5th Annual Best in Show | Pets Art Competition: 6 Top Other Pets

Watch our Competitions page for the 6th Annual Best in Show | Pets Art Competition! 

TOP “OTHER” WINNER 

“I’ve kept aquariums for many years, both at home and at work, and my first fish was a betta. Although I’ve cared for many different species over time, bettas have remained my favorite. 

“Visually, they’re extraordinary. Their fins move like fabric in water, and their colors shift subtly depending on the light. Despite that, they’re so small that their complexity is often overlooked. My work is driven by the idea of slowing that moment down—and bringing attention to details that might otherwise go unnoticed.

“Antisocial Butterfly is part of an ongoing drawing series of betta fish. I aim to elevate each element of the subject, treating every scale and every ray of fin as something worthy of close study. By isolating the fish and rendering it at a larger scale, I’m able to push those intricate details into plain sight, allowing viewers to fully experience their structure, movement, and color.”
—Kate Haanraadts

Why it Stands Out

“The technical execution by the artist was exceptional. I like that the betta is portrayed on its own—making the statement that its beauty speaks for itself. Capturing the iridescence of the scales was sublime, and the flowing movements of the fins made this painting ‘float’ on the paper. You can tell that the artist is very familiar with their subject.”
—John Plishka, Juror 

Honorable Mentions

Meet the Artist 

Kate Haanraadts specializes in contemporary realism, working with colored pencil. Her drawings focus primarily on animals—particularly betta fish—as well as objects of personal and nostalgic significance. She earned her degree from Pratt Institute, in Brooklyn, and is a Member of the International Guild of Realism. Her work has been selected for multiple juried exhibitions and has been featured in several fine art publications. She balances her studio work with teaching realism and working as a broadcast designer

VISIT THE ARTIST’S WEBSITE