Rick Osann initially studied watercolor in his preparation as a theatre scenic designer in the 1970’s. Rick’s father painted in oils and watercolor occasionally as he was growing up, and the techniques of watercolor felt natural to him. During his college career he started painting water landscapes on his own while he lived in the mountains of Vermont.

Early in his career, Rick worked professionally as a scenic artist, painting scenery for theatre, film and TV, working in regional theatres and in New York City as a member of United Scenic Artists, Local #829, for a variety of projects including Broadway touring shows, ABC TV Soap Operas and “The Muppets Take Manhattan” movie.

Rick spent 15 years as a high school theatre, art and film teacher, primarily at Bonny Eagle HS in southern Maine, where he directed countless productions and taught introductory drawing, painting and ceramics.

In the past ten years Rick began painting watercolor landscapes full time in his studio adjacent to Acadia National Park in Maine. Rick spends a fair amount of time outdoors and enjoys and appreciates the value of painting outdoors to observe and record the landscape from all five senses. Rick works both en plein air and in studio from his own photographs and those of a few others who have granted permission for their use. Rick has also been leading classes and workshops through “Hudson to Harbor” at the Bar Harbor Historical Society, which honors the Hudson River painters who helped make Mt Desert Island a popular destination, and Artwaves Art Center in Bar Harbor.