Contemporary realist Del-Bourree Bach has been a working professional painter for over 40 years. He is known for his striking and almost tactile depictions of man and nature. Although many are inspired by the sea and the life in and around it, he enjoys painting many subjects from rural farms to western vistas to city sidewalks. His paintings invite viewers to enter into the scene and challenge them to create their own stories. Primarily a studio painter, he works mainly in acrylic, but occasionally enjoys transparent watercolor. Del’s work is included in many private and public collections including the Florence Griswold Museum in CT, the Albrecht Kemper Museum in MO, the Salmagundi Club New York and the U.S. Embassy and Coast Guard Art Collections. He has received more than 350 awards in national and international competition, including three Awards of Excellence at the International Exhibition of Marine Art at the Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport, Best in Show, Best Painting in Acrylic, Best Composition and Award for Narrative Excellence in the National Oil and Acrylic Painters Best of America, where he is one of only about a dozen artists who have achieved Master status. In 2017 he received the Grand Prize at the Third Acadia Invitational in Maine and in 2018 he received the Curator’s Award for the Most Significant Contribution to American Masters at the exhibit’s 10th Anniversary. In 2006 he was the first artist to be awarded the newly minted Robert Sanstrom Gold Medal and prize by the National Society of Painters in Casein and Acrylic. He has received the George Gray Award from the United States Coast Guard, the Silver Medal of Honor from Allied Artists of America and Audubon Artists. His paintings have also recently received awards at the Audubon Artists 2021, American Artists Professional League 2021, Salmagundi Club New York, Copley Society of Boston, National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, Providence Art Club and Academic Artists among others. He has been honored by Artists for Conservation for “Artistic Excellence and Extraordinary Dedication to Conservation”. American Artist magazine published the first article on Del’s paintings in 2002. This has been followed by features in The Artists Magazine (2002, 2014), International Artist (Master Painters of the World 2003), Watercolor Magic (2005), American Art Collector (2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017,2020), Acrylic Artist (2014) and Fine Art Connoisseur (2010, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021), and Ink Magazine in 2018. Bach is a signature member or exhibiting artist member of the American Society of Marine Artists, Artists for Conservation, Allied Artists of America, American Artists Professional League (Fellow), Audubon Artists, National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society ( NOAPS Master), National Society of Painters in Casein and Acrylic, International Society of Acrylic Painters, Academic Artists Association, Hudson Valley Art Association, Salmagundi Club of New York (44 years) and Providence Art Club, Copley Society in Boston (Copley Master), Lyme Art Association, and Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) among others. Del and his wife, Kristen moved to their Mystic, CT home, “Pirate Hill”, in 2003 after 30 years of apartment dwelling in New York City. Aside from his own painting, Del is involved in many aspects of the art community. He has served on boards and Art Committees of a number of not-for-profits including the American Society of Marine Artists, Hudson Valley Art Association, Salmagundi and Providence Art Clubs, Mystic Museum of Art, Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts, and Lyme Art Association. He is well respected as a judge of regional, national and international exhibitions and as a charity art auctioneer. A strong believer in the gallery system, he sells his work exclusively through galleries and art organizations which sponsor juried and invitational shows.AWARDS, EXHIBITIONS AND COMPETITIONS2022National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society Best of America Small Works 2022 NOAPS Award for Best Composition – “A Little Help from my Friends”Academic Artists 72nd Annual Exhibition of Traditional Realism Honor Award in Acrylic – “Miss Florence’ Colors”The Art of Conservation, an International Exhibition of Nature in Art 2022 Published in “The Art of Conservation 2022” - “On a Clear Day”, Featured Artist 202213th Biennial National Exhibition – Visual Arts Center – Punta Gorda, FL Award of Merit – “My Old Pal”Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists National 2022 – Faces and Figures Second Prize – “Bear”Lyme Art Association 101st Elected Artists Exhibition Third Prize – “A Good Day’s Work”Lyme Art Association Open New England Landscape Exhibition 2022 First Prize – “After the Storm”The National 2022 – Cape Cod Arts Center Honorable Mention – “The Old Beach Cottage”Audubon Artists 80th Annual Exhibition – Online “Reminiscence”American Artists Professional League 94rd Grand National Exhibition “A Good Day’s Work”Art Renewal Center Salon 2022 Finalist/Animal – “Lou-seal” Semi-finalist/landscape – “My Old Pal”Salmagundi 114th Annual Thumb Box Exhibition Martin Hannon Memorial Award – “Shades of Winter”2021Audubon Artists 79th Annual Exhibition - NYC Hon. Daniel E. Greene Memorial Award (First recipient of this award) – “Time Traveler”American Artists Professional League 93rd Grand National Exhibition The Claude Parson’s Memorial Award for Landscape – “Miss Florence’s Colors”National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society Best of America Small Works 2021 Award of Excellence – “Nat”National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society Spring Online International 2021 Award Of Excellence – “Lou-Seal”Academic Artists 71st Annual Exhibition of Traditional Realism (online only due to covid) Excellence Award in Acrylic – “Autumn Migration” The Art of Conservation, an International Exhibition of Nature in Art 2020 AFC Award for Excellence “Little Surfer Girl” Published in “The Art of Conservation 2021”Salmagundi Club New York 113th Annual Thumb Box Exhibition Award of Merit - “Winter Work”Providence Art Club Fall Juried Exhibition Maxwell Mays Prize – Best in Show – “Senta”Lyme Art Association – A Century of Inspiration 100th Anniversary - National Juried Exhibition Second Prize – “Miss Florence’s Colors”Lyme Art Association 100th Annual Elected Artists Juried Exhibition Award of Merit – “Pit Stop”Lyme Art Association “Hello Yellow” Open Juried Exhibition First Prize – “Saffron Sky”The Madison Art Society’s 46th Annual National Juried Exhibition (CT) Best in Show – “My Old Pal”Clinton Art Society 72nd Annual National Summer Exhibition (CT) Best In Show – “Tidal Treasure”Guilford Art League 73rd Annual Open Juried Show (CT) Award of Merit – “Penny Wise”Bold Brush Online International (August) Outstanding Acrylic – “My Old Pal”2020Salmagundi Club New York Annual Members Juried Exhibition Ogden Pleissner Memorial Award – “Post-Production Team”Allied Artists of America 107th Grand National (online in 2020 due to covid) Kent Day Coes Memorial Award – “A Blast from the Past”Audubon Artists 78th Annual Exhibition (online in 2020 due to covid) National Society of Painters in Casein and Acrylic Award – “Autumn Migration”National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society Best of America 2020 Award of Merit – “Clams for Dinner”National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society Best of America Small Works 2020 Excellence Award – “The Old Beach Cottage”International Society of Acrylic Painters 5th Annual All-Member Online Exhibition M. Graham Award - “Post-Production Team”Academic Artists 68th National Exhibition of Traditional Realism Excellence Award in Acrylic – “Nat” Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) 107th Annual National Exhibition Honorable Mention - “Over the Big Top”Hudson Valley art Association 87th Annual National Juried Exhibition Rayma Spaulding Memorial Award – “Clams for Dinner”Copley Society of Art, Boston Juror’s Choice Award – Summer Juried Show - Summer Reflections ,“Feeding Frenzy” Awards of Merit – “High Spirits” (Unity), “Winter Watch” (Holiday)Providence Art Club Fall Members Exhibition Mary Castelnuovo Memorial Award– “Evening Passage”Lyme Art Association – Land and Sea – National Juried Exhibition First Prize – “Walkabout”The Art of Conservation, an International Exhibition of Nature in Art 2020 AFC Award for Excellence “Lou-Seal”, “High Noon” Both published in “The Art of Conservation 2020”Special Honors 2020:Amica Insurance Artist of the Year – “Autumn Graze” Purchased for permanent collection and published as their 50th Annual Thanskgiving Card, sent to over 750,000 policy holders. Also published online as an ecard along with a video about me and my work and life at www.amica.com/thanksgivingJuror of Awards for National Oil and Acrylic Painters Spring International Online Exhibition.2019National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society 2nd annual Best of America Small Paintings Exhibition (Texas) 2019 Best Painting by a Master or Signature Member (I am one of only a dozen Master Artists)Salmagundi Spring Auctions Exhibition 2019 George Inness Jr SCNY AwardLyme Art Association 98th Annual Elected Artists Juried Exhibition 2019: First PrizeAcademic Artists 69th Annual National Exhibition of Traditional Realism 2019 Academic Artists Excellence Award in AcrylicsCopley Society Small Works "Evolving" 2019 Award of Merit (this is the ninth award received there so I became a Copley Master)United States Coast Guard Art Program 2001-2019 - George Gray Award – 2003 United States Embassy Art Program The Art of Conservation, an International Exhibition of Nature in Art 2009 – 2019 AFC Award for Excellence and Dedication to Conservation Prior Years Awards, Exhibitions and CompetitionsArts for the Parks Competition – National Parks Foundation Top 100/200 Exhibition 2000, 2002-2006 Mini 50/100 Exhibition 2002-2006– Region Two Winner 2003 Paint the Parks – Celebrating America’s National Parks – Top 100/Mini 50 – 2007 - 2011Paint America (Masters Circle) – Top 100 and Mini 50 – 2007 - 2012American Society of Marine Artists 17th National Exhibition 2015-2017 – 6 Museum National Tour 16th National Exhibition 2014, 15th National Exhibition 2011-2013 14th National Exhibition/30th Anniversary 2008-2009 12th National Exhibition 2001, 13th National Exhibition 2004 Region 1 (New England) Exhibition 2008 Region Two Exhibition 2002International Marine Art Exhibition at the Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport, CT 1998-2019 Award of Excellence 2010, 2012, 2016Modern Marine Masters Exhibition, Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport, CT 2001-2019American Masters at the Salmagundi Club, NY – 2008 (Inaugural Year) – 2018 Patron’s Choice Award - 2014 Curator’s Award for the Most Significant Contribution to American Masters - 2018Third Acadia Invitational 2017-2018 Acadia Award (Grand Prize) and People’s Choice Award National Society of Painters in Casein and Acrylic Annual Exhibit 1996 – 2019 Robert Sanstrom Prize and Gold Medal 2006,(First recipient of this award) Arches Paper Award 2010, Art Students League Award 2009, Howard Mandel Memorial Award 2005, A.E.S. Peterson Memorial Award 2004 John L. Newman Medal 2001, Ralph Fabri Medal of Merit 1998, 2013, Winsor Newton Award, 2015 Gerry Linfest Award for American Art 2017, A.E.S. Peterson Award 2018National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, “Best of America” Exhibition 2002 – 2018 Best Painting by a Master or Signature Member 2017 Best Acrylic Painting 2016 Award of Excellence 2014, Award of Merit 2007, Award of Excellence for Narrative Art 2005 Best of Show 2003, M. Graham & Co. Artists Colors Award 2002National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society “Best Of America” Small Paintings 2018-2019 Best Painting by a Master or Signature Member 2019American Artists Professional League Grand National, NYC 1999, 2002-2018 Salmagundi Club Award 2017, Alden Bryan Memorial Award 2014 Audubon Artists Award 2006, Award of Merit 2010, 2005, 2003, Frank C. Wright Memorial Award 2002, Helen G. Ochler Memorial Award 1999Allied Artists of America Annual Exhibition, NYC 1998, 1999, 2002, 2009 - 2019 The Katlan Family Seascape Award 2017, Silver Medal of Honor 2011 American Artists Professional League Award for Traditional Realism 2009 Strathmore Paper Company Award 1998Audubon Artists Annual National Exhibition, NYC 1998, 2000-2019 Elaine and James Hewitt Award 2009 Honorable John M.Angelini Award 2008, New York Central Award 2007 Dick Blick Award 2000, 2014The Artists Magazine Competition Third Prize, Animal and Wildlife 2014 Triple Finalist 2012 and calendar feature/Double Finalist 2011, 2005(Calendar feature)/Finalist 2007(Artist of the Month),2006, 2004, 2002(Competition Spotlight)Copley Society of Art, Boston – Award of Merit 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018,2019Guild of Boston Artists New England Representational Painting Competition 2008, 2010, 2013Academic Artists Annual National Exhibition of Traditional Realism Academic Artists Excellence Award in Acrylic 2018, 2019 H. K Holbein Acrylic Award 2017, Bob Kadis Award 2012 Alden Bryan Memorial Award for Traditional Landscape 2011 Samuel E. Armour Memorial Award 2010, 2013, Art Patrons Award 2008, Honor Award 2006Salmagundi Club New York Annual Combined and Thumb Box Exhibitions 1980 – 2018 D. Wu and Elsie Ject-Key Memorial award 2016 Samuel T. Shaw Memorial Award, 2012, Antonio Cirino Memorial Award 2011, John N. Lewis Memorial Award 2009, Elliot Liskin Memorial Award 2008 Thumb Box,D.Wu and Elsie Ject-Key Memorial Award 2007 John N. Lewis Memorial Award 2006 Thumb Box, Gwynne Lennon Prize–Watermedia 1999, Leo M. Loeb Memorial Award–Oil/Acrylic 1999 Salmagundi Club New York Auction Exhibitions 1980–2019 George Inness SCNY Award 2019 Richard Pionk SCNY Award 2017, Kent Dey and Helen Coos Award 2016 Frederick S. Church SCNY Award 2015, F. BALLARD Williams Award 2014 Bruce Crain SCNY Award 2012, Richard C. Pionk SCNY Award 2011 Joseph Hartley SCNY Award 2010, Edwin H. Blashfield SCNY Award 2009 Louis Comfort Tiffany Award 2007, Bruce Crane SCNY Award 2006 Edwin A. Abbey SCNY Award 2005, Silvio Valerio SCNY Award 2004 Emil Carlsen SCNY Award 2002, Gary Drubeck Award 2002, Hobart Nichols SCNY Award 2001 Frederick S. Church SCNY Award 2001 John F. O’Dwyer Memorial Award 2000, John LaFarge SCNY Award 1999, W. Granville Smith SCNY Award 1997,George C. Maynard Memorial Award 1996Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts Annual Open Exhibition, 2002-2019 CAFA Painting Award 2018, Third Prize 2013, Allied Artists of America Award 2011 Best of Show-2007, Dick Blick Award 2008Providence Art Club 2005 - 2019 First Prize Members Exhibition – 2016, 2008, 2007 Honorable Mention – Members Exhibition 2007, 2009 Urban un Urban Exhibition – J. Bannigan Sullivan Award 2005 Annual Open Exhibition – 2006 – 2011, 2013, 2018Mystic Museum of Art Regional Open and Juried Exhibitions 1999-2019 Second Prize 2011 Open Show “Precious Water”, First Prize 2000, Solo Show 2001Newport Art Museum Annual Juried Exhibition, Newport, RI 2004 - 2007 Honorable Mention/Watermedia 2004, 2005ACGOW Regional Art Exhibition, Westerly RI 2006 - 2019 Foxwoods Best in Show Award 2007, 2008, Honorable Mention 2009New Haven Paint and Clay Annual Exhibition 1999, 2000, 2002-2004, 2006-2016 Lucille Davis Grimm Prize 2011, The Carle J. Blenner Prize 2007 Merit Award 2004Hudson Valley Art Association Annual National Exhibition, NY 1996-2004, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2019 Phillip Schumaker Marine Award 2000 & 2003, Frank Van Steen Memorial Award 2003, Honorable Mention, Watermedia 1996Lyme Art Association Juried and Invitational Shows 2004-2019 Elected Artists Annual – First Prize 2019 - Second Prize 2016 New England Landscape 2017 – Award of Merit, American Waters 2018 – Award of MeritConnecticut Watercolor Society – First Prize 2015New England Watercolor Society Biennial, MA 1998, 2002, 2004 Second Prize 2002Northeast Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition, CT 1999-2007 Richard Ochs Award 2001, Graham Watercolors Award 1999Adirondack National Exhibit on American Watercolors, Old Forge, NY 2000-2002, 2005Louisiana Watercolor Society Annual International, New Orleans, LA 2000-2002 Edward Dupont Memorial Award 2000San Diego Watercolor Society International Exhibition, CA 2000-2001 San Diego Foundation Award 2000Pennsylvania Watercolor Society Annual National Exhibition 1997, 2000-2003