For decades, Bob Larose, 76, described his passion for watercolor as a “slow boil.” He spent 30 years teaching at universities, putting his PhD in communication theory and research from the University of Southern California to good use. But throughout his academic career, he knew that retirement would bring him back to painting.

Art wasn’t a big part of Larose’s childhood in East Hartford, Connecticut. He grew up just across the river from the Wadsworth Atheneum, which boasts an esteemed art collection, but he only remembers a display of antique firearms—likely from the local Colt factory.

“I liked to draw and color from an early age,” Larose said. “That was a summer pastime for the only kid on the block who couldn’t make it into Little League.” 

At age 10, a how-to book on charcoal drawing from his mother sparked a new skill, and oil pastels from a cousin introduced him to making large posters for school musicals, like a rendering of the Matterhorn for The Sound of Music. Using a discarded set of his father’s oil paints, he created a portrait of his favorite dog and hand-painted Christmas cards for neighbors and teachers. 

Then, life pulled him away from art.

FINDING HIS TRUE MEDIUM

During summer breaks from academia, Larose roamed the country in his classic Mercedes 220SEb. Inspired by sights like Pikes Peak, he returned to charcoal sketching. But it wasn’t until a 1993 sabbatical in Hawaii, when he took an extension course, that he got into watercolors.

“I loved the class and watercolors in particular,” he said. “But from that point on, I started breaking all sorts of ‘classical’ watercolor rules.” 

“Overgrown Power Wagon” was entered in the Western Colorado Watercolor Society show.

He layered, scratched, glazed and even molded thick paper for added texture—techniques that give his paintings the depth of oils without the smell.

“These are all things a watercolor purist would shudder at,” he added. “I never made the transition to oil paints because I can’t stand the smell of linseed oil.”

Larose first tested the market in Michigan, selling watercolors in local bookstores. But after a snowstorm on both Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, he and his wife, Betty, decided soggy springs were no longer for them. They began spending summers camping and exploring the U.S., and eventually fell in love with Montrose.

They married in Yankee Boy Basin 25 years ago and still return each summer for their anniversary. In 2015, Larose retired, moved to Montrose full time and began painting and marketing his work.

Thanks to his academic career, Larose traveled extensively, always carrying a mini watercolor set. He’s painted thousands of postcard-sized scenes from around the world, including a favorite of a small lake in Italy’s Dolomites that still hangs in his studio.

“What I try to do is paint those moments of awe that inspire me,” he said. “I hope that I’ve captured that feeling well enough that someone will come along and fall in love with my painting. Lots of my work these days comes from the flora and fauna in my own backyard and the views from my property.”

His paintings have earned dozens of awards from Western Slope art shows. Locally, his work is featured through Montrose Center for the Arts’ (MCA) Art in Motion program, which places art by local artists in participating businesses for a yearly donation to MCA.

ALWAYS ON THE MOVE

Retirement hasn’t slowed Larose. He co-authored “Media Now,” an introductory college textbook in media studies, and edits scholarly articles. At MCA, where he serves as vice president of the board, he wears many hats—finance committee member, grant writer, front desk volunteer and all-around problem solver.

“When I’m not doing all that, my hobbies include hiking, yard maintenance—three acres of weeds keep me hopping—jeep riding, baseball card curating, and cheering for the Dodgers,” he said.

Visit Bob Larose’s Studio & Gallery

Studio visits are by appointment. Email [email protected] or call 517-898-1949.
See more of his work online at Saatchiart.com/rlarose.

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