Plein air painter displays work inspired by COVID-19 journal entries

Artist Rick J. Delanty’s solo exhibit “Beauty Unites Us” is on view through June 6 at Casa Romantica.

The exhibit features 24 recent paintings, including works painted during the pandemic and onsite. The solo show is inspired by the artist’s journal entries from March 2020. Delanty focuses on landscape paintings of San Clemente, Orange County and across the United States.

“What I think viewers will see when they come here is light and energy, and the impressionistic style in which I’ve worked,” said Delanty in a video interview. “What I’m hoping is that will convey to them the positive feelings that I have about the state of the world today. That it’s not all doom and gloom, but definitely that there are places where we can find beauty if we just look for them.”

The artist taught for 32 years at San Clemente High School and got his start in fine arts when Joan Irvine Smith invited him to art invitationals. Since then, he has participated in the Laguna Beach Invitational, a local plein air event, for 13 consecutive years.

A close up of three works by Rick J. Delanty at Casa Romantica.

(Courtesy of Casa Romantica)

“Rick J. Delanty is one of the most accomplished plein air painters working in southern California today. In fact, several of the most prestigious collections of California Impressionist art held by individuals and foundations in southern California also include works by Rick J. Delanty — oftentimes his are the only works made by a living artist among early 20th-century heavy hitters like William Wendt, Granville Redmond and Edgar Payne,” said Executive Director Amy Behrens in a statement.

He was the first visual artist to be featured in a solo show at Casa Romantica in 2013 and is Casa Romantica’s spring 2021 artist in residence, hosting dinners, demonstrations and workshops. His last event at Casa Romantica will take place on May 26 where he will paint onsite along with other local artists.

If you go

What: “Beauty Unites Us”
Where: 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente
When: Tuesday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cost: General admission $5, free for children ages 12 and under, active military and members; free admission for all ages on the first Sunday of every month
Info: casaromantica.org

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