Born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, award-winning artist Bob Pettes’ drawing talent was discovered in grade school and he continued to develop this talent through college. His main medium is oil, although he’s also versed with other mediums. Pettes loved art above anything else and chose to study art in college. After the war, Pettes took gained formal art instruction at the Minneapolis Institute of Art by taking advantage of the G. I. Bill. He began his professional career as and illustrator and a commercial artist and worked for several years for both consumer products companies and advertising agencies. He later went on to develop his own unique style of painting focusing mainly on European and Americana landscapes that found a strong market among giftware manufacturers and publishers. His journeys in Europe inspired him to capture the fine distinctions of rural village life in each country so as to capture the beauty and charm of the countries he visited and preserve it on canvas, trying his best to express their beauty with simplicity. During his long career Pettes has received many art awards, and has found that his work has broad commercial appeal. His originals grace collections nationwide, especially the framed Bob Pettes art. They are found in several different collections and galleries across the US. His images have been licensed and reproduced as porcelain products, prints, calendars, greeting cards, and a wide variety of other products. He spent some time living in Europe where he visited different countries, including England, Germany France, and Switzerland.