Two donkeys leaning head to head against a golden circle – a painted character portrait by VIKTĖ

What if your family were animals?

Your family – reimagined as characters and painted by hand. A one-of-a-kind family portrait inspired by personalities, relationships and the little stories that make your family yours.

TELL ME YOUR IDEA

Every family has its characters.

  • A green and red patterned dragon against a golden circle – a painted character portrait by VIKTĖ
  • A horse with a green ornamented mane against a golden circle – a painted character portrait by VIKTĖ
  • Two donkeys leaning head to head against a golden circle – a painted character portrait by VIKTĖ
  • A cat with green patterned fur against a golden circle – a painted character portrait by VIKTĖ
  • A capybara in profile with leaf patterns and a golden circle behind – a painted character portrait by VIKTĖ

Who would your family be?

The dreamer. The strong one. The quiet observer. The adventurer. The one who keeps everyone together.

A horse? A dragon? A cat? A capybara?

Your characters are discovered from the people themselves.

DESCRIBE YOUR FAMILY
Five painted animal characters – horse, donkeys, cat, capybara and dragon – leaning together on a wooden floor (digital visualisation of the real paintings)

One family. Six characters.

This project began with a real family.

Instead of painting traditional portraits, I translated each person into an animal character – inspired by personality, family relationships and a little private humour.

The result became something between a portrait, a story and a small family mythology.

Check out the process on Instagram

From your family to a painting

  • Tell me about them

    Tell me something about the people you would like to portray. No need to look for photographs.

  • We find their characters

    I explore animals, expressions, colours and decorative details that could belong to your family.

  • We choose the direction

    I develop the composition and character studies, and together we choose the direction that feels right.

  • I paint it by hand

    The chosen concept becomes an original physical painting, created by hand in my studio.
VIKTĖ's hand painting the capybara character on a teal canvas, palette of paints beside it

From an idea to a real painting

During the early creative stage, I may use AI-assisted image tools to explore characters, expressions and possible compositions.

I select, adjust and develop the direction that best reflects the person and the story.

Then the painting begins.

The final artwork is painted by hand in my studio – layer by layer, colour by colour, with its own details, textures and character.

Each finished work is an original physical painting created especially for its family.

How many characters are in your story?

  • ONE CHARACTER

    A portrait of one person transformed into an individual animal character.

    For a child, partner, friend – or someone especially dear.

    ____________

    30 × 30 cm

    From €390

  • TWO CHARACTERS

    Two personalities brought together in one composition.

    For couples, siblings, parents or two people whose relationship is part of the story.

    ____________

    30 × 40 cm

    From €520

  • FAMILY COLLECTION

    A family transformed into a series of individual characters, created to belong together as one visual world.

    ____________

    3 or more original paintings
    From €990

    Additional characters and custom formats available on request.
START MY FAMILY PORTRAIT
Canvases leaning on a wooden sideboard, the donkey portrait in front (digital visualisation of the real paintings)

A gift that couldn't belong to anyone else.

An Animal Family Portrait can be created for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, new homes, Christmas or family celebrations.

Or simply because some family stories deserve to become visible.

Viktorija Starygina (VIKTĖ) in front of a canvas, black-and-white portrait

Created by VIKTĖ

I am a professional painter based in Vilnius, Lithuania.

My work moves between observation, portraiture and imagination. I am interested not only in how people look, but in the gestures, relationships and small details through which we recognise them.

Animal Family Portraits grew from that curiosity – turning personality into character, and character into a hand-painted work of art.

Every portrait is developed individually and painted by hand in my studio.

So – who would your family be?

You don't need to know yet.
Tell me about them.
I will help you find their characters.

START MY FAMILY PORTRAIT

Sending an enquiry doesn't commit you to an order.

What happens next: I reply by email, usually within 24 hours. We talk through your idea and agree the details and the price. Only then does a 30% deposit reserve your place. The balance is due after you approve the finished painting, before dispatch.

Tell me about your family: who they are, how many people you’d like to portray, and what makes them unmistakably themselves. If it’s for a special occasion, mention that too. A few sentences are enough. Asking doesn't commit you to anything.