Olivia Cheyenne's oil pet portrait, Trekell Staff Pick

Trekell's 2024 Pet Portrait Winners!

Introducing our 2024 Pet Portrait Winners!

Kids, Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced categories judged by Nick Eisele! Our heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who participated, helping us achieve one of our highest entry counts to date!

Nick Eisele, judge of the Trekell 2024 Pet Portrait Competition

"The talent and creativity of this community is awe inspiring. It has been a true privilege to be the judge of this year’s Pet Portrait Competition. It was such a treat sitting down for hours taking in each and every piece of artwork submitted. I have the daunting task of selecting only a small few out of hundreds per category. I hope you will join me in celebrating the winners that have been selected. I encourage each of you to browse through all of the entries. There are so many beautiful works of art that deserve to be seen and cherished. Thank you." - Nick Eisele

Advanced Winners:

1st - $1,000 Cash 

Sybiline - Oil

Why: "The power of the feline gaze. Upon seeing this painting, I became completely immersed. A journey into a veiled dimension, coming face to face with a long lost companion. The perfect reunion. Despite my profound experience, the Artist’s design and execution of this painting is beyond superb and I have no doubt they deserve this award."

Pet portrait in oil by Sybiline, 1st place winner in the Advanced category, Trekell 2024 Pet Portrait Competition

2nd - $750 Cash 

Demos Tsellos - Oil 

Why: "Simultaneously bright and moody. I adore the paint handling, confident juicy brush strokes and smokey edges. Very well done with a bold composition. Great job!"

Dark animal's head emerging through pale blue cloudy shapes.

3rd - $500 Cash 

Robert Jack - Oil

Why: "Sometimes a painting hits hard and this is one of those times. A very unique use of this year’s panel. The way the subject fully engulfs the space with not a hint of negative space. The pattern and swirl of the snake draws you in as you search for its end. A really cool piece of artwork."

Coiled brown-and-gold patterned snake against black.

              Intermediate Winners:

1st - $500 Cash 

Raquel Treichel - Acrylic

Why: "A fun and unique piece with playful elements and a pleasant harmony. I love the decision to use the marbled texture to depict the environment. The painting leaves me guessing the techniques and process used to create this stunning image."

Two orange goldfish swim across a turquoise textured background.

2nd - $250 Cash 

Kimberly Strittmater - Watercolor

Why: "A wonderful Art Nouveau design. Beautiful simplification in the drawing enhanced by an intricate design to compliment the shape of the panel. I like to imagine the hidden icons throughout the image describes the personality of the subject."

Wide-eyed tabby cat within an ornate orange patterned border.

3rd - $150 Cash 

Kaitlin Daly - Acrylic

Why: "An absolutely adorable and humorous homage to this pup! A playful design which frames the subject and highlights their quirks. Keeping the background as the raw wood was a brilliant move to add an extra element of texture and interest. If I ever meet this pup, I'll be sure to bring a handful of blackberries."

Black-and-tan dog in profile amid small white flowers and green leaves.

                 Beginner Winners:

1st - $250 Cash 

Mj Stoll - Mixed Media

Why: "I want to meet Jelly!! My heart melts at this painting. A creative portrayal of Jelly’s mischievous and playful personality. Beautiful, simple and sweet. Well deserved!"

Black-and-white cat portrait over pale engraved-looking lettering.

2nd - $150 Cash 

Susan Croy - Mixed Media

Why: "To be honest, I can't tell if this dog is laughing in joy or about to unleash the biggest sneeze the world has ever seen. Whichever it is, I love the idea of both. Making this piece a mixed media painting with the addition of pasting real flowers was a fun choice to push the creativity and narrative of the painting. Well done!"

Pet portrait in mixed media by Susan Croy, 2nd place winner in the Beginner category, Trekell 2024 Pet Portrait Competition

3rd - $100 Cash 

Darcy Baggs - Oil

Why: "As my late instructor once said, the addition of a spot of red makes a painting. Jokes aside, this is a really well done and creative perspective into this cat’s world. The cushion was a fun addition which adds an element to immerse the viewer."

Orange cat in profile against blue circular shapes.

  Kids Winners:

1st - Mystery Prize Pack

Hannah Zhang

Why: "A bright and colorful depiction of this marvelous bird! A great use of brush strokes used to enhance the changing lengths and textures of the feathers. The artist should be very proud!"

Purple-and-pink bird with layered feathers beside green leaves.

2nd - Mystery Prize Pack

Charlotte Edwards

Why: "A crazy fun painting, If I stare at it for too long I get dizzy! A great job painting the cat and a creative way to fill the background. Now I must look away, before I am mind-controlled by this furry friend."

Black cat with golden eyes against yellow-and-blue wavy stripes.

3rd - Mystery Prize Pack

Caroline Chavez

Why: "A perfect balance and harmony. These two snuggle bugs warm my soul. I love the theme of balance and it’s a brilliant way to use the shape of the panel to capture your ideas."

Simple sleeping animal illustration in pale pink on a brown scalloped panel.

FAVORITE DOG 
$100 Trekell Gift Certificate

David Vegt - Oil

chosen by Trekell Pro Team Artist Chelsea Leopold

Brown-and-white dog sits beside a sunny window and leafy plant.

FAVORITE CAT
$100 Trekell Gift Certificate

Karen Bendersky - Oil

chosen by Trekell Pro Team Artist Mallory Hart

Black cat with bright yellow eyes beneath a pale draped hood.

FAVORITE "OTHER ANIMAL"
$100 Trekell Gift Certificate

Bella Woytowich 

chosen by Trekell Pro Team Artist The Obanoth

White rabbit with black upright ears wearing a white ruffled collar.

PRO TEAM PICKS
Curated Brush Set

Siona Henze - Acrylic

chosen by Trekell Pro Team Artist Lizzy Gass

Gray kitten with mouth open beside an open sardine tin.

Ellie Osborne - Watercolor

chosen by Trekell Pro Team artist Victor Roman
Black dog seated beside a wire birdcage in a softly lit room.

Vicki Liu - Acrylic

chosen by Trekell Pro Team artist Alex Garant
Brown-and-white puppy lies on gray bedding with one paw extended.

Trekell Staff Picks
$25 Trekell Gift Certificate

Courtney - Trekell Owner

Bambi Branchfield - Mixed Media

Gray-and-white dog holds a blue lattice ball in its mouth.

 JoJean Beller - Oil

Close-up of a black-and-white cat's face with large green eyes.

Ginko Bergel - Mixed Media

Four small animal portraits around a green floral center on a pink four-lobed panel. 

Trekell Staff Picks
$25 Trekell Gift Certificate

Nikki - Woodshop

L. Michele Lutzai - Oil

Black-and-tan spaniel portrait wearing a blue bow tie on a brown lobed panel.

Jessica Talamantes - Drawing/Dry Media

Pet portrait in drawing and dry media by Jessica Talamantes, staff pick, Trekell 2024 Pet Portrait Competition

GSC Artwork - Acrylic

White-and-black goat portrait on a dark four-lobed panel.

Trekell Staff Picks
$25 Trekell Gift Certificate

Andrew - Marketing

Rene Tuohy - Watercolor 

Two kittens perch on a pale chair with one paw reaching forward.

Marina Zellers - Acrylic

Animal skulls and a purple horseshoe magnet connected by looping green lines.

Alexis Luttrell-Brown - Acrylic

Black-and-white dog's face behind crossed wooden slats.

Trekell Staff Picks
$25 Trekell Gift Certificate

Maria - Production Coordinator

Jaci Tormala - Acrylic

Brown horse's head beside a snowy landscape with evergreen trees.

 

Charlotte Allmann - Acrylic

Small white fluffy dog rests on blue striped cushions.

Natalie Wolnik - Oil

Gray-and-white cat portrait looking upward on a dark four-lobed panel.

 

 

Trekell Staff Picks
$25 Trekell Gift Certificate

Katrina - Shipping Dept.

Olivia Cheyenne - Oil

Gray cat sleeps curled among tiny pink and white flowers.

Jessica Piraino - Oil

Simple white dog's head in profile on a black four-lobed panel.

Annmarie Lobdell - Oil

Fluffy white chicken with a red comb against pale olive.

Trekell Staff Picks
$25 Trekell Gift Certificate

Myca - Customer Service

Darta Lote Berzina - Oil

Horse head surrounded by dense blue, orange and green decorative patterns.

Chiachen Wang - Oil

Fluffy tan dog's face against bright red and orange.

Rachel Giwoff - Oil

Tabby-and-white cat looks upward amid large green leaves.

Congratulations to all the winners!  And thank you to everyone who participated.  We had such a great time watching all the entries come in and viewing all the amazing artwork. We look forward to doing it again in 2025!