Jim Petty

A Nationally known painter, Jim Petty’s work is in collections from Florida to
California. His style and subject matter
transcend that of regional artists; his
paintings feel at home in Minnesota or
Arizona.
A Word from the Artist…..
I began my interest in art as a youngster
growing up in Minnesota. Following high
school, I entered Mankato State University
and then Mankato Tech. I joined a large
company in Minnesota as a designer of
scholastic products. In 1981, I began building
a design career in Advertising. While
vacationing in New Mexico, I knew that I
would one day live and paint there. For
almost five years, I lived in Northern New
Mexico between Santa Fe and Taos on the
San Juan Reservation, which was an ongoing spiritual adventure.

Painting in watercolor has been in my blood
since I was a student and saw a book
showing Andrew Wyeth’s work. I couldn’t
help but be shaped by those early images of
quiet, reflective settings and people. I wanted
to capture places deep in the soul that allow
the viewer to go through the process of
introspection. Making paintings that depict
people and places in a realistic way always
fascinated me. Taking a blank, white surface
and filling it with a realistic image that
evokes a feeling in the viewer is my goal. A
strong mood is always present in my
paintings. I want to leave the viewer with
the impression of a story being told,
whether a figure is in the painting or you have the sense that someone has just been there.

Jim lives in Green Valley, AZ and showcases his
work in Stone House of Tubac; A gallery he and
his wife opened in 2012. During the summer
months they travel to other states to do
artistic projects and fine art.
To view Jim’s work, visit:
719-838-1102