Meet Tulsa Artist Sara Anais: Bringing Pets and Events to Life Through Vibrant Illustration

Tulsa is full of hidden gems, and artist Sara Anais Gonzalez is one of them. With her vibrant illustrations, playful pet portraits, and live event paintings, she’s making the local art scene more colorful—one canvas at a time. Recently, Jennie Wolek of The Wolek Group and Tulsa Looks Good On You sat down with Sara to chat about her journey, creative inspiration, and where you can find her next.

From Scientific Illustration to Pet Caricatures

Sara Anais didn’t take the most traditional path to becoming one of Tulsa’s most beloved pet portrait artists. With a degree in Biological Premedical Illustration, she began her career as a junior art director in pharmaceutical advertising. But when she lost her job two years ago, she found herself drawn—literally—back into her passion for art.

It all started during the holiday season when she hand-drew portraits of her family’s pets. Those festive gifts quickly turned into a thriving side hustle, and now a full-time creative career centered on custom pet caricatures, event painting, and children’s book illustration.

Live Event Painting and Community Connection

What sets Sara apart is her interactive approach to art. You’ll often find her at Tulsa breweries and dog-friendly events, capturing the essence of local pups with on-the-spot caricatures. “I ask people to tell me character traits about their dogs,” she says, “and I love hearing things like ‘my dog thinks she’s a princess’ or ‘he’s obsessed with snacks.’”

It’s this personal touch—and her obvious love for what she does—that makes her art so memorable. Whether she’s painting food at a restaurant, people at a party, or dogs at an outdoor festival, Sara’s work brings joy and personality to every piece.

How to Support and Follow Sara Anais

Want to commission a custom pet portrait or see Sara in action at her next Tulsa event?

You can:

Whether you’re looking for a heartfelt gift or a one-of-a-kind keepsake, Sara’s art captures the spirit of Tulsa pets and their people with warmth, creativity, and color.