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Meet Our Artists

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Manhattan Beach Pier 

In this painting, this beach stands in the foreground, while crashing waves fill the space between the sand and a pier in the background. The ocean waves provide texture, and the red roof is exaggerated due to the blue water fading into the blue sky. The shadowing on the pier provides depth as well. The beach is a huge part of SoCal lifestyle. Because of proximity, residents spend their leisure time doing activities like surfing, swimming, skateboarding, walking, and biking. The shoes left on the sand resemble the adopted carefree attitude of SoCal natives. 

Sunset at Oceanside Pier 

Similar to Manhattan Beach Pier, this painting also features a sandy beach with a pier at sunset. This time, the pier stretches into the foreground and we can see people walking across. The sunset features a gradient from light orange to a dark fuchsia, the palms in the foreground of the painting have much more texture than the waves and other aspects of the work. The families walking along the pier, the restaurants, and lights along the pier creat an inviting, exciting atmosphere that is classic to SoCal life. The yellow light reflected in the water adds to the warmth of the scene. 

Oceanside Harbor at Dusk 

This spotlight on the harbor at Oceanside features a foreground of still water contrasts the busy background cluttered with boats, docks, shops, and a lighthouse. The boats symbolize leisure, as many people in SoCal like to get a boat to fish for fun. The light and shadows are contrasted in texture, the shadows are striated while the lightness is fairly well blended. The palm trees prove to be very symbolic of Southern California due to the fact that this harbor could be just about anywhere without them. 

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Palm Springs Golf Course with Mt San Jacinto

In the painting Palm Springs Golf Course there are mountains behind the green golf course with many palm trees and bright flowers. San Jacinto peak is one of the most prominent peaks in the United States so it makes sense that the artist would include this as most of the painting. The flowers bring a brightness to the dessert terrain that is Palm Springs. The mountain is a symbol of  social and economic status and prominence as usually only wealthy people vacation in Palm Springs.

Cardiff Restaurant Row

This painting shows a broad landscape including a stream, busy roadway, hillside homes, and beach. The two colorful sections with nature and water are broken up by the long roadway. The calmness of the nature scenes are separated by the business of the road, lined with shops and scattered with cars. The paraglides in the background symbolize enjoyment, as they are bright and stand out against the tranquil blue sky. 

Mary Helmreich: Meet the Artists
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