Ron Pettie was born in Western Washington State, and his earliest years were spent among the natural wonders of the northwestern forests. These influences are often felt in his landscape paintings, even when he undertakes scenes from the southwestern deserts which form the backdrop to his home in Southern California, where he now lives with his daughter, dog, and four independent cats.

Ron’s interest art began in childhood. His first efforts were in watercolor, but these early works were lost when all of his possessions were burnt by medical authorities as an overzealous precaution when he contracted polio at the age of twelve. As a teen and adult, Ron continued to experiment with other media, including acrylics and oils. Oil has now become his favored medium. The principal subjects of his painting are landscapes, Native Americans, and ranch scenes, all of which reflect his enduring interest in the people and conditions of the American West.

After a career as a school psychologist, Ron returned to his first love and began art classes with the distinguished plein air artist Margot Lennartz. Her influence can be seen in Ron’s attention to color and composition. In addition to participating in several exhibitions in the San Gabriel Valley, Ron has also studied at the Chouinard School of Art and Otis College of Art and Design, where his teachers were Richard Shelton, Diana Vitale, and Manuel Barillas, among others. His artwork can be seen in Southwest Art and Art of the West and hangs in the Aztec Art Gallery of Monrovia and in City Bank of Arcadia. His association with Aztec gallery has led to his volunteering his services there and with the Monrovia Art Festival Association (MAFA), which supports the gallery.