Hi there, I'm Rhea Groepper Pettit, and I live in the Austin metro with my husband and kitty. I pretty much love all genres of art, but I'm especially drawn to portrait painting. I have a passion for earth's residents: people and other species.
I majored in fine art at the University of Texas, but the huge abstracts that were all the rage back then just weren't my style, and I wanted to earn a living. I switched to a more "practical" degree in graphic design. For the next 25 years I was a professional designer, doing a few paintings here and there, and a lot of digital collage for fun.
Since 2013, I have diligently devoted time to practice fine art and grow as a painter. I've taken workshops with David Shevlino, Jennifer Balkan, Karen Offutt, and at Laguna Gloria, which have been very helpful. In June 2016 I transitioned to painting full time as a professional artist.
I draw inspiration from the multitude of contemporary masters working today, as well as the ones who came before us.
I have shown in Austin, Georgetown, Round Rock, NYC, Taylor, Waco, Dallas, and Conroe group shows, and had solo shows in Austin and Georgetown. I'm a member of Capitol Art Society in Austin.
Honors and Publications:
2019 Fall Show, RRA, Texas State University at Round Rock – 3rd place, 2D
2018 Voyage Dallas Magazine, October issue
2017 October issue of Bevie Magazine (cover art)
2017 Art Hop, Georgetown Art Center – 1st place, 2 D representational category
2016 & 2017, Daily Paintworks "Judge's Pick" (3 months)
2016 & 2017 Austin Art Boards – Honorable Mention
2016 Where Art Lives Gallery and Magazine – 2nd place in the Animals competition
Shows:
2021 Dougherty Arts Center, "The Art of Peace," small group show (30+ pieces)
2021, Art120 Gallery, Taylor, TX, "Birdsong 2021," small group show (8 pieces)
2021 Capitol Art Society, Austin Airport (2 pieces)
2021, Art Hop, Georgetown Art Center (3 pieces)
2021 Compositions in White, 620 Art Gallery, Round Rock, Texas (1 piece)
2021 Modern Masterpieces, Downtowner, Round Rock, Texas (3 pieces)
2021 Let's Talk, Downtowner, Round Rock, Texas (2 pieces)
2020 Celebrities, Art for the People, Austin, TX (3 pieces)
2020 High Five: Celebrating 5 Women Artists, Old Bakery & Emporium, Austin (5 pieces, virtual show)
2020 Capitol Art Society show at Jester Center, Round Rock, Texas (3 pieces)
2020 Tiny Treasures, Downtowner, Round Rock, Texas (2 pieces)
2019 Due East and East Austin Studio Tour
2019 Fall Show, Round Rock Arts, Texas State University (1 piece)
2019 Art Hop, Georgetown Art Center (2 pieces)
2019 Bruegger's Bagels solo show
2019 Go Figure, Link and Pin group show (10 pieces)
2019 People's Gallery, Austin City Hall (2 pieces)
2019 Re-Imagine Art Show, Round Rock Arts (2 pieces)
2019 Birdsong/Anamalia group show, McCrory Timmerman Gallery, Taylor, TX (8 pieces)
2019 Due West and West Austin Studio Tour
2018-2020 Artifacts of Human Trafficking group show, Link & Pin gallery (1 piece), Austin, Baylor University in Waco, Churches in Arkansas and Dallas, UT Austin campus
2018 Connection solo show, The Williamson Museum, Georgetown
2018 Birdsong small group show, Taylor (6 pieces)
2018 Two group shows at Art for the People Gallery
2018 Three group shows (Women Rock, Summer Splendor, and Dia de los Muertos) at Round Rock Artspace
2018 Six Artists/Many Stories group show (13 pieces), Pflugerville Public Library
2018 Heroines + Warriors + Goddesses 3-person show (12 pieces), Link & Pin Artworks, Austin
2018 Art Hop (3 pieces), Georgetown Art Center + Library
2018 Due East Show and East Austin Studio Tour
2017 Conroe Art League Show
2017 Imagine Art Show (Round Rock Arts)
2017 Due West Show, West Austin Studio Tour
2017 Austin Figurative Show at Austin Art Space (Austin Visual Arts Association)
2017 AVAA Member show at Austin Art Space
2017 Single Fare 4, NYC (3 pieces)
2017 October issue of Bevie Magazine (cover art)
2017 Art Hop, Georgetown Art Center + Library (4 pieces) First place, 2 D representational category.
2017 Build Hope, Not Walls, Big Medium (Canopy), Austin
2017-2018 3 Ps (People, Pets, Places) Show, Art for the People Gallery, Austin (4 pieces)
2017 Due West Show and West Austin Studio Tour
2017 Austin Art Boards - Honorable Mention
2016 Art Hop (3 pieces) – Georgetown Art Center
2016 Where Art Lives Gallery and Magazine – 2nd place in the Animals competition
2016 Austin Art Boards – Honorable Mention
2016 Due East Show, Austin
2015 Small Works Show – Georgetown Art Center
Photo by CraftingExposure
People are Talking…
My parents loved Rhea's painting of their beloved Snickers. I think it is probably the best gift I have ever given them! Thank you so very much.
Linda Ramirez
Rhea paints the most life-like portraits that I have ever seen. Her work is amazing! I have commissioned three portraits as memorials of beloved pets for close friends this year. I delight in sharing her work and will continue to do so.
Claudia Menard
Your painting of our Schnauzer Jack is awesome. You captured his personality perfectly. We love it. You are amazing. Love it!!!
Kitty Edwards-Coursey
I saw a painting by Rhea that made me think of a character in a novel I wrote, so I approached her to create a portrait for the cover of the novel. Wow. She worked so hard to ensure the painting met my expectations of the character. She went far beyond the call of duty, and I was thrilled with the finished product. The best part? I had to adjust the painting to fit the finished product, and she never got mad at me! That is the true mark of a professional!!
John Robert Mack
Three paintings were commissioned: two cats and one dog. What Rhea accomplished just with photos was just shy of a miracle. They were better than the photographs because of the amazing backgrounds. I plan on commissioning more paintings soon.
Lisa English
My parents loved Rhea's painting of their beloved Snickers. I think it is probably the best gift I have ever given them! Thank you so very much.
Linda Ramirez
Rhea paints the most life-like portraits that I have ever seen. Her work is amazing! I have commissioned three portraits as memorials of beloved pets for close friends this year. I delight in sharing her work and will continue to do so.
Claudia Menard
Your painting of our Schnauzer Jack is awesome. You captured his personality perfectly. We love it. You are amazing. Love it!!!
Kitty Edwards-Coursey
I saw a painting by Rhea that made me think of a character in a novel I wrote, so I approached her to create a portrait for the cover of the novel. Wow. She worked so hard to ensure the painting met my expectations of the character. She went far beyond the call of duty, and I was thrilled with the finished product. The best part? I had to adjust the painting to fit the finished product, and she never got mad at me! That is the true mark of a professional!!
John Robert Mack
Three paintings were commissioned: two cats and one dog. What Rhea accomplished just with photos was just shy of a miracle. They were better than the photographs because of the amazing backgrounds. I plan on commissioning more paintings soon.
Lisa English