Steve Curl’s watercolors are on display at the Portola Art Gallery in October

through Francoise Freyberg October 2, 2021

Explore the landscape in watercolor by Palo Alto artist Steve Curl is the featured exhibition at the Portola Art Gallery in October. A reception for the artist will take place on Saturday, October 9 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Known locally for several years as an editorial cartoonist for the Palo Alto Daily News, Steve Curl is also an established watercolor artist and teacher. His paintings are inspired by his travels through California, Colorado, Yosemite National Park and his local hikes on the coast and in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

For the past 10 years, Steve’s paintings from Yosemite National Park have been accepted into the prestigious annual Yosemite Renaissance Exhibition, where they are on display year-round at the Yosemite Visitor Center Museum & Art Gallery.

“I love the simplicity and freshness of watercolor,” says Steve. “It behaves the same as nature, using the simplest elements. It is easily transportable and dries quickly, so it is the ideal support for trips and extended hikes. Often the best paintings are produced quickly with a few simple, gestural brush strokes, rather than lengthy studio picks. It’s not particularly forgiving, however, so you have to anticipate, be decisive and try to nail it on the first flush passes.

Having practiced the medium for over 30 years, Steve also teaches watercolor painting at the Pacific Art League in Palo Alto, where he has had an enthusiastic following since 1991.

Afternoon storm in the High Country (16 × 20 ″, watercolor) is one of the works shown.

The Portola Art Galley, located in the Allied Arts Guild (75 Arbor Road) is open Monday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.