The Valley Art Gallery presents Life’s a Beach: Avila to Venice, a new solo exhibition at the Santa Maria Airport, which is scheduled to remain on display through the end of September. This exhibit showcases a collection of beach-themed landscapes, seascapes, and portraits by oil painter Taffy French-Gray, who will be present at the airport during a special guided tour and artist talk on Sunday, Sept. 19, from 2 to 4 p.m.
French-Gray, who grew up in San Luis Obispo but currently resides in Santa Maria, said in her artist statement that she feels “happiest when putting color on paper or canvas or whatever is handy.” She also said that one of her primary influences as an artist is watercolorist Charles Reid, “who was the best at using hard and soft edges” to maximize the medium’s “juiciness.”
For more info on Life’s a Beach: Avila to Venice, visit valleygallery.org. The exhibit is currently available to view for free at the Santa Maria Airport, located at 3217 Terminal Drive, Santa Maria.
This article appears in Sep 2-9, 2021.
