David Solomon
Laguna Beach, CA
Mexican-American artist, b. 1943 in East L.A. Known for watercolors. Established career in Laguna Beach.
MessageBorn in East Los Angeles in 1943, David Solomon’s interest in art and engineering began at an early age. It was his talent for drawing that helped him find his way out of the barrio. Following high school, he was drafted during the Vietnam war. After basic training, he served as a soldier-civilian the Army Exhibit Unit in Washington, D.C. where he further explored the world of art and design. Before and after his service, he enrolled in Art Center College of Design, then located in Los Angeles. Following a brief career as a product and architectural designer, he transitioned into a fine art career that lasted for 50 years. He was primarily a plein air painter, meaning that he chose to paint outdoors, on-location, instead of working strictly from photos. His work reflects his travels around the world which included trips to Bora Bora, Tonga, Cuba, Mexico, Bolivia, France, Italy, Spain, and the former U.S.S.R., as well as domestic locations throughout the United States.
In the late 1960’s, Solomon moved to Laguna Beach where he became immersed in the local arts culture. He was a regular exhibitor at the Festival of Arts for 30 years, and was the first artist ever commissioned to create a painting especially for display in the Pageant of the Masters. David is a signature member of Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (LPAPA) and participated in their annual events and shows up until 2019.
Solomon was a prolific painter who created thousands of paintings during his career. Some career highlights include:
- "David Solomon: 50 Years an Artist" Book published 2019
- B.A. in Industrial Design, Art Center College of Design
- Two time winner, National Watercolor Society
- Collection of National Watercolor Society, cataloged by Smithsonian Institute
- Collection of American Airlines Hall of Fame
- Exhibitor National Academy of Art, New York
- Featured in “Mastering Color and Design in Watercolor”
- Who’s Who in Technology Today- 1979
- Who’s Who in the West- 1978
- Who’s Who in American Art- 1977
- Lifetime Teaching Credential, State of California
All images Copyright David Solomon. All rights reserved.