August 2-30

Reception: June 2

Rachel Pettit was born in Wisconsin and spent much of her childhood in the Southwest. She cultivated her impressionistic style from various workshops, classes, and personal exploration. She has participated in numerous regional and national exhibitions including Arts for The Parks Top 100, Oil Painters of America National and Regional Exhibitions, Salon International, American Impressionists Society, and International Artists Magazine.
“Early in my painting career, I realized the importance of painting from life to achieve the authenticity that was the goal in my creations.  Over 40 years of ‘en plein air painting’ (in the open air) has contributed to the works presented here at the Art Center.  Many are also painted in the studio and rely on all the 'seeing' done outdoors from life.
My participation in the many plein air invitationals has provided a wide variety of subject matter in some of the most beautiful and unique national parks and landscapes in the country, including Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Olympic Peninsula, Zion, and our own Colorado National Monument and Grand Mesa... many with new challenges of color, form, atmosphere, and composition.
This is what I love.  To try to capture the essence of what makes a scene memorable, or just to produce a positive response when viewed.  My original oil paintings are all one of a kind.”-Rachel Petit