***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries***
About six months ago, a delightful watercolor portrait of Burger arrived in our mailbox as a surprise gift. It captured his personality perfectly—soft washes of color, playful detail, and that unmistakable look that made us smile every time we passed it. If you love custom pet art, this kind of handmade touch is hard to beat.
Now the artist behind that portrait, Gadora Wilder (the creative persona of Stephanie Lewis), is offering a special giveaway. One lucky reader will win an 8×10 custom watercolor—an original piece made from a photo you provide. Gadora works with all kinds of subjects: dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, and even inanimate favorites like a cherished armchair or a beloved bookshelf vignette. Her process blends digital enhancement and traditional watercolor painting to create a one-of-a-kind keepsake you can frame and display.
How it works: you send a photo, Gadora enhances and prints it on quality watercolor paper, then hand-applies watercolor washes and details. The finished piece is matted and mailed to the winner, ready to go into a frame. The result is a vibrant, personal artwork that preserves a memory or highlights a favorite design moment in your home.
Below are the giveaway details and how the winner was selected. Even though entries are closed, this description explains the prize and the entry steps so you can consider commissioning a piece if you missed the giveaway.
- PRIZE: One 8×10 custom watercolor of your pet or any still life by Gadora Wilder. This is an original, hand-finished piece printed on watercolor paper and overpainted for depth and texture.
- TO ENTER (now closed): Readers were asked to comment on the post with the phrase “WATERCOLOR THIS!”
- BONUS QUESTION: Entrants were encouraged to describe what pet photo or still life they wanted rendered: a cozy cat nap, a playful dog in the yard, a bright tropical bird, or a favorite corner of the living room. Participants could also share their image on our Facebook page to highlight the subject.
- GIVEAWAY CLOSES: Wednesday, May 5th at 8pm EST (entries are no longer accepted).
- NUMBER OF WINNERS: ONE
- PRIZE SHIPS: The prize ships worldwide, making it accessible to winners anywhere.
- USUAL STUFF: One entry per email address was allowed. The winner was chosen randomly and announced the following day.
Gadora Wilder’s work is a charming mix of photographic reference and painterly interpretation, ideal for anyone who wants to preserve a pet’s likeness or celebrate a small decorative moment in their home. Whether your photo captures a candid expression, a silly pose, or a serene interior scene, the custom watercolor brings softness and personality to the image while keeping recognizable detail.
If you missed this giveaway but are interested in a custom piece, Gadora accepts commissions through her shop and site. Commissioned work follows the same hands-on process: you submit a photo, she prepares a print on watercolor paper, then applies paint and finishing touches before matting and shipping the finished artwork.
For more information about giveaways, see our Giveaway FAQs. Image and prize details courtesy of Gadora Wilder.