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 CompetitionsUnited States Coast Guard Art Program 2001-2025 - George Gray Award – 2003 United States Embassy Art Program Art Renewal Center (ARC) Salon International Exhibition Triple Finalist 2025/26, 2024/25, Finalist 2022The Art of Conservation, an International Exhibition of Nature in Art 2009 – 2025 Published in “The Art of Conservation” 2009-2025 AFC Award for Excellence and Dedication to Conservation, Honorable Mention 2025Arts for the Parks Competition – National Parks Foundation Top 100/200 Exhibition 2000, 2002-2006(final year) Mini 50/100 Exhibition 2002-2006– Region Two Winner 2003 American Masters at the Salmagundi Club, NY – 2008 (Inaugural Year) – 2018 (final) Patron’s Choice Award - 2014Curator’s Award for the Most Significant Contribution to American Masters - 2018Paint the Parks – Celebrating America’s National Parks – Top 100/Mini 50 – 2007 - 2011PaintAmerica (Masters Circle) – Top 100 and Mini 50 – 2007 - 2012American Society of Marine Artists 19th National Exhibition – Museum tour 2023-2024, 17th National Exhibition 2015-2017 Museum Tour 16th National Exhibition 2014, 15th National Exhibition 2011-2013 14th National Exhibition/30th Anniversary 2008-200912th 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, 2016Schaeffer International Marine Art Exhibition – 2024, 2025Acadia Invitational Acadia Award (Grand Prize) and People’s Choice Award 2017/2018, First Prize 2025National Society of Painters in Casein and Acrylic Annual Exhibit 1996 – 2019Robert 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 – 2025 Award for Narrative Excellence 2025, 2010, 2005, Award of Excellence 2023, 2014, Best Painting by a Master or Signature Member 2017, Best Acrylic Painting 2016, Award of Merit 2007, Best of Show 2003National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society “Best Of America” Small Paintings 2018-2025 Best Composition – 2022, Best Painting by a Master or Signature Member 2019 Award of Merit 2020American Artists Professional League Grand National, NYC 1999-2025 Ampersand Award – 2024, AAPL Award for Outstanding Acrylic - 2023 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 1998, 1999, 2002 - 2025 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, 2000-2024 Honorary Carmine F. Palermo Memorial Award – 2024, Silver Medal of Honor 2019, Elaine and James Hewitt Award 2009, Honorable John M.Angelini Award 2008, New York Central Award 2007, Dick Blick Award 2000, 2014Copley Society of Art, BostonAward of Merit 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018,2019,2020, 2023, 2024Juror’s Choice Award - 2023Guild of Boston Artists New England Representational Painting Competition 2008, 2010, 2013Academic Artists Annual National Exhibition of Traditional Realism Maris Platais Memorial Award 2025Academic Artists Excellence Award in Acrylic 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022H. 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 – 2025Philip Isenberg Memorial Award – 2024, Martin Hannon Memorial Award 2022,Ogden Pleisner Memorial Award – 2020, D. Wu and Elsie Ject-Key Memorial award 2016Samuel 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 1999Salmagundi Club New York Auction Exhibitions 1980 – 2025 Ronnie Cutler Memorial Award 2023, 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, 2002-2025 Honorable Mention, 2020, CAFA Painting Award 2018, Third Prize 2013, Allied Artists of America Award 2011Best of Show-2007, Dick Blick Award 2008Providence Art Club 2005 – 2025 Antonio Cirino Award - 2025J. Banigan Sullivan Award for Artistic Excellence 2023First Prize Members Exhibition – 2021, 2016, 2008, 2007Honorable Mention – Members Exhibition 2007, 2009Urban un Urban Exhibition – J. Bannigan Sullivan Award 2005 Annual Open Exhibition – 2006 – 2011, 2013, 2018,2020Cape Cod Art Center Nationals 2022-2025 Best New England Landscape 2025, 2022, Third Prize 2024, The Jack T. Ahlin Award for Excellence 2023, People’s Choice Award 2023Lyme Art Association Juried and Invitational Shows 2004-2025 New England Landscape– Second prize 2025, First Prize 2022, 2019, Award of Merit 2017, 2018Elected Artists Annual – Third Prize 2022 - First Prize 2019 - Second Prize 2016 –Award of Merit 2023, 2020 Mystic 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 - 2025 Foxwoods Best in Show Award 2007, 2008, Honorable Mention 2009New Haven Paint and Clay Annual Exhibition 1999, 2000, 2002-2004, 2006-2016,2022-2025 Lucille Davis Grimm Prize 2011, The Carle J. Blenner Prize 2007Hudson Valley Art Association Annual National Exhibition, NY/CT 1996-2004, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2019-2025 First Annual Online exhibition – First Prize 2025 Rayma Spaulding Memorial award 2020, Phillip Schumaker Marine Award 2000 & 2003, Frank Van Steen Memorial Award 2003, Honorable Mention, Watermedia 1996Connecticut Watercolor Society – First Prize 2015New England Watercolor Society Biennial, MA 1998, 2002, 2004 Second Prize 2022