Arizona Watercolorist Debbie Friis-Pettitt Masters Three-Color Palette
Debbie Friis-Pettitt, a watercolor artist from Prescott, Arizona, has developed a method of painting with only three transparent colors—one yellow, a warm or cool red, and a warm or cool blue—plus occasional black. Initially a graphic designer, she began with graphite drawings of the Southwest before transitioning to watercolor. After accumulating dozens of paints from various books, she realized full-color printing uses only cyan, magenta, and yellow, inspiring her to limit her palette. Her work, which includes blossoms, birds, and fruits, has won awards nationally. She teaches online and her process is featured in the Fall 2026 issue of Watercolor Artist, available digitally July 14 and in print July 28.
Key facts
- Debbie Friis-Pettitt uses only three transparent watercolors: one yellow, a warm or cool red, and a warm or cool blue.
- She began her artistic journey with graphite drawings of cowboys, horses, and landscapes.
- A seventh-grade art teacher sparked her interest in art.
- She worked as a graphic designer for about five years while raising a family.
- She credits Bruce MacEvoy's work on color theory for her epiphany about limited palettes.
- Her watercolors focus on nature subjects like blossoms, birds, and fruits.
- Her work has earned awards at exhibitions and competitions across the United States.
- The Fall 2026 issue of Watercolor Artist featuring her will be released digitally on July 14 and in print on July 28.
Entities
Artists
- Debbie Friis-Pettitt
- Bruce MacEvoy
Institutions
- Artists Network
- Watercolor Artist
Locations
- Arizona
- Prescott
- British Columbia
- Canada