Bob Voges

Bob Voges loves the challenge, beauty and spontaneity of transparent watercolor. His background includes a 40 year career in engineering. He holds a BS Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master and PhD Degree in Electrical Engineering from Southern Methodist University. His interest in watercolor painting began over 45 years ago with part time lessons while he continued his Engineering career at Texas Instruments and Raytheon. His early watercolor instructors and role models were Jim Powell and Bud Biggs. Today and throughout the past 15 years he has been and is inspired and mentored by Naomi Brotherton. In addition, he has taken watercolor workshops with Edgar Whitney, Robert E. Wood, Eric Wiegardt, Ken Hosmer and Sterling Edwards to name a few. He is a Signature member and past President of the Southwestern Watercolor Society.

Dr. Bob, a nickname picked up at Raytheon, is someone that the right vs. left brain theory can be seen in his engineering career as well as his art career. Although engineering is predominately left brain, his work in Research & Development and electromagnetic theory included a significant amount of creative and even intuitive right brain activity. His art works are representational realistic watercolors that lean toward the left brain approach. In spite of all this theory he loves the creativity of watercolor with its happy accidents, transparent beautiful washes and strong vibrant color. 

Since his retirement in 2006 he has been painting full time. His works are primarily realistic landscapes or cityscapes. His inspiration comes from travel photographs and his recent conversion to plein air painting. Working outdoors gives him the foundation for larger works in the studio. He is striving to produce loose colorful paintings that the viewer can enjoy, while they interpret the meaning of the painting and perhaps highlight fond memories. One of his favorite quotes amplifies his art philosophy: “It’s not what you look at that matters, It’s what you see.” -Henry David Thoreau