Autumn Trees and Abstract Strokes

I have always enjoyed the abstract quality of working with watercolor. Putting down the colors  and letting them mix randomly on paper is what I love best.

However, working in oil presents a bigger challenge because you have to apply the paint more directly than with a watercolor medium. 

I had some luck with this small oil painting of an autumn tree. Lots of paint, mixing on the canvas and random brushstrokes gave me more of an abstract quality with just enough impressionism to satisfy me.

Below is the finished 10" x 8" oil painting of one of my favorite autumn trees.

"Finally Fall"

Krys Pettit

Oil on canvas panel, 10"H x 8"W

Visit my website for a sampling of my work and custom house portraiture:

https://www.kryspettit.com

Wild Oats and Billy Goats is a great, eclectic fine art and craft gallery in Decatur, GA and I am thrilled be a part of their tribe:

https://wildoatsandbillygoats.com/collections/krys-pettit

Etsy is a great marketplace for fine art and craft and I have had my store there for a number of years.  You'll find prints and my medium-sized oils, acrylic and watercolors.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/KrysPettitArtwork

Looking for art to fill your home and within budget?  I regularly put out studies, smaller works, and older pieces for auction at my eBay store.  It's fun to bid and win and I keep the work varied and fresh:

https://www.ebay.com/str/kryspettitartist

Creating a Portrait of Hands

"Hands of An Artist"

Krys Pettit

Watercolor on Archival Paper

Private Collection

I typically paint commissioned portraits of houses and buildings, something I enjoy doing because I feel I connect with a client, though the dwelling or the memories they have of a certain structure or place.  Most recently I was given a unique opportunity to create a portrait commission of a fellow artist's hands, truly a different subject than I am used to doing, but equally as connecting and emotional as any other personal portrait. 

I was moved by the request from my friend and at the same time a bit challenged. The objects in the hands  have special meaning to this person and they needed to be placed in the hands in this specific way, capturing a moment in time when they fell into the open palms.  

Originally we discussed creating a black and white drawing but I felt delicate washes of watercolor would tell the story better than the just black and white marks. The washes were kept simple and light but added the right amount of complexity to the painting. 

We often think of portraits of faces, but other parts of our bodies are unique and define us, like the hands of an artist. 

Visit my website for a sampling of my work and custom house portraiture:

https://www.kryspettit.com

Wild Oats and Billy Goats is a great, eclectic fine art and craft gallery in Decatur, GA and I am thrilled be a part of their tribe:

https://wildoatsandbillygoats.com/collections/krys-pettit

Etsy is a great marketplace for fine art and craft and I have had my store there for a number of years.  You'll find prints and my medium-sized oils, acrylic and watercolors.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/KrysPettitArtwork

Looking for art to fill your home and within budget?  I regularly put out studies, smaller works, and older pieces for auction at my eBay store.  It's fun to bid and win and I keep the work varied and fresh:

https://www.ebay.com/str/kryspettitartist