Pasadena Museum of California Art (PMCA) is hosting a retrospective of Wayne Theibaud's paintings and a selection of Frances Gearhart's block prints of the California and Pacific Coast landscapes. Although the shows have been up since October, I finally visited today, and all I can say is wow! I have always been a fan of Thiebaud's work, but was blown away by how vibrant, graphic, and textural the paintings are in person. And, I continue to appreciate his rich, quirky paintings of the California landscape even more since moving into the field of landscape architecture. There is something about the bright palette, skewed perspective, and joyful presentation that rekindles a deep appreciation for the beauty of California's natural and urban landscapes. In contrast, the skillful block prints by Gearhart showcase an Arts and Crafts sensibility that celebrates a naturalistic vision of California. Gearhart's attention to detail and compositional ability also shine through in the exhibit. While both artists provide unique representations, a common appreciation for California permeates with equal measures of compositional and graphic inspiration for all designers and artists to draw upon. Hurry, as the exhibitions close on Jan. 31st.
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