Peter X O’Brien was born in 1960 in Glen Cove, New York. His family moved to Wellesley, Massachusettsand then to San Francisco, California before settling in Lake Oswego, Oregon. His interest in art was encouraged at an early age by his Mother, Jean, also an artist and art teacher of renown.  Peter has been drawing and painting ever since. 

Pete earned a football scholarship to the University of  Idaho where he spent four years playing collegiate football while studying drawing and painting. In 1985, Pete signed as a placekicker with the New Orleans Saints. After a brief career in the NFL, he  returned to the University of Oregon to continue his education and graduated with a BA in Fine Arts.   

Peter lives in West Linn, Oregon with his wife and children and teaches art classes from his Lake Oswego studio. Pete still finds time to travel extensively looking for fresh subject matter to paint.  He has studied under well known artists Tom Lynch, Tony Couch, Jan Kunz, Jim Ponti and Eric Wiegardt in his persistent quest to expand and refine his craft. 

His paintings have been judged “Best of Show” four times within eighteen months!  His contemporaries consider him one of the most talented emerging artists in Europe and the United States.  

Peter participates in juried art shows throughout the year and is a member of the Western Artists Association and the Watercolor Society of Oregon. He can be contacted by email at peterx715@aol.com for commission inquiries.

Peter X O'Brien, watercolor artist