ROBERT BRUNELLE is a 7th-Generation Vermonter, born in Rutland in 1958. He is a descendant of William Brewster of the Mayflower and count among his ancestors a Great-Grandfather, Great-Great Grandfather, and Great-Grandmother who were all artists.

 

He graduated from St. Michael's College in 1980 with two degrees, one in Fine Arts and the other in History. In his own words, this rendered him unfit for employment, so he went on to get a Master’s in Art Education from Castleton University in 1985.

 

From 1981 to 2012, he was the art teacher at the Browns River Middle School. Since 1995, he has served on the Board of Directors of the Northern Vermont Artist Association, first as president and now as vice president. He is also a founding member of the Vermont Comic Creators Group. 

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He describes himself as a painter, kinetic sculptor, book illustrator, art educator, and political cartoonist. He was trained as an oil painter in 1978, but switched to his current medium of acrylics in 1990. His kinetic sculptures are made of wood, foam core, and acrylic paint. His book illustrations are done with a graphic tablet and digital pen. He takes inspiration from artists including Edward Hopper, Goya, Brueghel, Daumier, Robert Crumb, Gluyas Williams, Charles Addams, Peter Arno, Edward Gorey, and more.