| What's Inside:
- This week's Paint Out: Friday, February 20th @9am, Balboa Island, Newport Beach
- 2-Day Watercolor Workshop with Geoff Allen March 14-15th, Waitlist only
- Save the Dates for February 2026 Paint Outs
- RSVP's Requested! Guest Artist Demo by Keiko Tanabe THIS SATURDAY, February 21st
- Omnivision Member's Show 2026
- Hortense Miller Garden Paint Dates
- New! Daily Itinerary & Information for the Cambria Paint Away
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- Muth Display Gallery and Art Bin Reminders
- Download the new SOCALPAPA APP
- Meetup Group every Thursday on Zoom 10-11am
Shown: Club Members at Huntington Beach Central Park Paint Out
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Event is Full-Waitlist only!
| | Omnivision: Art Across Boundaries
On View Now Through - April 10, 2026
OPEN Weekdays 8am to 4:30pm (closed on weekends)
Old Orange County Courthouse
211 W. Santa Ana Blvd.
Santa Ana, CA 92701
An exhibition that provides a unique space for SOCALPAPA members to display works that go beyond the limits of genre and media.
In collaboration with Orange County Parks. Last year, this show was featured in local print publications and received praise for the wide range of styles and genre as well as quality of member work.
Judge of Awards, Mark Fehlman, took the time to make comments about each painting and why he selected it. His presentation was appreciated by all. Click on the link below to see the artists who were selected for awards in five painting categories.
Omnivision: Art Across Boundaries 2026
Contact Person for event:
Dawn Buckingham dbgfineart@gmail.com |  | Hortense Miller Garden PAINT DATES
There are a limited number of spaces available to SOCALPAPA Members to paint the beautiful gardens in Laguna Beach.
The Hortense Miller Garden has invited SOCALPAPA Members to paint at the historic Mid-Century Modern home built by the Millers in the 1950s.
Dates Below for SOCALPAPA Members to view and paint the garden in yet another season.
Thursday, February 19th - 9:00am-12:00pm
Saturday, March 28 - OPEN HOUSE
(Meet at the Church, 635 High Drive)
3 spots: 9:15 - 11:45am
3 spots: 11:45 - 2:15pm
Register: Email Diane Lannon at diane.lannon@gmail.com
to reserve a spot and get parking information.
Link here for more information on the beautiful gardens:
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Cambria 2026
“Save the Dates" March 30-April 3, 2026
Detailed Itinerary Now Available, see link below! |  |
Thanks again for your interest in the Cambria trip. It is always a fun location on California’s beautiful central coast and I know this year will be fantastic as well.
There is no charge for participating, and everyone is welcome to attend. Transportation, Food and Lodging is the responsibility of each individual. You are traveling and participating at your own risk.
Cambria is 250 miles North of Los Angeles on Hwy 1 and takes about 5 hours to travel there.
Paint locations for the five days will range from Ragged Point in the North to Montana de Oro State Park in the South. Subjects include barns, farms, beautiful coastline, boats, docks, historical buildings, wineries and plenty of green countryside. Yes it can be cold, windy, rainy and foggy. Remember, it's Plein Air!
Make your reservations early. If you are not familiar with the area, Google Search “Where to stay in Cambria” for all the information you need.
NEW! DAILY ITINERARY and detailed information:
For more information contact:
Al Carlson
Text or phone: (562) 884-7416 or email
| FEBRUARY 2026 PAINT OUT DATES
Friday, February 20
9 am
Balboa Island, in Newport Beach
ART DEMO-February 21
2-4pm
Seabridge Park, Huntington Beach
Guest Artist, Keiko Tanabe
Friday, February 27
9 am
Montage Resort, South Laguna Beach
*MENTOR PAINTER
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Friday, February 20
9 am
Balboa Island, in Newport Beach
Paint near Coral Street and the bay walk. Take Jamboree South into Newport Beach, past PCH (Pacific Coast Highway), down across the bridge onto Marine Avenue on the Island, go South to the end, and go Right at Park Avenue, go 4 blocks, and Left on Coral, park on the street as close as you can to the water. Watch the Street sweeper street cleaning day signs. Views of the Pavilion and boats. You can use the public pier near there if the tide is too high to set up on the sand.
Restrooms are at the Ferry landing.
| | | | ARTIST DEMO - Keiko Tanabe
Saturday, February 21
2-4pm
Seabridge Park, Huntington Beach
Please join us for a Special Guest Artist demo by award-winning Watercolorist, Keiko Tanabe on Saturday, February 21st at 2pm at Seabridge Park (16252 Countess Dr. Huntington Beach).
Mostly self-taught, Keiko began her professional art career in 2005 and has exhibited internationally across the Americas, Asia, and Europe. Her watercolor paintings are collected worldwide and have been featured in leading art magazines in the U.S., Europe, and Japan.
Since 2011, Keiko has taught hundreds of watercolor workshops and live demonstrations around the world. She is a sought-after instructor known for clear, inspiring instruction and dynamic demonstrations. Keiko lives and works in San Diego, California.
Restrooms Available Nearby
Space is limited, please RSVP to save your spot:
Contact person for the event:
Denise Busony
info@denisebusony.com | | | | Friday, February 27
9 am
Montage Resort, South Laguna Beach
This is Mentor day, and our own Amy Jackson will be patrolling the walkway seeing if anyone would like help, or suggestions for good views to paint. Take PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) South to Wesley, go towards the beach down to the parking garage, pay parking at the Kiosk. Or park across the street at the mini lot, or use metered street parking.
Paint views using bench turnouts, along the path South towards Aliso Beach, or North by the Wedding Ring (Keyhole), or if the tide is right, views of the rocks down the ramp to the sand.
Restrooms are in the parking garage or farther down the walkway, midway down.
| | |  | Muth Bin Reminders
Since so many wonderful artists are now contributing to the bin at Muth, we want to remind you of a few guidelines.
1. All work displayed at Muth must be original plein air-style depicting outdoor locations in Orange County.
Animals, plants or people must be shown in a landscape setting.
2. Flat panels only, no foam-core backing or gallery wrap.
3. Mat board backing is suggested to make your work look more professional.
4. Obtain and attach a sales slip for each painting from the green SOCALPAPA notebook at the front desk, and fill out a form to list your work in the green book.
5. Paintings must be in a cellophane envelope.
6. Suggested minimum price: $50 for smaller paintings $75 for larger work.
7. Due to space considerations, we are no longer going to accept prints.
Thanks to you all,
Randi Moran |  | | Get the Club App on your phone!
NEW! Want to stay updated on what's happening, while you're on the go?
Access all the same SOCALPAPA information on your phone, using the Club Express app.
Register for events, check the calendar, renew your membership, and more -- all in an easy-to-use format on your phone.
The Club Express app is available for iPhone and Android users.
iPhone users -> head to the App Store
Android users -> head to the Google Play Store
Click here for instructions -- 3 easy steps -- how to download it and register!
|  | Did you know there are several ways to find out about the paint outs?
• Weekly Bulletin
• MeetUp group online
• Website events calendar
• Facebook & Instagram
ALSO
Occasionally our group gets approached for plein air painter referrals.
If you would like to be included on a roster, please email info@Socalpapa with your name and phone number.
Make sure to put "Referrals List" in the email subject line.
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 | SOCALPAPA ZOOM
Zoom Group invites you to join us
every Thursday, from 10am -11am
This is a time for members to share their art, get feedback and connect with other artists over the web. All levels are welcome.
If you are not ready to share, join us anyway and get inspired!
Follow link below to join.
The passcode is 229461
Zoom |
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 | Discover the SOCALPAPA Meetup Group and join our thriving community of plein-air painters in Southern California.
Get the latest updates, find out who is joining (we have 279 members now!) and connect with other artists on events such as our weekly paint outs, paint aways, Zoom meetings, special events and showcases!
If you haven't already joined, head over to the MeetUp website and join the group - it's free!
Your artistic community awaits you.
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| GET SOCIAL!
Tag us in your paint out posts
#socal_papa & @socal_papa
on Instagram!
Post your photos on our FaceBook page!
Connect with and be inspired by our
fantastic group of artists!
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GET INVOLVED!
The club is still looking for members to volunteer for
different committees and events this year.
There are a variety of different ways you can get involved, both large and small.
Contact Randi Moran if you want to help.
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OUR SPONSORS
We continually wish to thank
our sponsors. Visit their links below and please continue to support their businesses.
Art Supply Warehouse
Blick Art Materials
Da Vinci Paint Co
Dakota Pastel Supples
Frame Xpress Long Beach
Fast Frame Irvine
Irvine Ranch Water District
KingofFrame.com
Paint Like a Pro - Debra Huse
Randy Higbee Gallery
Newport Bay Conservancy
OC Parks
Rosemary & Co Brushes
San Joaquin Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary
Teri Ludwig Pastels
Tim Smith Real Estate Group / Caldwell Banker Newport Beach
Viviva Colors
Watercolor West |
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 | SOCALPAPA is a 501c3 organization
(Southern California Plein Air Painters Association)
~Our Mailing Address~
4790 Irvine Blvd, Ste 105-371
Irvine, CA 92620
Contact Us | |