Who the Heck Am I -- The Artist's Statement

I suppose you could say I'm an artist.  And part of the being an artist is creating the dreaded artist's statement which says who you are and what you do and why you do it.  What that is exactly will vary -- it can be so academic your head will spin. Personally, I believe in the KISS method (Keep It Simple, Stupid).  So behold, my Artist's Statement.  I've toyed with it for about 15 years now and the same images and thoughts still apply.  Is it safe to assume that's who I am?  Who knows - depends on the day and how simple I feel at the time.
Visit my web site to get an idea of some of my art that illustrates what I mean in my Artist's Statement.
Krys Pettit Original Artwork

Krys Pettit

Watercolor Artist

Artist Statement

I have always been fascinated by portals -- windows, doors, gates, fences -- ways we surround ourselves, secure from everything but yet enabling us to escape if we wish.  I find that nature interacts beautifully with these entrances – embracing, sheltering, decorating and coaxing – creating its own unique living work of art.

What calls to me are the quiet scenes that go unnoticed – the corner window, the gate hiding in the shadows, the door that waiting to be opened and to let someone in. So many of these man-made images are surrounded by nature whether as a chosen embellishment or through the dominance of the natural world over man-made structures. The seasonal outcome of their relationship will change and at various times one or the other becomes more dominant and more beautiful.  It has taught me as that sometimes the simplest images make the most intriguing and memorable paintings.

Using watercolor as my mediums, I paint these moments in time, impressions gathered from my years of observation and travel.  I paint memories, interpretations of what I have seen and recorded. Images speak to me and I feel a surge of energy to record that time, that instant, those colors.

This creative journey is what motivates me to paint, making every day an adventure and a joy where fleeting memories and moments in time are captured.  Sharing these memories and moments with my viewers and collectors are the reward I gain on this journey.

Watercolor Ain't For Sissies

Watercolor was once taught to ladies as part of their cultural training. And although watercolor has been used for centuries in illustrative and fine art it has never had the presence and strength in the world of collectors as oil and acrylic paintings. As a watercolor painter I find this remarkably sad but things are slowly changing in the art world.

Don't go thinking watercolor is a medium for delicacy and lady-like lyrical painting. There have been a number of strong watercolor artists, past and present that blow that theory away.  So many artists have made exceptional use of the watercolor medium that I was hard-pressed to choose which to feature in this blog entry.  I decided to highlight the ones that I feel influence my work and style.

JMW Turner
British romantic painter,  working in the 18th-19th century, he is credited with influencing the Impressionists in France many years later. I always felt he was instrumental in setting watercolors free to stand for themselves.  For more on his personality, rent the very British bio pic, "Mr. Turner."

"Fire at the Grand Storehouse of the Tower of London" Watercolor 1841

John Singer Sargent
Considered a leading portrait painter, in the late19th and early 20th century, Sargent had a way with watercolor that artists continue to study and strive to emulate.  His colors, techniques, his subject matter all work to bring watercolor painting to a new level.  He was, truly, remarkable.

"Corfu Lights and Shadow" 1909

Winslow Homer
Self-taught and producing his first watercolor painting in 1873, his later handling of medium was fairly modern.  He ventured out of his Maine studio and produced some monumental work while in the Caribbean and even visiting the Central Florida area in late 1800's and early 1900's.

"After the Hurricane Bahamas" 1899

Andrew Wyeth
Son of renown illustrator NC Wyeth, Andrew trained under his father from childhood and created strong images of his home landscapes in Pennsylvania and Maine.  This early watercolor was done when he was still in his 20's.

"The Road to Friendship" 1941

Jamie Wyeth
Andrew's son and also a spectacular contemporary artist -- check this video on Vimeo out to see how intense his work is -- on cardboard, no less -- no dainty strokes here.
Inferno

Dean Mitchell
A personal favorite and a constant inspiration as to how watercolor is done best.  Dean was born in the 1950's in a poor area in North Florida, and early on was encouraged by his grandmother to create art.  And create art he does.  And beautifully, often times painting the less than pretty parts of life.

"Debris" 2014

New Exhibit for January 2017

"Santorini Church" watercolor, acrylic gesso, pen & ink on paper
Kry Pettit

January is starting out slowly for me.  A nasty respiratory infection has me vegging on the couch watching art documentaries on YouTube and itching to get into the studio.  The spirit is strong, but, alas, my body is not cooperating. In a few weeks I think I'll be back at it and until then I watch, study and paint in my mind.  And eat oatmeal cookies and Cheezits.  Don't ask.

I am fortunate to be in an exhibit here in Central Florida for the month of January.  My mixed media painting,"Santorini Church" is showing at the SoBo Gallery in Winter Garden, FL. If you're in the Central Florida area Winter Garden is a great place to visit - along with the art gallery you'll find exciting and unique restaurants and shops. 

Take a ride and come see the exhibit which runs now through January 28, 2017. Below is a link for the Gallery and the Art Association.  Take a look at the great things the Winter Garden Art Association is doing for local artists and the Winter Garden community.  They are a marvelous and needed addition to the art scene here in Central Florida.

SoBo Gallery Winter Garden Art Association