Sky painted perfect for island art fest

Lolita Harper

The scene on the island Saturday during its annual arts festival

matched many of the picturesque landscapes that were being sold.

The sun was shining brightly, the breeze was gently blowing and

sky was a radiant baby blue as dozens of customers, tourists and

curious people strolled along South Bay Front for the 10th Annual

Balboa Island Artwalk.

John Eagle took advantage of the beautiful day and added to his

impressive collection of pieces by painting the peaceful harbor. His

paintbrush escorted the bright reds and blues around the canvas as

each stroke added another wake to the water or another billow in a

sail.

People gathered to watch him, watching their view from the south

side of the quaint island being captured in oils.

A few feet down, Alex Alexander was rattling off the merits of her

handcrafted pottery. An admirer picked up a purple bowl and said,

“Oh, I love it.”

“I do too,” Alexander said, adding that the bowl was just as

practical as it was beautiful because porcelain can withstand a large

amount of heat.

“It’s also perfect for salads,” the artist said.

Alexander and Eagle were just two of the more than 125 artists

exhibiting oil paintings, watercolors, glass and ceramic sculptures,

jewelry, photography and handcrafted items throughout the day.

Many loyal patrons of the art walk perused this year’s inventory

but the art walk caught a few of its shoppers by surprise.

Reese McCullough said she had driven down from Chino Hills because

the island was always one of her favorite spots to visit as a child.

She came Saturday to walk the perimeter, get little sun and maybe

shop but found another diversion to pass the time.

“This is great,” she said. “It makes my stroll that much more

interesting.”

Off the main strip was a display by aspiring cartoonist Dave

Brookins, who posted some of his best work on a large poster board

for people to look and laugh at. Alongside the drawings were his

various rejections letters from publications such as Playboy and the

New Yorker.

“We’re not selling anything,” wife Mindy Brookins said. “We’re

just here for the laughs. And we usually get a good response.”