Kathryn Petroff
About the Artist
I grew up in Dallas among a family of artists. Art has been in my blood for 4 generations and has been a part of my daily life since I was a little girl. It became clear that creating was my path by high school. I built my own darkroom by age 16, quickly started working in color and alternative processes in the school lab, and began competing in art competitions shortly after. My senior portfolio won first in the state of Texas upon graduation, so it seemed natural to move on to Denton, TX for an art degree. I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts in darkroom photography from the University of North Texas in 2006. My work was exhibited throughout campus while working towards my degree, and an oil painting of Maestro Anshel Brusilow is now a part of the university’s permanent collection in the Murchison Performing Arts Center.
Shortly after completing my degree, I married my childhood sweetheart who grew up two streets down from me, and we moved to the mountains of Colorado. It was clear that darkroom photography was becoming an increasingly more difficult industry to work within at the time because the digital world had begun to boom. I was asked if I could paint my first mural fresh out of college (9’ by 20’), and my path shifted towards oil painting. I have spent years perfecting my technique through murals, portraiture, and gallery works. Miners Alley Playhouse in downtown Golden, CO features a 20’x20’ public mural of mine in its lobby. Actual scenes from their performances are hand painted along the stairs. I was a Resident Artist at Valkarie Gallery in Lakewood, CO for six years and was featured in an annual solo exhibition in their main gallery every spring. My work has been exhibited in galleries across Colorado. Two of my paintings were recently awarded Mayor’s Choice, People’s Choice, and Award of Excellence in a group show by the 40 West Arts District.
I am a mother to two beautiful children now whom I homeschool in our little rural neighborhood. Teaching fell into my lap because of them, and I now share my techniques in master classes, schools, and private lessons online and in person. My home studio backs up to national forest, and life here has truly changed me. Painting outside among nature as my children pick dandelions and run through the trees is part of our day to day life. This magical little existence we’ve created inspires my artistic vision endlessly.
