Growing Up

"Girl With A Watering Can"
Auguste Renoir

"Church of le Sacre Coeur from Rue Saint Rustique"
Maurice Utrillo

"Sunflowers"
Vincent Van Gogh

"Young Woman at a Half Open Door"
Rembrandt

"La Sylphide"
Edgard Degas

I grew up in a small family.  My parents were hard-working entrepreneurs-they ran their own small restaurant in a major city in New Jersey.  It was hard work, hours were long, and it left virtually no time for leisure activities for us as a family. My fun was working in the restaurant after school and meeting our customers and helping out where I was needed.  I didn't mind really.  As long as as I was able keep drawing and coloring as a child I was quite happy. And I loved being around my parents and their loyal patrons.
My parents made an effort to provide me exposure to the arts even though they had no time to take me museum trekking or to live performances.  Classic literature and contemporary novels were scattered through the house, music was always playing, either on the radio or through a vast collection of vinyl LP's, from classical to show tunes. And my exposure to visual art came through books.  We also had various prints in our home, which were at that time reproduced and "framed" ready to hang.  These were available at department stores and my mother made sure they were scattered throughout our apartment.
The images above are what I remember seeing each day as a child.  I did not particularly ask for them -- they appeared and decorated our living room and my bedroom.  A book of Utrillo prints was always available for me to look at.  And although I don't recall I am sure a book of Monet's art was on the shelf somewhere.
I always loved these images and rarely thought that I of them as "art."  They were part of our family and our lives.  Looking back I realized that my parents in their very great wisdom laid a foundation for me to create and appreciate a beautiful and extraordinary way of looking at life.  I see now that I was influenced by these images in my work.  And for that I am thankful and very grateful for two very exceptional people who were my parents.  Everyone should be so very lucky.
Visit my website to see more of my work and how my early days have influenced the work I produce now:
Krys Pettit Artist

Does Size Matter?

"Windswept"
Krys Pettit
Watercolor on Acrylic Yupo Paper
4/12"Hx 3 1/2"W

I once showed a watercolor painting to a friend who has been following my progress with the piece via images sent in emails and instant messages.  His comment when I physically showed him the work of "I thought it was a lot bigger" took me aback for a moment.  And got me to thinking.
Is the size an element of how the artist tells the story with their work?  Because in essence each painting I or any other artist produces tells a story to you, the viewer.  True, an gigantic canvas depicting huge event makes a tremendous statement as you view it in the Louvre -- a little man making it really big -- and crowning himself in the process.  But this was the style then. And if you had the wall space, what an item to show off.

"Coronation of Napoleon"
Jacque-Louis David
20 feet, 4 inches x 32 feet
Courtesy Wikipedia and The Louvre Museum

Wall space is a real consideration for many collectors, not a tremendously romantic notion but a reality we artists must live with.  In an era of downsizing, relocation, and redecorating in an instant that 10 foot canvas you think will look great over someone's couch is not a reality.  So much for romantic notions of where your work hangs!
But the essence of this is that I have always felt small work has a certain intimacy.  If I can get a viewer to come in close for a look, whether it be for the brush strokes or small items hidden in a piece I think I have communicated on a more personal level with my work.  Not unlike the whisper in the ear from someone you love or a knowing glance from a close friend, small gestures can sometimes reach in much deeper than the huge ones.
For me, I will always paint intimately, whether in size or message, hoping I can bring a viewer in close to my work and closer to how feel about it and themselves.
For more information on my nicely sized artwork please visit my website:
https://www.kryspettit.com/

Too Many Images Too Little Time

"Tools of The Trade"
iPhone Photo
Krys Pettit

Someone asked me what I like to paint.  I thought it easier to reply with what I DON'T like to paint. Because there are so many images, so many stories to tell with a brush that I don't feel I can express with words.

I've run the gamut of still life, florals, street scenes, landscapes, figurative, portrait, architectural detail. I've captured the steamy south, the clear and crisp southwest, the freezing and snowy north. Big cities, small towns, unknown roads to unknown destinations. I've painted oceans, lakes, skies, canyons, red rocks, fields, oranges, peppers, plums, geraniums, irises (no never a rose), old houses, new houses, windows, doors, fences, full figures, naked figures, and only faces.  Never an animal. Can't seem to capture those in my art. I've used watercolor, oil, crayon, charcoal, pastel, graphite, color pencil, pen and ink and at times a little spit and a thumbprint.

If someone looked at my body of work once I pass they would say, "She's all over the place.  Doesn't even look like its by the same artist."  And I say, good.  Let's just keep it that way.

For more of my work visit my web site at: https://www.kryspettit.com/
Or if you prefer follow me on Facebook and Instagram.  There is always something new and fresh posted there.  And no two are ever the same if I can help it.
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