Robert Waldo Brunelle, Jr.

I am a 7th generation Vermonter, born in Rutland in 1958. Being an artist is in my blood, for I count among my ancestors a great-grandfather, great-great grandfather and a great grandmother who were all artists. My great-great grandfather, Cyril Brunelle Sr., was a member of the famed “Hudson River School of painters in the 19th century.

I am a painter, art educator, book illustrator and political cartoonist. I graduated from St. Michael’s College, class of 1980, with two degrees, one in History, the other in Fine Arts. This, of course, rendered me unfit for gainful employment, so I went on to earn an M.A. in Art Education from Castleton University, class of 1985. Meanwhile I landed the job of art teacher at the Browns River Middle school in 1981, which I stubbornly clung to until I retired in 2012.

In 1995 I was elected the president of the venerable Northern Vermont Artist’s Association, and remained at the helm until 2015. I currently serve as the NVAA’s Vice President. I am also a founding member of the Vermont Comic Creators Group.

In 1997 I launched my political cartoon strip Mr Brunelle Explains It All. It ran in the now defunct newspaper The Vermont Times for several years, and later in Seven Days for a while. In 1999 it was picked up the national humor newspaper The Funny Times, and appears there monthly to this day, and in 2026 it was picked up the VT newspaper The Bridge Sho-Case.

After retiring from teaching in public schools I began teaching free- lance art classes and workshops for grown-ups around the state. I teach acrylic painting, drawing and cartooning at Studio Place Arts, The Milton Artists Guild and The River Arts Gallery. Schedules of my classes may be found on their websites.

In 1983 I married my soul mate, Gracie, and we remained happily wed until her passing in Feb of 2026.

I have illustrated several books for Vermont authors, most notably my long-time friend and collaborator Joseph Citro, as well as Mark Pendergrast, Elain Segal and others. In 2024 I won the Seven Daysies award for Best Illustrator.

You may see examples of my art, illustrations and cartoons at www.mrbrunelle.com.