Indiana Artist Rob O'Dell

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BIOGRAPHY

Rob O’Dell lives and paints on a farm in Indiana. His paintings have won numerous awards. They can be found in over 700 private and public collections throughout the U.S. and in Australia, Holland, England, Canada, and Japan.

"Every time I’m asked to comment on my art, the words come hard. Perhaps this is why I paint. What I paint is the commonplace – places and things that I’m comfortable with. My medium is watercolor. Watercolors are very fluid. Things happen on their own, both good and bad. It’s a rapid and unpredictable medium. My hope is to gain some control along the way. Just to let things go is not my style. I strive for something called 'realism' – with realism I can begin to communicate. To this end I utilize composition, color, and most importantly, drawing. These basics are achieved in different ways, not always with traditional methods. The end result is all-important. It’s very rewarding for me to know that others share my interest and deep feelings for the often neglected places of my art."

Acclaim for Rob O’Dell

Rob O’Dell Brochure

This award-winning Indiana artist has achieved national renown for his ability to communicate what he describes as an "interest in and deep feelings for the often neglected places of my art." Rob O’Dell is usually associated with his scenes of weathered barn in the chilly, yet comfortingly familiar, Midwestern landscape.

However, his versatility is evident in the full range of his work. He is adept at capturing subjects as diverse as the warm beauty of a rocky Southwestern landscape, the melancholy atmosphere of a misty seascape in Maine, and the delicate, inviting charm of hollyhocks which thrive on the 100-year-old farm where he makes his home.

Thirty years of honing his craft have made O’Dell a master of technique, allowing him to effectively convey the essence of his subjects using a palette comprised primarily of earth tones and blues.

While he continues to strive for realism, O’Dell now has a greater interest in exploring effect and color than in the past.

The result is a body of work that radiates the peaceful beauty of natural surroundings and places. For many, the appeal of O’Dell’s work is his remarkable ability to create a real sense of belonging, which is readily experienced by the viewer.

Rob O’Dell was born in Decatur, Illinois, and received his formal training from the American Academy of Art in Chicago, where he was introduced to watercolor by Irving Shapiro. After beginning a commercial art career, he realized that what he really wanted to do was paint, so he moved to a farm in Indiana to be surrounded by his subject matter. Now he spends much of his time painting in his restored, turn-of-the-century studio in Ladoga, Indiana, or conducting watercolor workshops and demonstrations for art study groups and schools throughout the Midwest. When not painting, O’Dell can be found on the golf course or with his family. He and his wife Ann have two daughters and are also proud grandparents.

Rob O’Dell’s watercolors have won numerous awards and can be found in hundreds of public and private collections throughout the world His paintings and prints can also be found hanging in galleries across the United States. His memberships include the Watercolor Society of Indiana, Indian Artists Club, Hoosier Salon, Indianapolis Art League and the Indiana Federation of Art Clubs.