
Pet Portrait Artist
Recycled Wood Portraits
Eric Kruse
Owner / Artist, Signed In Wood
I am a Flagstaff, AZ artist who makes one of a kind art pieces using reclaimed, recycled and salvaged wood. I keep the natural curvatures, grains, and finishes to produce pieces with rustic character and charm. I experiment with all natural stains consisting of vinegar and rusty nails along with spices like turmeric and chili power.
I have had a passion for woodworking from early childhood. Some of my fondest memories revolve around helping my father in his wood-shop as a child; Signed in Wood is the perfect outlet for my passion for both art and woodworking along with the conservation element of using reclaimed, recycled and salvaged wood.
I predominately focus my art on trees, landscapes, portraits and vintage vw’s but do many different art pieces. I have found that my pet portraits have gone over very well by capturing the love of our “best friends” on a reclaimed wood art piece. I also can pretty much take any picture and reproduce it on a wood canvas to capture the memory forever.

Portrait Gallery
Just A Few Of Our Favorites
Pricing
14 inches x 14 inches$225
- Single head and shoulder portrait for one subject
$225
18 inches x 18 inches$390
- Single or double head and shoulder pet portrait
$390
20 inches x 28 inches$555
- Single full body portrait
$555
I just want to let you know that I was so pleased with your piece of art! I gave it as a gift to my sister, as it was a picture of her son and their dog. She thoroughly enjoyed it as well and had tears when she opened it up to see what it was. Thank you again very much and best luck to you!!
I just got the picture you made for me. Just letting you know how VERY pleased I am, you did a fantastic job!! Thank you sooo much!
Got a great quality carving of my girlfriends horse and dog (in the same carving) for Christmas. She absolutely loved it and it came out even better than I expected. They were also very helpful in all the prep and responded to messages very quickly.
Absolutely amazing. Brought tears to my eyes of course. The level of detail is beyond my expectations. It’s really all the small things.
I’m in love!! Thank you for the this amazing piece I will treasure forever, Eric!
Eric...seriously! This sign just showed up and it is so fabulous! My son loves it! You did such a nice job. I cannot thank you enough for getting this done for me. I will be back for more. Thanks!
Please See More of My Work on Etsy
Book a Portrait
Drop us an e-mail using the form below to get started.
eric@signedinwood.com
Photo Tips
Our aim when producing your portrait is to capture a memory by creating a personal wooden art piece that can be treasured for many years to come. To do this, one of the most important things in commissioning your pet’s portrait is to ensure we can work from a good photograph. It cannot be emphasized enough that “the better the photo, the better the finished portrait.” Don’t worry, you don’t need to be a professional for this. We’re here to help! Here’s some simple advice…
- It is best to use a camera as opposed to a mobile phone camera. (Camera phones are ok if it is one of a high spec).
- Take photos of your animal outside in a natural light.
- Try to get on your pets level (eye level) and make sure that the picture is fully in focus and there isn’t a ‘flash’ in their eyes.
- Make sure you send the photos in their original format (don’t crop or edit the photos) as this can decrease the size and resolution of the image.
- Send the images as an attachment
- Take the photo at eye level with your pet. Photos looking down on your pet look unflattering and unnatural to the eye. The best angles are with your pet looking straight at you or with their head slightly tilted to one side looking past the camera.
Ultimately the decision is yours on what pose / look you want from your animal as you know that certain personality they have and what portrays them best!