Oscar R. Dizon is a Filipino-American watercolorist whose work blends realism, emotion, and cultural memory. Born in a fishing village in Bataan and raised in Manila, Dizon’s earliest artistic inspiration came from watching sign painters decorate boats—a formative experience that sparked a lifelong passion for visual storytelling.
He studied Graphic Arts in high school, then pursued Technical Drafting at the Philippine College of Arts and Trades and Architecture at National University. After immigrating to the United States in 1971, Dizon worked as a graphic designer for pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies before fully embracing fine art. He trained at the Art Students League of New York under portraitist John Howard Sanden and printmaker Michael Ponce De Leon, refining his mastery of watercolor and illustration.
Dizon’s paintings—often quiet, contemplative scenes—have been exhibited in the U.S., Canada, Malaysia, and the Philippines. His solo show The Watercolors of Oscar R. Dizon at the Ayala Museum in 2011 marked a major milestone, and his work has been featured in Splash 12: Celebrating Artistic Vision and American Artist Watercolor Magazine. He is also one of three artists profiled in Transparent Colors: Filipino-American Watercolorists by Maria Teresa Lapid Rodriguez.
A lifetime member of the Art Students League of New York, Dizon is also affiliated with the American Watercolor Society, Transparent Watercolor Society of America, and the Salmagundi Club. He co-founded the Society of Philippine American Artists (SPAA), where he continues to mentor and exhibit alongside fellow artists.
