***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries***

About six months ago, a delightful watercolor portrait of Burger arrived at our house as a surprise holiday gift. It was such a sweet and unexpected gesture that it immediately brightened our day. The artist behind that charming piece works under the whimsical name Gadora Wilder, the creative alter ego of Stephanie Lewis, and her work captures personality and warmth with a playful, modern touch.

GadoraWilder on Etsy

Now, the artist is offering a special giveaway through Young House Love that gives one lucky reader the chance to win a custom 8×10 watercolor of a beloved pet or a favorite still life. Whether you’d like your dog, cat, bird, reptile, or even a treasured chair or decorative vignette transformed into original art, Gadora will work from a photo you provide and turn it into a one-of-a-kind piece ready for framing.

GadoraWilder website

The process is simple and thoughtful. You submit a photo, and Gadora digitally enhances the image, prints it onto quality watercolor paper, and then overpaints the print with real watercolor. The final piece is matted and shipped to the winner, ready to be framed and displayed. The result is a blend of photographic accuracy and loose painterly charm that preserves the spirit of the subject while adding an artistic layer that makes the piece feel handcrafted.

GadoraWilder portfolio

Here’s how the giveaway was structured:

• PRIZE: One 8×10 custom watercolor of your pet or any still life by Gadora Wilder.
• TO ENTER: Comment on the post with the phrase “WATERCOLOR THIS!” to register your entry.
• BONUS QUESTION: Tell us which pet photo or still life you would love to have turned into a painting. Maybe you have an especially adorable photo of your cat curled up in bed, a goofy snapshot of your dog prancing through snow, or a picture of a cozy corner in your living room that you want immortalized. Entrants could also post images on the Young House Love Facebook page for reference.
• GIVEAWAY CLOSES: Wednesday, May 5th at 8pm EST.
• NUMBER OF WINNERS: One winner was selected.
• PRIZE SHIPS: The prize was available to ship worldwide.
• USUAL STUFF: One entry per email address. The winner was chosen at random and announced the following Thursday.

Custom pet portraits make meaningful keepsakes. They can commemorate a beloved companion, celebrate a new pet, or highlight a sentimental object in your home. Watercolor over a printed base offers a subtle combination of detail and impression, giving the finished artwork visual depth and a handmade quality that stands apart from a simple photo print. Because the artist works from your photograph, you can select the pose, expression, or vignette that best reflects the personality or mood you want to preserve.

If you ever decide to commission a piece outside of a giveaway, consider aspects like photo quality, lighting, and composition. A clear image with good natural light and minimal motion blur will typically make the best starting point for a painted print. Close-ups that capture facial expression tend to translate especially well to watercolor, while wider shots can be wonderful for capturing a pet within a meaningful environment or a favorite corner of a room.

Find more giveaway details in the site’s usual FAQ section. Images and artwork in this post were provided by Gadora Wilder.