I am a watercolor artist currently living in Culver City, Ca.  I have always had an

artistic streak, and have been working exclusively in transparent watercolors since 1999. 

I have both architectural and landscape portfolios.  Working with transparent watercolors

only and never gouache (opaque paints), means that all white areas of paintings are blank

paper and never white opaque paint.  On occasion, layers of paint get thick and loose

transparancy, but this is a rare condition in an original work by R.V.Barrett.  This light

layering of colours allows for the variety of light effects that are incorporated in my

artwork.
 
 
At the 10th Anniversary/Open House at the Ed Edelman CMHC on March 1st, 2007, I received

much praise for some of my watercolors.  One of my friends said they heard one guest asking

another, "Do you know Rob Barrett?"   I heard similar stories from a number of other people

that work there, who found me later that afternoon.  There was no contest as such, with

styles and subjects varying so widely, judging would not have been appropriate.  
 
 
In these first few years of my career I have concentrated on techniques to yield the most

realism possible with light washes of transparent watercolors.  This comes from my desire

to control this difficult medium and have quantitative results when comparing to references

used in the creation process.  I am pleased with the results that I can achieve, even with

slightly technical subjects.  This need to control water comes from my wish to control the

world around me.  When I see something 'wrong' in the real world, I wish that I could just

lift it right out of the painting.  It's too bad it takes more than clear water and a

delicate hand to correct all the ills of our global society.
 
 
Art schooling barely went beyond the basics: perspective drawing, golden rule in

composition, and color mixing.  Being mainly self-taught, with some mechanical assistance

from my few teachers, I am happy with the results that I can achieve in this medium.  I

feel unencumbered by my lack of art history knowledge.  Please enjoy viewing my work as

much as I do creating it.  I hope that you will be impressed enough to purchase an original

watercolor painting, a giclee print, or a JPEG file today. 
 

 

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  Artist's Resume
 
 
 

 
 
DOB -
1964 Burbank, Calif.
 
 
Exhibits -
Summer 2001, Venice Beach at 420 Ocean Front Walk, self organized.

 
March 2007, at Ed Edelman CMHC 10th anniversary 'Waves of Change', 5 transparent

watercolors shown, exhibit was not judged, curated by Sherwood Brown.
 
October 2007, DBSA Conference, Ontario California.  Three original watercolor paintings of

R V Barrett were shown along with about 50 other pieces by various artists connected to the

DBSA. 
 
October 2007, Learning & Product Expo: ART! , Juried competition, held in Pasadena

California.  25 paintings of various media were accepcted into this competetion along with

R V Barrett's  "Crownroom Garden" watercolor of the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego,

California. 
 
Commissions -
 
"SD Bay Bridge", commissioned by Virginia Barrett, 10” x 13”
transparent watercolor on paper, 2007 �

 
"Diamondhead", commissioned by T.J. Hawkins, 10” x 13”
transparent watercolor on paper, 2007 �

 
 
 
Education -
 
Oil on canvas board, taught by Chic Smaldino
 
Watercolor on paper, taught by Steve Jones
 
The Business of Photography, taught by Maria Piscopo
Photography Fundamentals, taught by Nancy Kaye

 
Multimedia Artist Support Group, lead by Eileen Salzman
 
Watercolor  'Painting from photographs', taught by Joseph Stoddard