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Business & Tech

Blog: Lucille McElroy and the Laguna Beach Watercolor Gallery

The Watercolor Gallery turns 38, and Lucille McElroy is still there, going strong.

Laguna has a lot of treasures to discover, and one of those treasures is the Watercolor Gallery.

Its owner, the well-known and dearly loved Lucille McElroy, is another Laguna treasure.

Together, they make a special contribution to the town of Laguna Beach. The Watercolor Gallery is perhaps one of the oldest galleries in town and is located in the Art Center across from the Surf and Sand Hotel.

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The Watercolor gallery was first opened as a cooperative gallery in 1975 on Mountain Street. At that time it was thought to be the only purely watercolor gallery in the entire U.S. A few of its first artists were David Soloman, Roger Folk, Marilyn Maxson, Pat Short, Phillis Bennet, Ruth Burr, Dick Halpert, Wayne Bender and Gary Wong. Lucille says that the artists would leave a sign on the gallery door saying they were "out painting" if the day was particularly beautiful.

Lucille moved to Laguna Niguel with her husband and youngest son Todd in 1971. Lucille always loved art and making things with her hands. She took art lessons from Roger Armstrong at the Laguna Beach School of Art and Design that was on the Festival of Arts grounds at the time. She also loved working with driftwood and flowers. Lucille never sold any of her own paintings, but she was destined to sell many paintings for other artists!

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Loving art and needing something to do brought Lucille to the Lagun Art-A-Fair Festival in the early '70s. At the time, the Art-A-Fair was on the coast just south of the Hotel Laguna. Lucille began volunteering there in the sales booth, where she became friends with a lot of local artists. At one time they wanted her to be the secretary for the Art-A-Fair, but that was not her cup of tea ... she preferred the sales part.

Around 1979, the artists in the Watercolor Gallery asked Lucille if she would consider being a sales person for their gallery. They said they felt better about her selling the art because they knew she would be fair in representing each artist. Plus, that left the artists free to paint! Lucille was a natural for selling the watercolors she loved. Her happy spirit and good humor is infectious! 

In 1985, the entire center where the Watercolor Gallery was had to be evacuated for renovation. That sent everyone scurrying to new places in town. Lucille decided to reopen the Watercolor Gallery where it is now in The Art Center, which had been established in 1945. 

Since 1985 to this day, Lucille has been a loyal advocate and friend for many local watercolor painters.

"Nothing feels better to me than a watercolor painting," says Lucille. "Watercolor has a natural feel to it that can't be matched in any other medium. The sense of transparency is simply magical, it's almost like the painting is a living, breathing being."

Famous American painters like Winslow Homer, Edward Hopper and John Singer Sargent have made watercolor well known as a loved medium for many people. Because of specially PH-balanced cotton rag watercolor paper and permanent watercolor paints, watercolors hold their color as much or better than some oils.

Next time you're downtown, stop in to see Lucille at the Watercolor Gallery in the Art Center across from the Surf and Sand. You'll love Lucille! People who know her will say, "She is such a character!"

And while your there, pick out your favorite watercolor painting of Laguna Beach by a truly local artist! It will be the perfect compliment to any Laguna home. Or if you're a visitor, take Laguna home with you so that you can remember the special time you spent here.

The Watercolor Gallery presently represents the following local artists: Adel Crawford, Bill Drysdale, Robin Wethe Altman, Auda, Dick Halbert, Wayne Bender, Barbara Fudrich, Lorraine Edrie, Marianne Van Der Veer, Christine McCowan, Cindy Moore, Diana Sipple, Sandra Weir, Patti Jacobs, Susan Hancock, Diane Lachman and Laurie Darnall.

The Art Center also showcases these other wonderful Laguna galleries: The Vintage Poster Gallery, the Salt Gallery, Silver Blue and Gold Jewelry Studio, and the Cove Gallery. Make a day of it and come on down!

Click here to visit the Watercolor Gallery website.

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