and Saydee, Made of poplar set on a white backer in a solid one piece frameThe piece
Tucker and SaydeeMade of poplar set on a white backer in a solid one piece frameView this style →
Tahoe — customer photo used for a custom carved wood pet portraitTheir photo
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Custom carved wood pet portrait of Tahoe, Made from pine and set in a one solid piece laminated frameThe piece
TahoeMade from pine and set in a one solid piece laminated frameView this style →
Covey — customer photo used for a custom carved wood pet portraitTheir photo
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Custom carved wood pet portrait of Covey, Made from one solid piece of poplarThe piece
CoveyMade from one solid piece of poplarView this style →

Every piece is carved and hand-finished — never a flat print.

Why this exists

It started with a dog I couldn't stop missing — and the wish for something more lasting than a photo in a drawer.

I've spent the better part of twenty years working with my hands — machining, fabrication, learning what wood will and won't forgive. When I lost my own companion, I went out to the shop and carved a portrait, just to have something to hold onto. It helped more than I expected.

Grain & Memory Studio grew out of that. I carve each portrait from your favorite photo, then finish it by hand so the grain and the likeness both come through. One piece at a time, from my shop in Mukwonago, Wisconsin.

— DominicMaker · Grain & Memory Studio

Grain & Memory Studio badge

Kind words

What customers say.

A few words from people who now have their companion carved in wood.

★★★★★

Kailin on Jun 22, 2026 5 out of 5 stars ★★★★★ Absolutely incredible craftsmanship. We ordered a custom wooden horse carving as a gift for my husband’s grandma, and it turned into something our family will treasure forever. The amount of detail, care, and talent put into this piece is unbelievable — you can truly see the time and passion behind every part of it. When she opened it, she immediately started crying because it was so beautiful and meaningful. It wasn’t just a decoration; it was a piece of art that captured something special for her. The quality exceeded every expectation, and you can tell this was made by someone who genuinely loves what they do. If you’re looking for a unique, heartfelt, handmade gift that will leave a lasting impression, I cannot recommend this shop enough.

Kailin
Verified Etsy review
★★★★★

This custom wood carving exceeded every expectation I had. The craftsmanship is incredible; the attention to detail in Covey's face, fur, and expression resembles him perfectly! You can tell that a tremendous amount of skill, patience, and care went into every cut. What makes this piece even more special is how well it captures the personality and likeness of my sweet boy. It’s not just a carving; it’s a meaningful piece of art that brings memories and emotions to life. The quality of the work is outstanding! If you’re looking for a unique, handcrafted gift or a way to honor a beloved pet, I cannot recommend this artist enough. Truly a one-of-a-kind masterpiece that will be treasured for years to come. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ highly reccomend!

Aly
Wisconsin
Read all reviews on Etsy

How It Works

Three steps, no rush.

Whenever you're ready. Many people reach out long after — that's completely okay.

01

Send your photo

Pick a clear, well-lit photo of your pet and tell me a little about them. One good photo is all I need to begin.

02

I review & confirm

Before any wood is cut, I review your photo and confirm the details with you — usually within a day. Nothing is carved until you're happy.

03

Carved & shipped

I carve and hand-finish your piece, then ship it carefully to your door. Made to order, with a 1–2 week lead time.

Start your piece

Tell me about your pet and send a photo. I'll be in touch to confirm everything before I begin. If you would like a different size than what is listed we can customize that for you.

Keepsake
Small · ~5"X7" · desk or shelf
Starting at $95
Portrait
Medium · ~10"X14"
Starting at $185
Heirloom
Large · ~20"X20"
Starting at $275
Premium
30"X40"
$495

Choose your size and send your photo in the form below.

What works best: bright, in-focus, taken at your pet's eye level, with their face filling most of the frame. A sunny window shot beats a dark one every time. Not sure? Send it anyway — I'll tell you honestly before we start.

Always Free Shipping to the Lower 48 States. No payment is taken yet. I'll review your photo and email you to confirm the details — and a preview where it helps — before anything is carved.

Questions

The things people ask.

How long does it take?

Each piece is made to order, with a 1–2 week lead time before it ships. If you're working toward a specific date, tell me when you reach out and I'll let you know honestly whether it's doable.

What photo should I send?

One clear, well-lit photo where you can see your pet's face. Bright and in-focus matters far more than fancy — a good phone photo near a window is perfect. I review every photo before starting and will tell you if another one would carve better.

Is this a print, or actually carved?

Actually carved. Each portrait is cut into solid wood and then finished by hand — so the grain runs through the piece and the likeness has real depth. It is not a flat printed image on a board.

What kind of wood do you use?

Depending on the size and look you're after, I work in solid woods like poplar, oak, walnut, and maple. Each one carries the carving a little differently, and I'm glad to help you choose.

Will I see it before it's finished?

Yes. Nothing is carved until I've confirmed the details with you, and where it helps I'll share a preview first. The goal is that the finished piece is exactly what you were hoping for.

Can I order for a pet who's still with us?

Of course. Many pieces are made to celebrate a companion who's very much still here — a birthday, a gotcha day, or just because. The process is the same.