“The Dog Palette” by Katie Desrosiers is the winner of National Purebred Dog Day’s tenth annual Fine Art/Poster Competition and is now its official 2026 poster.

Of her piece, Katie says, “I work full-time as a process engineer, but I have also been a watercolor artist for the past eight years, specializing in custom pet portraits. A coworker came across the National Purebred Dog Day competition in a Facebook post and immediately thought of me, knowing how much I love painting dogs. When I read the prompt, I was instantly inspired! What excited me most was the opportunity to choose the breeds myself. As a pet portrait artist, I’m often commissioned to paint specific dogs, but this competition gave me creative freedom. I wanted to select breeds that varied in size, structure, coat type, and color to showcase the incredible diversity within purebred dogs.

“The inspiration for the composition came unexpectedly while I was looking at my watercolor palette. My paints are arranged in a circular formation—ivory black, Payne’s gray, sienna, burnt sienna, and yellow ochre. Those earthy pigments are the backbone of my pet portrait work, and the ‘Dog Palette’ concept was born.

“I selected breeds that embodied different silhouettes and temperaments, arranging them in a circular composition that mirrors my paint palette. Just as each pigment plays a vital role in creating a complete painting, each breed contributes something distinct and irreplaceable to the canine world. The piece became a celebration not only of artistic color harmony but of the beauty, individuality, and heritage of purebred dogs.”

Katie’s watercolor was chosen by our juror, Mr. Alan Fausel, in a contest of highly inventive entries. In sharing his thoughts about the winning image, Alan said, “My first criteria is quality. It is the most subjective, but it reflects the concept of good, better, and best. Katie had one of the strongest ‘hands’ of the lot.

“Then the composition—does it work or flow? Ultimately, does it fulfill the requirements of the competition? In short, would you want to hang this on your wall? I chose this work because the artist showed a strong understanding of the dogs’ character and anatomy. It was also pleasantly composed and, as a poster, would be a handsome addition to anyone’s home. In the end, it reflects the tradition and values of responsible dog care and breeding espoused by National Purebred Dog Day.”

Your poster will be sent rolled and encased in plastic wrap and shipped in a white wax tube.