PrecisionPencil vs Instapainting
Instapainting is a marketplace of individual painters — you browse artists and pick one. PrecisionPencil is a single-artist studio — one known hand, one approval workflow, watercolor only.
Pricing
PrecisionPencil: From $47 for a 4×6 pet portrait. Clear pricing by discipline, size, and frame.
Instapainting: Varies widely by artist; many watercolor options start near $75–$150
Turnaround
PrecisionPencil: 14 days to approval photograph.
Instapainting: Varies by artist — often 2–3 weeks
Style
PrecisionPencil: Single consistent hand across 5,966 completed portraits.
Instapainting: Depends on which painter you select
Choose PrecisionPencil if
- — You want watercolor specifically, done consistently
- — You do not want to vet multiple painters
- — You want an approval photograph before the painting ships
Choose Instapainting if
- — You want to compare and pick a specific painter from many
- — You want a medium other than watercolor (oil, acrylic, pastel, digital)
- — You enjoy browsing artist portfolios
The key difference
Dedicated watercolor studio with fixed workflow vs marketplace where each order is a new artist relationship.
Common questions
Does PrecisionPencil let you pick the artist?
There is one artist — Justin Doff. Every painting is made in his Los Angeles studio. No picking required.
Is Instapainting cheaper?
Occasionally, for some artists. But PrecisionPencil base pricing starts lower than most watercolor Instapainting listings, and direct pricing saves 10% over the same artist's Etsy shop.
Other comparisons