About the Artist

Born 1954, in Rochester, NY,  Robert O'Brien has been painting in the watercolor medium for thirty years. Since moving to Vermont in 1977, he has focused his work on landscape and architectural studies. Vermont, with its distinct four season climate, provides the artist with a wealth of subject matter and ever changing light effects.

The artist finds beauty in the ordinary, subtle reminders of everyday life in rural New England. In his own words, he is driven "to capture the vanishing landscape in my paintings" before they disappear forever as a result of the steady hand of "progress".

Since 1998 Robert O'Brien has travelled anually to Southern France. The region's sun-splashed landscape and timeless quality of light has added a new dimension to the artist's paintings.

Medium and Subject

Watercolorist. A traditional painter of landscape and architectural studies. Studied with James Whatford, Tony Couch, and the late Marshall Joyce, A.W.S. 

• 2006, 86th National Watercolor Society Exhibition, Fullerton,California
• 2006 - 139th International Exhibition of the American Watercolor Society, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
• 2006 - Juror's Choice Award, 56th Academic Artists National Exhibition, Springfield, MA
• 2006 - Silver Medal, New England Watercolor Society juried show at the Guild of Boston Artists, Boston, MA
• 2005 - Guerilla Painter Award, North East Watercolor Society 29th Annual Exhibition, Kent, CT
• 2005 - George Sponable Memorial Award, Adirondack National Exhibition of American Watercolors
• 2005 - Fran Scully Award, Academic Artists Association 55th Annual Exhibit, Springfield, MA
• 2004 - North East Watercolor Society, 28th Annual Exhibition, Kent, CT
• 2004 - Watercolor Honor Award, 54th Annual Exhibition of the Academic Arts Association, Springfield MA
• 2003 - North East Watercolor Society, 27th Annual Exhibition, Kent, CT
• 2003 - 72nd Hudson Valley Artists Association Annual Exhibition, NY
• 2003 - 136th International Exhibit of the American Watercolor Society, Salmagundi Club New York, NY. Selected for travel exhibition.
• 2003 - Guild of Boston Artist Award, New England Watercolor Society juried show, Boston MA.
• 2002 - 8th Biannual North American Open Exhibition, sponsored by the New England Watercolor Society, Concord, MA.
• 2002 - Kent Day Coes Memorial Award, 71st Hudson Valley Art Association Annual Exhibition, NY.
• 2001 - 20th Annual Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors, Old Forge, NY. Selected For Travel Exhibit
• 2001 - American Watercolor Society 134th Annual International Exhibition, New York, NY
• 2001 - Northeast Watercolor Society National juried Exhibition
• 2001 - The Daler Rowney U.S.A. Award. 51st Annual Exhibition of the Academic Artists Association, Springfield, MA
• 2000-2001 - New England Watercolor Society Juried Show at Guild of Boston Artists
• 2000 - 7th Annual Equinox Art Exhibition, Manchester, VT - Second Place Award
• 1999 - New England Watercolor Society juried show at Cahoon Museum, Cotuit, MA
• 1998 - New England Watercolor Society juried show at Concord Art Association, Concord, MA

• 1998 - 17th Annual Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors, Old Forge, NY
• 1997 - New England Watercolor Society juried show at Rhode Island Watercolor Society, Pawtucket, RI
• 1996-1997 - Northeast Watercolor Society National juried Exhibition
• 1996 - 5th North America Open Exhibition sponsored by the New England Watercolor Society, Boston, MA
• 1996 - Solo Exhibition at Southern Vermont Art Center, Manchester, VT
• 1996 - Watercolor Honor Award, Academic Artists 46th Annual Exhibition
• 1995 - Academic Artists 45th Annual Exhibition