Introducing our 2025 Pet Portrait Winners!
Kids, Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced categories judged by Alai Ganuza! Our heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who participated!
"Who can decide what is “good” or “bad” in art? Judging this contest has been an honor and a true challenge at the same time. So many beautiful entries, faces and amazing techniques that inspired me but just a few that win the prize. I have chosen these winners based on originality, uniqueness and potential. I hope you love them as much as I did and I hope they also inspire you to creating and celebrate creativity." - Alai Ganuza
Advanced Winners:
1st - $1,000 Cash
Alexandra Leonetti - Oil
Why: Loose, fresh but real! This painting talked to me in so many ways. The texture in the background, the simplicity on the shapes but delicacy on the details. It says a lot with so little and that’s why I loved it. Plus, hearts!
2nd - $750 Cash
Ginko Bergel - Watercolor
Why: This painting made me smile as soon as I saw it. I love the technique, the details, each one of the faces (not just one pet but four!) and I loved the smart usage of the canvas shape!
3rd - $500 Cash
Leah Patel - Oil
Why: Subtle but powerful, that glow was perfectly captured. I love the light on this painting contrasting with the bold dark background. And I loved the subtle gradient from fire to purple that we see in the perfectly brushed fur.
Intermediate Winners:
1st - $500 Cash
Sean Gilbert - Oil
Why: It is not easy to explain volume with that short range of values and this painting makes it perfect. It is a powerful image with a striking pose that I would never imagine with this color range and I loved it.
2nd - $250 Cash
Joanna Comstock - Acrylic
Why: This one surprised me with the beautiful style that fills up perfectly the panel shape making it a complete and unique piece. Each little hair block has its own smooth gradient that captures the depth so well. And the palette is also perfect for the subject.
3rd - $150 Cash
Clara Flynn - Acrylic
Why: The brush marks (almost like pencil marks), the shape and combined background with the leaves greens popping out and the complementary but pastel color palette made this painting an easy choice!
Beginner Winners:
1st - $250 Cash
Maya Dong - Oil
Why: It is quite difficult to paint back light and it is even more difficult to do that in skin and earthy tones. However, I think this painting describes the scene greatly. It has depth, the lights are on point, and it has a bird!
2nd - $150 Cash
Zenobia Shariff - Acrylic
Why: When I saw this painting i just smiled. I wouldn’t imagine combining The Starry Night with a pup but here it is and the result is so cute! Those yellows on the head, ears and nose, make the painting complete while the pink adds some spice!
3rd - $100 Cash
Jen Ramirez - Acrylic
Why: This painting gets the most out of the limited palette and materials. I loved how it captures the cute face and expression with just a few colors right on the place. Changing the mark direction it also achieves volume and depth sensation and the background is busy enough to fit the subject but subtle enough not to draw attention from it! Plus the name’s Oreo!
Kids Winners:
1st - Mystery Prize Pack
Maddie Mullen
Why: When I saw this painting I could imagine the little artist doing it. It is so joyful for the colors but the expression is so…nostalgic. It’s staring at my soul! But not in a bad way? I don’t know… just loved it.
2nd - Mystery Prize Pack
Frankie Farrar
Why: This one I loved the palette, the details and texture achieved with the marks and the cozy scene captured. But one detail stood out: they’re doing transparent white layering on top of the top pattern, they’re glazing?! Deserved to win!
3rd - Mystery Prize Pack
Sophia Hodek
Why: I was so hesitant to select this one because some others “captured the likeness more” or were more “academically correct”. However when I saw this I thought: potential. This shows a lot of work on those clouds. Not blending and keeping the texture to capture the fluffiness. The shape is also framed and with that dotted line showed attention to detail. In general this painting made me so happy and I can’t wait to see what this little artist creates in the future!
FAVORITE DOG
$100 Trekell Gift Certificate
Kelly Foss - Oil
chosen by Trekell Pro Team Artist Sean Cheetham
FAVORITE CAT
$100 Trekell Gift Certificate
Jocelyn Long - Oil
chosen by Trekell Pro Team Artist Nick Eisele
FAVORITE "OTHER ANIMAL"
$100 Trekell Gift Certificate
Lydia Broc
chosen by Trekell Pro Team Artist Eric Johnson
PRO TEAM PICKS
Curated Brush Set
Meaghan Bonzer - Acrylic
chosen by Trekell Pro Team Artist Allison Bamcat
Stephanie Taylor - Oil
chosen by Trekell Pro Team artist Todd Casey
Elizabeth Moreland Kern - Other Media
chosen by Trekell Pro Team artist Kai Lun Qu
Trekell Staff Picks
$25 Trekell Gift Certificate
Courtney - Trekell Owner
Veronika Gorchkova - Mixed Media
Nathan Loda - Oil
Mia Rivera - Acrylic
Trekell Staff Picks
$25 Trekell Gift Certificate
Nikki - Woodshop
Liz Gupta - Oil
Mary Wells - Acrylic
Jaci Tormala - Acrylic
Trekell Staff Picks
$25 Trekell Gift Certificate
Andrew - Marketing
Misty Wyant - Oil
Kaylin Schafer - Mixed Media
Alysia Harris - Acrylic
Trekell Staff Picks
$25 Trekell Gift Certificate
Maria - Production Coordinator
Danni Williams - Acrylic
Haley Swedowski - Acrylic
Katt Franich - Oil
Trekell Staff Picks
$25 Trekell Gift Certificate
Katrina - Shipping Dept.
Rafael Guerra - Oil
Nita Tan - Oil
Alex Tabet - Oil
Trekell Staff Picks
$25 Trekell Gift Certificate
Myca - Customer Service
Leah Thomason - Oil
Liz Staley - Acrylic
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 2026!