Welcome!
"While studying art in college in the 70's I noticed that historically the progress of realism was interrupted in the 1800’s by impressionism and in the 1900’s by abstract painting. But some of us rebellious young artists were captivated by the hyper-realists and I’ve attempted to follow that course throughout my career. Apart from simply making something look real, I strive to express passion through the use of dramatic color and composition ."
"Whatever you do, work from the soul, as to the Lord."
Colossians 3:23
​
Robert Bucknell is an award winning artist with a long career in commercial art. Born in Colorado and raised in Sacramento, he began painting signs and murals while studying art in college. Mostly self-taught, he was influenced by the realism of Jan Vermeer, Ralph Goings, Salvador Dali and Alphonse Mucha.
Robert moved his family to Carson City, Nevada in 1989 and established Bucknell Arts with his wife Diane, later transitioning into full time mural painting. He spent more than 20 years traveling throughout the US and also South Africa painting large scale landscape and wildlife murals for natural history exhibits. His murals have been displayed in public, government, residential, and commercial places, including more than 30 Cabela's Sporting Goods Stores.
​
Now retired from mural painting, Robert has turned his attention back to studio oil painting with a preference for Still Life hyper-realism. He is a juried member of the International Guild of Realism.
​
Robert's art is currently carried by The Genoa Gallery in Genoa, Nevada.
Bio
​MEMBERSHIPS
​
GALLERIES & EXHIBITS
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​​
​
Nevada State Legislature
401 S Carson St, 2nd Floor Carson City, NV
February 6 - June 5 2023
​
Nevada Artists Association Gallery
​
Spirit of America Show
June 17 - July 28 2023
New Years Show - Featured Artist
January 1, 2023 - February 10, 2023
Brewery Arts Center
449 W King St - Carson City, NV
RECENT AWARDS
​​
2024: Plein Air Magazine - August International Salon: Best Still Life (Coffee Time It is)
2024: Plein Air Magazine - April International Salon: 2nd Place Overall - (Afternoon Tea)
2024: Plein Air Magazine - April International Salon: Best Water (Living Water-Lake Tahoe)
2024: Camelback Gallery: Figurative Painting: Silver (The Immigrant)
2024: Camelback Gallery: Figurative Painting: Bronze (High Bear)
2023: Plein Air Magazine - April International Salon: Best Still Life (Morning Coffee)
2023: National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society: Spring International Online Exhibit:
Best use of Light and Color (Morning Coffee)
2023: Plein Air Magazine: March International Salon: Best Landscape (Job's Peak- Genoa, Nevada)
2023: PleinAir Magazine - March International Salon: Honorable Mention (Living Water)
2023: PleinAir Magazine - March International Salon: Honorable Mention (Fire & Ice - Sand Harbor)
2023 Art Masters : Top Art Award March - 4th Place - (Black Forest Beauty)
​
Nevada Artists Association Gallery Exhibits
2023: Spirit of America Show: Best of Show & People's Choice (American Beauty)
2023: Nevada Artist's Assoc. - New Years Show: People's Choice Award (Fire & Ice)
2023: - Winter Show - Nevada Artists Assoc.: 1st Place in Oil painting (Number Eight)
2022: Nevada Day Show, Nevada Artist's Assoc.: Best of Show (Fire & Ice)