Oil painting developed in my life in the early '70's. For three years, many Tuesday nights were spent at the figure drawing studio of well known local animator and artist, the late Sam Clayberger.
While attending classes at Otis Art Institute, Los Angeles Valley College, and Pasadena City College, I studied print making, figure drawing, sculpture, art history, ceramics, and other fundamental art courses needed for a fine art background. Desiring to hold on to my personal artistic expression and free myself from academia, I deliberately chose a pathway of eclectic study from several different institutions and by various professional artist.
A great many Monday afternoons, during "closed to the public" hours, were spent studying and drawing from the Master's paintings hanging in the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, CA.
I established my first painting studio in Pasadena, CA. in 1979. There I met my wife. We eventually opened Farrin O'Connor Design Studio. It was a very successful business in jewelry making, metal sculpture, and design. After putting oil painting on hold for several years to help raise my family, I was able to return to painting in 2005.
Today my inspirations come from two of my favorite masters, Willem de Kooning and Richard Diebenkorn. I associate myself with their works and that of other Mid-20th Century Abstract Expressionist and German Expressionist.
Exhibits and Competitions:
2005: 1 painting City of Sierra Madre Centennial Exhibit
2008: 1 painting "Paint The Rialto Theater Exhibit" California Art Club
2008: 3 paintings "Amadeus Art Festival", Tubac, Arizona
2013: 1 painting "Bold Expressions Show 2013" Sacramento Fine Art Center
2013: solo painter "Oil and Clay" Creative Arts Group, Sierra Madre, CA
2014: 1 painting "Bold Expressions Show 2014" Sacramento Fine Art Center (RECIEVED AWARD
2015: 1 painting "Art In Bloom", Creative Arts Group
2016: 1 painting "Art In Bloom", Creative Arts Group
2016: 3 paintings "Annual Arts Festival", Creative Arts Group
2017: 4 paintings " Annual Arts Festival", Creative Arts Group
2017: 1 painting “Bold Expressions Show 2017” Sacramento Fine Art Center (RECIEVED AWARD)
2017: 3 paintings California Art League Show, accepted but did not display
2018: 1 painting "Art In Bloom", Creative Arts Group
2018: 6 paintings "Annual Arts Festival" Creative Arts Group
2019: 1 painting "Black and White Show" Creative Arts Group
2019: 3 paintings "Annual Arts Festival" Creative Arts Group
2020: Partner Artist with TURNINGART.com
2021: 1 painting "ConVERGEnce" , MARIN Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
2021: 2 paintings "Bold Expressions Show 2021" Sacramento Fine Art Center (RECIEVED AWARD)
2022: 1 painting "Art In Bloom", Creative Arts Group
2022: 1 painting "Bold Expressions Show 2022" Sacramento Fine Art Center
2022: 1 painting "Contemporary Abstract Show" Hilliard Gallery, Kansas City, MO
Past organization memberships: CAL, California Art Club, LA Art Association
Paintings are also in various private collections