About the Artist
Born 1954, in Rochester, NY, Robert O’Brien has been painting in the watercolor medium for forty 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 traveled 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.
Education
Fredonia State College
S.U.N.Y. at Buffalo B.A. 1977

Memberships
- Academic Artists Association
- American Watercolor Society
- Central New York Watercolor Society
- National Watercolor Society
- New England Watercolor Society
- North East Watercolor Society
- Southern Vermont Artists
- Vermont Watercolor Society
Awards and Exhibitions
2013 - Honorable Mention, New England Watercolor Society’s Juried Signature Members Exhibition, Boston MA
2012 - Gold Medal, New England Watercolor Society’s Spring Juried Signature Members Exhibition, Boston, MA
2012 - 145th International Exhibition of the American Watercolor Society, New York, NY
2011 - John R. Alford Jr. Award of Excellence, 5th Annual Exhibition at Grafton, Grafton VT
2011 - Award of Excellence, 3rd Vermont Watercolor Society Juried Summer Exhibition, Grafton, VT
2011 - The Viginia Avery Award, New England Watercolor Society’s Spring Signature Members Show, Boston, MA
2011 - Honorable Mention, 61st Academic Artists National Exhibition, Springfield, MA
2010 - The North Shore Art Association Award, New England Watercolor Society’s Spring Signature Member’s show, Boston, MA
2009 - The Sharon A. Thomas Memorial Award for Transparent Watercolor, 33rd Annual North East Watercolor Society International Exhibition, Kent, Ct.
2009 - Philadelphia Watercolor Society Award, 89th Annual Exhibition of the National Watercolor Society, Brea, California
2009 - Watercolor Honor Award, 59th Academic Artists National Exhibition, Springfield, MA
2008 - The Bradley C. Barnard Award, 27th Adirondack National Exhibition of American Watercolors, Old Forge NY
2008 - Silver Medal, New England Watercolor Society’s Juried Winter Exhibition, Boston, MA
2007 - Watercolor West Award, 87th National Watercolor Society Exhibition, Brea, California
- 2007 - Honorable Mention, 57th Academic Artists National Exhibition, Springfield, MA
- 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, 24th Adirondacks 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
- 2000-2007 - 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
Represented by
- Powers Gallery, Acton, MA
- The Gallery at the VAULT, Springfield, VT
- Hunter Gallery of Fine Art, Grafton VT
Publications
- Featured in Watercolor Magazine Spring 2006 issue
- Splash 9, The Best of Watercolor
- Splash 10, The Best of Watercolor
- Splash 11, The Best of Watercolor
- 1998, 1999, 2001, and 2006 - Fletcher Allen Health Care Calendar
- Artists of New England, Vol. 1
- Spring 2003 - American Artist Watercolor Magazine
- Watercolor Magic Magazine December 2007 issue
- The 2008 Artists Calendar
Watercolor Artist Magazine February 2011 issue
l’Art de l’Aquarelle-December 2011/February 2012
