Pacific Northwest Watercolor Artist Christine Detrick

I began my career as a graphic designer in my home state of Vermont and later in Kansas City, where watercolor captured my imagination. What started as an exploration quickly grew into a thriving business creating commissioned pet portraits and home portraits for realtors and private clients.

Watercolor remains my medium of choice. Its transparency, unpredictability, and luminosity continually challenge and inspire me. I’m drawn to the way it invites both control and surrender, 

allowing the subject to emerge through layers of color, light, and intuition.

I consider myself a lifelong student of watercolor. Each painting teaches me something new, and each commission is an opportunity to honor the personalities, places, and stories that people hold dear. My work is grounded in the connection between artist and subject, between memory and emotion, and between the viewer and the quiet magic that only watercolor can create.

I moved back to Vermont where I grew up on a small dairy farm. There, I worked for advertising agencies and a pewter company, designing packaging, advertising, a show booth, and multiple catalogs. These jobs provided for my family and allowed me to explore some of my creativity, but not to the degree I am now.

After many twists and turns in life, my husband and I moved to Kansas City, right down the road from the Nelson-Atkins Museum and the Kansas City Art Institute. Being surrounded by art and artists led me to pick up my pencil and brush. After over a decade in Kansas, I recently relocated to the Pacific Northwest to be closer to my daughter. I am excited to work with the vibrant communities in Washington and Idaho and look forward to getting to know the wonderful people around Spokane, WA, and Coeur d’Alene, ID. I am eager to continue my artistic journey in this inspiring new environment.