Robert Leigh Erdle known as Rob Erdle (17 August 1949 – 30 December 2006) was a watercolorist and educator, and president of various arts associations. He exhibited his watercolors in over 200 shows, 47 of which were one-man exhibitions.
While teaching at the University of North Texas, he also was an instructor for ten years at the American College of Switzerland, a director of the Chautauqua Institution Art Gallery, Chautauqua, New York, and director of Pacific Union College's "Summer School of Art".[3][4] For thirteen years he also taught at the Luxun Academy of Fine Arts in Shenyang, China, which awarded him the honor of Distinguished visiting professor.[4][5]
For twenty years Erdle participated in Watercolor USA as an exhibitor, curator and judge. He was President of the Watercolor USA Honor Society housed at the Springfield Art Museum, Missouri, 1997-2000.[2][4] Erdle was a juror for many watercolor exhibitions, including the National Watercolor Society, the Pittsburgh Aqueous Open, the Arizona Aqueous Open and Watercolor USA. He conducted seminars and lectures across the U.S. and in more than a dozen countries.[2][4]
In 2006, University of North Texas established the Rob Erdle Award Fund, an endowment through private donors that provides financial support for watercolor students.[4] Rob Erdle died on December 30, 2006, in Denton, Texas.[3]
Notable exhibits
1973 Watercolor USA recognition as outstanding young artist[3][4]
1995 Shanghai State Art Museum in Shanghai, China[3][4]
2006, July 14–September 3, Luminous Watercolors – The Works of Rob Erdle an 18-year Retrospective, Louisiana Art and Science Museum [1][6]
2006, June 8 - June 11, "Recent American Watercolors" Solo Exhibition Niigata International Watercolor Exhibition and Conference Center, Niigata, Japan[3][4]
Publications
The Watercolors of Rob Erdle A survey book of works from 1972-2000 with 150 color plates, May 2000.[2]
Collections
Erdle's works are held in the art collections of, among others:
New Orleans Museum of Art
Ochsner Foundation
Springfield Art Museum, Missouri
State University of New York
Chautauqua Institution
College of the Ozarks
Bowling Green University
University of North Texas
Shanghai - Chinese Artist Association
Midwestern State University
Illinois State University
Northern Arizona University
Luxun Fine Arts Academy
Dalian University
Awards
Regents' Professor, University of North Texas
President's Council Teaching Award, University of North Texas
Distinguished Service for International Education Award, University of North Texas.
Distinguished Alumni Commencement Award, Bowling Green University
Honorary Award for Life Service, Chautauqua Art Association, Chautauqua Institution.
Honorary President of the International Watercolor Institute, Niigata, Japan
