Rachel Pettit
Grand Junction, Colorado
Professional award winning artist for over 30 years. "It doesn't get any better than this!"
Message“It doesn't get any better than this”...my motto when I am painting outdoors, taking in the visual feast and discovering the subtleties of nature right before my eyes. I feel extremely fortunate to be able to freely pursue this passion. My childhood was spent living in the southwest, traveling, camping and exploring. This instilled a great love of the outdoors which later was continued as a love of landscape painting.
The spirit which resounds in each of my works comes from a personal heartfelt love of the natural world and the peace and balance which can be derived from it. Who could know that plein air painting ('in the open air') would become a means to capture that elusive freshness and keen color that is only witnessed first hand? Speed and a well-trained eye and hand are needed to capture the most appealing and fleeting light of early morning and late afternoon. These paintings are often filled with expressive brushwork and spontaneity. Many years of painting in the field has given me the experience to paint the subject with integrity and authenticity, even in the studio. I hope that my paintings will present to you a sense of place; one that lifts the spirit as each one does for me.
Juried Exhibitions (partial listing)
2018 First Annual Yellowstone Plein Air Invitational
2018 Paint the Peninsula Plein Air Invitational (Port Angeles, WA)
2018-2017 Grand Canyon Celebration of Art Plein Air Invitational (Kolb Studio, Grand Canyon Village, AZ)
2018 Oil Painters of America National Exhibition (Steamboat Springs Art Museum, CO)
2018 American Impressionist Society Small Works (Greenwich House Gallery, Cincinnati, OH)
2018-2014 Where In The World Is Plein Air? (Illume Gallery, St. George, UT)
2018-2014 New Visions Art Show (The Mission Gallery, St. George, UT)
2017 Oil Painters of America Western Exhibition (Illume Gallery, St. George, UT) Award of Excellence
2017 Grand Canyon Celebration of Art Plein Air Invitational (Kolb Studio, Grand Canyon Village, AZ)
2017-2015 Mountain Oyster Club Contemporary Western Art Show and Sale (Tucson, AZ)
2017 Artists For The New Century (Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT) Bennington Award
2017 Paint the Peninsula Plein Air Invitational (Port Angeles, WA) Best Landscape Award
2017 Cedar Breaks Chasing Light Plein Air Invitational (Southern Utah Museum of Art, Cedar City, UT)
2017-2011 Sears Dixie Invitational Show (Sears Gallery, St George, UT) 2016 Honorable Mention
2016-2013 Zion National Park Plein Air Invitational, 2014 Purchase Award and PleinAir Magazine Award
2016 Sedona Plein Air Invitational (Sedona, AZ)
2016 Paint the Peninsula Plein Air Invitational (Port Angeles, WA) Best Nocturne
2016 American Impressionist Society National Juried Exhibition (Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA)
2016- 2015 Plein Air Artists of Colorado National Exhibition (Mary Williams Fine Art, Boulder, CO)
2016 Cedar Breaks Arts Afire Plein Air Invitational (Southern Utah Museum of Art, Cedar City, UT)
2016 Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils (Southwest Gallery, Dallas TX)
2016 "Pictured: The West's Most Spectacular National Parks, 2016 National Parks Service Centennial Exhibition (St George Art Museum, St George, UT)
2016 Celebrating the Vitality of Women, Utah Women Artists (Utah Cultural Celebration Center, West Valley City) Merit Award
2016 "Close to Home, Our Own Spectacular National Parks", 2016 National Parks Service Centennial Exhibition (St George Art Museum, St George, UT)
2016 ArtMuse Contest, January, First Place, Master Class
2015 American Women Artists National Juried Exhibition (Bonner David Galleries, Scottsdale, AZ)
2015 American Impressionist Society National Juried Exhibition (Trailside Galleries, Scottsdale, AZ) Merit Award
2015 Sugar House Plein Air Competition (Local Colors Gallery, Salt Lake City, UT), Best of Show
2015-2014 Where In The World Is Plein Air? (Illume Gallery, Salt Lake City, UT)
2014 American Impressionist Society National Juried Exhibition (Abend Gallery, Denver, CO)
2014 Sedona Plein Air Invitational (Sedona, AZ)
2014 Paint the Peninsula Plein Air Invitational (Port Angeles, WA)
2014 Art & Soup Benefit Art Show (Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT)
2013 Zion National Park Plein Air Art Invitational (Zion National Park, UT)
2013 Oil Painters of America Western Regional Juried Exhibition (Southwind Art Gallery, Topeka, KS)
2013 American Impressionist Society National Juried Exhibition (M Gallery of Fine Art, Charleston, SC)
2013 Celebrating the Vitality of Women, (Utah Cultural Celebration Center, West Valley City) Traditional Artwork Award
2013 Salon International 2013 (Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art, San Antonio, TX)
2012 American Impressionist Society National Juried Exhibition (Eckert & Ross Fine Art, Indianapolis, IL)
2011 Oil Painters of America Regional Juried Exhibition (Lee Youngman Galleries, Calistoga, CA)
2011 American Impressionist Society National Juried Exhibition (Mountainsong Galleries, Carmel, CA)
2010 American Impressionist Society National Juried Exhibition (Richland Fine Art, Nashville, TN)
2010 Oil Painters of America Regional Juried Exhibition (Mountain Trails Gallery, Jackson, WY)
2009 American Impressionist Society's National Juried Exhibition (Saks Galleries, Denver, CO)
2008 Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils (Dana Gallery, Missoula, MT)
2008 Intermountain Society of Artists Spring Show, Best of Show
2007 33rd Annual Statewide Competition (Eccles Community Art Center, Ogden UT)
2006 Salon International 2006 (Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art, San Antonio, TX)
2005 Arts for the Parks Top 100 (Jackson Lake Lodge, Jackson, WY and USA tour)
2005 Oil Painters of America Regional Juried Exhibition (Snowfire Gallery, Estes Park, CO)
2005 Oil Painters of America National Exhibition of Traditional Oils (Hilligoss Galleries, Chicago, IL)
2005 Salon International 2005 (Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art, San Antonio, TX)
2004 International Artist Finalist, Seascapes, Rivers & Lakes Competition (pub. in June/July issue 2004)
2004 Salon International 2004 (Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art, San Antonio, TX)
2005 Arts in Harmony 10th Annual National Juried Art Show, Award of Excellence
2003 Oil Painters of America Regional Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils (Hilligoss Galleries, Chicago, IL) Honorable Mention
2002 Arts for the Parks Top 200 (Jackson, WY) Award for Excellence
2002 Salon International 2002 (Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art, San Antonio, TX)
2002 Oil Painters of America National Exhibition (Hilligoss Galleries, Chicago, IL)
2001 Oil Painters of America Regional Exhibition of Traditional Oils (Springville Museum, Springville UT)
2001 Arts for the Parks Exhibition, Second 100 (Art West Gallery, Jackson, WY)
2000 Northwest Watercolor Society 60th Anniversary Exhibition (Frye Art Museum, Seattle, WA)
1999 Oil Painters of America Regional Juried Exhibition (Sangre de Cristo Art Center, Pueblo, CO)
1998 Oil Painters of America National Exhibition (P&C Gallery, Washington, DC)
1996 Carnegie Art Center Juried Show (Walla Walla, WA)
1995 Northwest Watercolor Society Open Exhibition (Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA)
1995 Allied Arts Center Multi-Media Show (Richland, WA) Purchase Award
1995 SMArt by the River Juried Show (St Maries, ID) Best of Show
1993 Edmonds Art Festival Juried Show (Frances Anderson Cultural Center, Edmonds, WA)
1992 Puget Sound Country (Eileen Enck Gallery, Bellevue, WA)
1990 Eastern Washington Watercolor Society (Walla Walla and Richland, WA)
1989 Corbin Art Center Juried Exhibition of Fine Art (Spokane, WA)
1988 Montana Miniature Art Society International Show (Castle Gallery, Billings, MT)
1987 Women In Art (Billings, MT) Best of Show
1986 Yellowstone Exhibition (Billings, MT) Purchase Award
Signature Memberships
American Impressionist Society,
Oil Painters of America
Plein Air Artists of Colorado
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