Our story

Toopaw began with love, loss, and a little orange cat named Mango.  

When our founder Cecilia Z., graduated with master’s degree from SVA , lost her soulmate cat after a decade of companionship, she picked up a paintbrush to heal her heart. What started as a farewell portrait for Mango grew into a life’s purpose: helping pet parents transform fleeting moments into eternal keepsakes through hand-painted oil portraits.  

Why We Exist

Pets leave paw prints that never fade from our hearts. At Toopaw, we turn those invisible marks into tangible artworks that honor your unique bond. Every brushstroke in our custom portraits carries the weight of wet-nosed greetings, midnight cuddles, and those quiet moments when their eyes seemed to say "I love you" without making a sound.  

Our Artists’ Promise

Our painters are more than skilled technicians – they’re storytellers who speak the language of pets. Before touching canvas, they study:  

• The distinctive swirl of your cat’s fur  

• That goofy ear-flop your dog does when running  

• The mischievous glint in your rabbit’s eyes  

Through conversations with you, we uncover personality quirks and cherished memories, weaving them subtly into each piece. It’s not just about capturing likeness – it’s about preserving the "essence" of what makes your companion irreplaceable.  

Your Memory, Masterpiece

For every "good boy" who crossed the rainbow bridge, every senior cat napping in sunbeams, every adventure-loving pup – we create legacy art that lets love outlast lifetimes. Because while pets may only be part of our world, to them... "we"were their whole world.