David Colon Jr. was born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. At the age of 9 his family moved to Rochester, New York. David's earliest memories of drawing are of sketches he would render on the steamed windows of winter. He first became acquainted with "art materials" during his years in the Rochester City School District. He loved going to school during "snow days" because he could draw and paint with tempera and watercolors. He won his first art contest at the age of 11 with a crayon picture drawn to the theme of "Moonlight Sonata", performed by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. These encouraging moments led to an art career that has been developing ever since. 

While David was a student at Edison Technical High School, he studied drumming and played with many local bands. For 5 years, he was a drummer with the RUSTIX, a band that recorded with Motown and was subsequently inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame in 2016. He maintained his interest in art through the design of posters, logos and album covers. David was awarded an art scholarship to Rochester Institute of Technology. In his junior year of college, he was selected to attend the Ruskin School of Painting and Drawing at Oxford University, England. It was during this time that David had the opportunity to concentrate on strict academic drawing. His exposure to an artistically rich environment and study of original drawings by the “Old Masters” continues to influence his approach to painting. David received a full scholarship to continue his graduate studies at the State University of New York at Albany. He was awarded a teaching assistant position while earning his Master of Arts in Studio Art in 1979. David began his teaching career in Boston, while maintaining his enthusiasm for painting. David was a bilingual teacher in the Boston Public School system for 15 years prior to returning to Rochester in 2002. He continued teaching 5th and 6th grade bilingual education at School #9 within the Rochester City School District until his retirement in 2012. 

David's paintings are inspired by his passion for nature. Of all the human endeavors, art has been the one commodity that David could create which would be enjoyed and appreciated by others. He enjoys touching people's lives with his artwork; sharing what he finds esthetically pleasing with others. David's paintings are part of private collections in Arizona, Boston, Puerto Rico, Albany, Connecticut, New York City, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Rochester, San Francisco, Texas, and Florida.

 

JURIED EXHIBITIONS 

 

2023 – 156th International Exhibition of the American Watercolor Society 

“Mayan”

 

2022 – Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors

“Jazzmen”

 

2021 – Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors

“Empty Chairs”
 

2020 – Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors

“Mayan”

 

2020 – National Watercolor Society Annual Member Exhibition 

“Mayan”

 

2019 – 2019 International Exhibition of the San Diego Watercolor Society

"The Pianist”

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2019 – Niagara Frontier Watercolor Society - 14th National Exhibition Transparent Watercolor

“The Jazz Drummer”

 

2019 –Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors

“Ruby”
 

2018 National Watercolor Society Annual Member Exhibition

 “Ruby”

 

2017 National Watercolor Society Annual Member Exhibition

 “My Friend’s Friend”

 

2016 - Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors
“My Friend’s Friend”
 

2015 - Central New York Watercolor Society 2nd Signature Exhibition of 2015

 “Nectarine on a Coach”
“The Bedroom”
 

2015- Transparent Watercolor Society of America 39th National Exhibition 

“Nectarine on a Coach”

 

2014 - New England Watercolor Society 14th Biennial North American Open Show

“Dormant Field”
 

2014 - Central New York Watercolor Society 2014 Annual Juried Exhibition

“Love Squeeze”– Artistic Merit Award

“Reaching for Our Star”
 

2014 - Central New York Watercolor Society – awarded Signature Membership
 

2014 - National Watercolor Society Member Exhibition – “Aging Place  
 

2013 - National Watercolor Society All Member Exhibition – “Onion Soup Day”
 

2012 - 31st Adirondack National Watercolor Juried Exhibition of American Watercolors

“Onion Soup Day”

 

2012 - Rochester Contemporary Art Center – “Three Horse Power”
 

2011 - Rochester Contemporary Art Center – “Brooding Over Beer”
 

2010 - Rochester Contemporary Art Center – “Lewis Lake”
 
2006 - 2011 Renaissance Art Gallery, Rochester, New York – exhibiting artist

 

2004 - Impact Artists’ Gallery – National Exhibition – “Summer Light”
 

2001 - New England Watercolor Society – 7th Biennial North American Open Watercolor Society

Purchase Award –Federal Reserve Bank of Boston - “Summer Light”
 

2000 - Hudson Arts Alliance - Fall Juried Art Exhibit

1st Place – Painting – “Floating & Dreaming”

  

1999 - The Friends of the Marlborough Public Library – 28th Regional Juried Art Exhibit

Honorable Mention – “Summer Light” 

 “Interior With Blue Rug”
 

1999 - New England Watercolor Society – Regional Open Juried Exhibition

 “La Salida”

 

1998 - The Friends of the Marlborough Public Library – 27th Regional Juried Art Exhibit

Best of Marlborough Award – “Planta, Manzana y Tambor”
 

1997 - The Friends of the Marlborough Public Library – 26th Regional Juried Art Exhibit

Best of Marlborough Award – “Lewis Lake”

Most Popular Award – “La Salida”
 

1997 - Grand Exhibition – Akron Society of Artists

“Hacia Yo” (Towards Me)
 

1996 - Hudson Area Arts Alliance – Fall Juried Art Exhibit

 “Summer Breeze”

 “Boston Light”

 

1995 - Grand Exhibition – Akron Society of Artists

Honorable Mention - “Planta, Manzana y Tambor”

 

1994 - Adirondack National Exhibition of American Watercolors 

“Dawn at the Cove”