Thomas O’Brien, an artist and resident of Mission Beach, won the Best of Miniatures award in the competitive April San Diego Watercolor Society (SDWS) Members’ exhibition “Beauty and Beyond,” an in-gallery show of the SDWS at 2825 Dewey Road in Liberty Station. O’Brien’s painting titled “Plein Aire Mission Gorge” was selected by prominent local artist Sean Barrett for this honor, out of over 280 entries.

Of the painting, Barrett said: “This piece immediately caught my eye – the colors are absolutely fantastic. It strikes a perfect balance between realism and abstraction, making it both intriguing and dynamic. The use of gouache is expertly executed, bringing richness and depth to the painting. I also love the subject matter; it’s so engaging. And again, the colors – just incredible. Well done!”

O’Brien is originally from Albuquerque, N.M., but moved to San Diego last summer after a sojourn in Japan. He earned a B.S. degree from the University of New Mexico in 2011, with a minor in studio art, and has trained with some notable artists such as Colley Whisson, Lindsey Kustusch, and Randall Sexton. Seascapes and landscapes are his favorite subjects.

O’Brien’s style is characterized by strong use of saturated color and deliberate mark-making techniques. He works in acrylic and gouache, with a painting approach that is mostly direct, and he prefers working alla prima, which is an Italian phrase that means “at first attempt.” He strives to finish a painting in one session and minimizes layers to keep his work impressionistic and loose. Find more of his work at https://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/TO’Brien-9113.

The SDWS gramoallery mixhibit will run through Saturday, April 26, at 2528 Dewey Road in Liberty Station. Paintings can be viewed and purchased from the gallery as well as at https://www.sdws.org/galleryart.php?cat=7069.