Perry Owen Fine Art

 

The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.

 

Perry Owen’s love for the coast began early in his life. Born in the hot and humid town of Houston, Texas, his favorite escape as a child was the cool breeze he discovered standing on the sea wall in Galveston. That early enchantment was the start of Perry’s life-long love affair with the sea. 

As a young adult, he became a lifeguard and swim instructor, and while watching the surfers in San Diego he soon fell in love with a beautiful young woman who became his wife of 61 years. From their earliest days together, they loved discussing subjects like science, literature, history, music, and of course art. 

Perry joined the Navy and chose to settle in the coastal town of Ventura, California where he could feel the mist and fog on his face every day. “This is the life for me...” he would often say. 

Owen earned a Bachelor of Science in Art from the University of Texas and a Master’s Degree in Fine Art from the University of California, Berkeley. He took a position as a high school art instructor in Ventura that lasted 30 years. During this time, he became a master artist and craftsman, worked as a freelance commercial artist, exhibited award-winning paintings with the National Watercolor Society, and was published in several national/international books, magazines, art reviews, catalogs and fine art calendars. 

Perry produced works in a variety of media, including watercolor, pen and ink, collage, acrylic, pastels, oils and lacquer. His intellectually structured pieces span multiple styles and can be found in many private collections throughout the country. He was a proud, contributing member of the National Watercolor Society for almost 50 years. 

Those who knew Perry Owen described him as a true “Renaissance Man.” The love of coastal life so evident in his paintings spilled over into his other passions which included building dozens of model airplanes, tall ships, yachts and whalers. Among his heroes were Vincent VanGogh, Oscar Wilde, Charles Darwin, Thomas Jefferson, George Bernard Shaw, Jacque Cousteau, Carl Sagan, Jim Garrison, Mort Saul, Poncho Sanchez, and his favorite – Diana Krall. One of Owen’s greatest joys was playing drums to records of his favorite jazz musicians. He played for over 50 years and could be heard daily until well into his 90s. 

The “Seaside Inspirations” Collection is a piece of the beautiful art legacy Perry Owen leaves behind. We hope each painting will connect you to the same love and passion for the seaside that inspired him throughout his life. 

For more information about his artwork, Contact Us