We describe a Q-switched Er:GdVO4 laser resonantly pumped by a MgO-doped periodically poled LiNbO3 optical parametric oscillator (MgO: PPLN OPO) at 1 536 nm. In continuous-wave lasing, the maximum output power is 1.14 Wwith an incident pump power of 4.7 Wand a slope efficiency of 27%. In Q-switched operation, 1.1 mJ of output pulse energy is achieved at 200 Hz. The upper-state lifetime at different pulse repetition frequencies is also calculated.