Pet portrait competition winner graphic naming Yuki Pan above two reclining cats.

Trekell's 2023 Juried Pet Portrait Competiton Winners!

Introducing our 2023 Pet Portrait Winners! 

Kids, Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced categories judged by Andrew Cadima! Our heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who participated, helping us achieve one of our highest entry counts to date!
Circular portrait of a man wearing red-and-blue 3D glasses.

Advanced Winners:

1st - $1,000 Cash 

Yuki Pan - Acrylic

Why: The overall subject matter is wonderful, striking, humorous, relatable, adorable. The technique is strong. The surrounding environment is just as valuable to the painting as the central figure and crafted with equal thought and effort. The composition makes the shape of the panel both integral and almost disappear at the same time.

Two cats lie together on a cushion beneath a dark rectangular structure. 

2nd - $750 Cash 

MP Freed - Oil 

Why: The overall painting is hilarious, creative, and well done. The expression of the bird fits the subject matter so well. Technically the painting is well executed (much like the family that lived in the house).

Yellow-green parrot in front of a distant illuminated building.

3rd - $500 Cash 

Melissa Moore - Oil

Why: The cat is so well crafted and has a wonderful, mystical air about her. She has a strongly developed and unique character. I feel that at any moment this cat will begin to speak and send me on a quest.

White-and-tabby cat looks forward on a pale ornate panel.

Advanced Honorable Mentions:

Heather Thomas Olson - Oil

Dark gray cat lounges across a person's forearm.

Tiffany Binkley - Oil

Two brown horses' heads overlap on a dark shaped panel.

Alex Kupczyk - Acrylic

Person holds a gray tabby kitten before a dark hat-shaped background.

Zhongda Yang - Drawing/Dry Media

Gray cat sleeps curled up on a dark ornate panel.

Sybiline - Mixed Media 

Orange tabby cat in profile within an orange rectangular inset.

 

Intermediate Winners:

1st - $500 Cash 

Lauren Bednaroski - Oil

Why: I love the drama of the piece as a whole and I love the expression of the cat. I love how the potted victim is just falling out of frame.

Tabby cat stands on a branch beside green leaves against blue.

2nd - $250 Cash 

Britt Cole - Mixed Media

Why: I love the way they layered out the shapes of the panel. It creates such a wonderful framing for the beautiful and soft portrait. The expression of the dog is so sweet. 

Brown puppy in profile within a flowered rectangular inset.

3rd - $150 Cash 

Barclay Arnold - Watercolor

Why: The painting has a great style to it and I feel like I’m welcomed into the thoughts and world of the dog. Great use of the panel and a thought-provoking overall composition. Very well executed.

Pale curled animal rests beneath a green floral inset.

 

Intermediate Honorable Mentions:

Holly Garland - Acrylic

White rat and long pink tail within a dark round inset decorated with hearts.

Jackson Kloog - Acrylic

 Gray bat with spread wings beneath an orange circle on black.

Katie Vianello - Oil

Brown-and-white boxer dog behind vertical black bars.

Olga Bankston - Oil

Small brown dogs curl together within a dark-bordered oval panel. 

Maddie Stansell - Mixed Media 

Small dog in a pink party hat and ruffled collar against dark pink.

Beginner Winners:

1st - $250 Cash 

Caitlin Tripp - Acrylic

Why: Lovely style and subject. Very well executed!

 Painting of an orange-and-white cat wearing a space helmet, on a black shaped panel dotted with stars.

2nd - $150 Cash 

Anastasia Eswar - Oil

Why: A great display of value control with a wonderful sense of depth achieved.

Brown dog's face on a dark pointed arch panel.

3rd - $100 Cash 

Zihui Meng - Oil

Why: Excellent color and value. A sweet and engaging expression.

Orange-and-white cat with green eyes against pale gray.

Beginner Honorable Mentions:

Elisabeth Lammert - Oil

Tortoise on a dark rounded panel with warm orange accents. 

Kate Shea - Acrylic

Black cat with bright green eyes beneath blue-green light. 

Angie Vanessa Guzman Diaz - Mixed Media 

Gray-and-yellow cockatiel in profile against turquoise.

 

Kids Winners:

1st - Lindsey Zhang 

Age 6.5

Why: A very sweet painting with accurate drawing and a good sense of value from color. The expression on the dog is so cute and this painting makes me want to pet him.

Pale dog's face beneath illustrated blue-and-green rabbit ears.

2nd - Roy An 

Age 10

Why: A wonderful portrait. Well proportioned drawing, expressive mark marking, and great highlights.

 Shaggy gray dog with tongue out on a bright blue panel.

3rd - Julie Gervais

Age 5

Why: A very impressive ability to mix colors accurately.

Faceted multicolored animal head on a purple ornate panel.

 Pro Team Picks:

All Pro Team pick winners get a free MIDZ brush set!

Kate Zambrano's Pick:

 Circular portrait of a dark-haired woman against a red glittery background. 

Katie Courser - Oil - Intermediate

White dog framed by purple flowers beneath a pastel sunset.

 

Mab Graves' Pick:

Pink-haired woman with red lips and a fanlike black-and-gold halo.

Sara Paulson - Oil - Intermediate

 Small dog portrait on an ornate panel displayed on a wooden easel.

 

Todd M. Casey's Picks:

 Circular black-and-white photograph of a smiling long-haired man.

Teresa Dendy - Acrylic - Beginner

Anatomy of a Three-Legged Dog diagram with two illustrated dogs and labeled body parts.

Megan Geare - Acrylic - Intermediate

Pale cat wearing glasses and a thick gold chain against gray.

The Obanoth's Pick:

Circular portrait of a smiling dark-haired woman against yellow.

Jamie Morris - Oil - Intermediate

Pale hairless cat sits inside a purple-and-blue geometric frame.

 

Kim VanderHoek's Picks:

Smiling woman stands before landscape paintings in a gallery.

Celeste Li - Oil - Beginner

Black-and-white dog with blue eyes beneath pale floral decoration.

Brianna MacMullin - Acrylic - Intermediate

Small blue-and-black jumping spider on a pale ornate panel.

 

Danica Sills' Picks:

 Circular portrait of a blonde woman looking to the side.

Elizabeth Culkin - Mixed Media - Beginner

Calico cat reaches forward on a green ornate panel.

Caroline Tyler - Oil - Intermediate

Brown dog's face with bright eyes and decorative colored lines.

 

Chelsea Leopold's Picks:

Circular portrait of a blonde woman with dark eye makeup.

Randi Greenwood - Oil - Intermediate

Collage of many tan dogs' faces with varied expressions.

 

Nick Eisele's Pick:

Circular portrait of a short-haired bearded man before still-life artwork.

Valentin Lamotte - Oil - Intermediate

Orange-and-gray lizard rests on a branch against glowing blue.

 

Stephanie Buscema's Picks:

Circular portrait of a dark-haired woman wearing purple glasses.

Kristen Chrysler - Acrylic - Beginner

Black cat with purple bat wings amid small black bats on orange.

Ruby Morales - Oil - Intermediate

Small figure with a colorful skull-like head above black railings and blue geometric beams.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our 2022 Juried Pet Portrait Competition! We are overwhelmed and amazed with how many entries we received.  We can't wait to do it again!