Priceless portraits
With a ‘pay what you can’ concept and 50 percent of all profits donated to animal charity, Nahila’s digital pet prints are making us smile.
At the moment, there’s a lot on everyone’s mind – and finding ourselves in a global pandemic hasn't exactly been the best way to spend the first half of the year. But there are still pockets of goodness going around, and Nahila’s small business, Pawlander, is certainly one of those.
“When we were hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, I realised that there were many people who had been financially affected and couldn’t afford treatment or surgery for their furry friends,” explains Nahila. “I needed to find a way to help and be kind to people who really need it. I have always loved digital art and I thought I could aid by creating illustrations.” And so Pawlander was born.
For every digital pet portrait that’s sold, 50 percent of the profit is donated to animal charity. But Nahila’s giving doesn’t stop there – her ‘pay what you can afford’ concept means that absolutely anyone can purchase a portrait of their beloved pet, and support animal charity at the same time.
“I love connecting people and giving them the opportunity to share photos and talk about their fur babies. I feel that connection and community is priceless. That’s why I don’t set a fixed price as I believe people should have the freedom to choose an amount they can afford.”
Nahila says her reason for starting Pawlander is very dear to her heart. “My first ever donation was to a very important person, my cousin, who had become unemployed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Her cat, Emma, needed an emergency surgery, but she couldn’t afford to cover the expenses. The situation was really sad and hopeless, but being able to help her gave me a lot of peace and joy. Emma is now a healthy and happy cat.”
A business that was created through Nahila’s love for animals, her love of creating, and a wish to help those in need, Pawlander has generously continued to help other animals, with donations having also been made to the South Auckland Puppy Surrender. Half of all proceeds made this month will be donated to DC Rescue Dogs.
“I’ve always dreamed of having enough money to donate and help animals, but I was never able to. Now, through Pawlander, I can finally be of help.”
Talk us through your creative process. How do you get to a finished digital art print?
I use photographs as my reference material, so the final portrait depends on the quality of the photos I’m provided with. The creative process begins once I receive the client’s best photos.
I’m extremely passionate about producing an illustration that my client will love and that reflects their pet’s personality. I always endeavour to keep my clients updated and take any feedback they may have into account. I provide multiple options for backgrounds and frames. Clients are then provided with a high resolution file of the final illustration that they can choose to either print at home or put on just about anything such as canvases, mugs, coasters and bags.
How does it feel to know your creations are on display in homes around the world?
Pawlander makes me very happy and grateful. Knowing that my illustrations can brighten someone's day is priceless. I’ve realised that designing a portrait is not only about immortalising a pet and having a framed illustration hanging on a wall, it is also about celebrating the treasured life you’ve shared together and remembering them every day of your life.
Do you have your own pet? If so, tell us about them!
I have a dog called Lolo (Beagle x rescue) in my parents' house in Argentina. He's the love of my life! I make video calls with him every week. He is my fur baby. I also work in a dog day care in Auckland, so I have hundreds of dogs that give me their love every day and whom I love with all my heart. They're my fur babies too.
Left: Nahila and Lolo in Argentina
Follow along with Nahila on Instagram and support a wonderful cause – @pawlander.nz
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
