Conor O’Brien

Oil/landscape, still life, portraiture

About the Artist

Originally from Massachusetts, Conor O’Brien is a long-time resident of Huntsville, Alabama, and has been painting since the age of 12 when he received his first oil paints and brushes.

Conor’s paintings feature people, places, and things—mostly in the southeastern United States. His painting process is as interesting as his paintings are beautiful. Most are done on prepared panels, but he sometimes paints on prepared linen canvas. He applies texture to the surface of the panel or canvas to give an interesting ground over which to paint. Conor often uses a wide format, making the horizontal dimension several times as much as the vertical. Most interestingly, he uses a limited palette that consists of a warm and cool version of each of the three primary colors, in addition to white and two or three earth colors.

Conor’s work has been included in important exhibitions at the Huntsville Museum of art and shown in several other art museums and galleries. His paintings can be found in a number of private and public collections in the southeastern and northeastern United States. Conor is highly regarded artist, and is a generous mentor and teacher, having instructed many area artists who credit him for teaching them the essentials of oil painting.

Artist Statement

“It's a little difficult to say why I paint about a particular place. For me, the aesthetic considerations when experiencing a location involve more than any “traditional” beauty. The abstract shapes of the land, the angles formed by perspective, the juxtaposition of natural and artificial elements of the environment—all of these things interest me. And there often is some other element about the scene that draws me to it which I can’t explain. To me, there is beauty and interest in every place and thing.”

Conor’s work can also be seen at Harrison Brothers Gallery in Huntsville, Alabama.