Riverside Ducks by David Peterson
Saturday, April 22, 2006, my wife and I attended the artist’s receptiion for David Peterson’s watercolor exhibit at Papayas Cafe and Bakery, 1555 River Park Drive, Sacramento. While I didn’t count the exact number of paintings on display, there must have been 25 or more watercolors representing a wide range of subject matter. Free coffee courtesy of Papayas was provided, as well as cookies by Colleen, and door prizes to boot! What a hoot!
I can think of a couple of recent nationally recognized watercolor shows whose collected works failed to excite me nearly as much as those David selected for this locally produced show. As noted on the flyer that accompanied the exhibit, “David’s painting is maturing and he is making his artistic statement. David portrays the familiar scenes of our neighborhood in a humorous and enigmatic way. He shows you California landmarks differently, simply and in a unique manner.” I could not agree more, so much so my wife and I purchased two of David’s paintings to add to the Hansen family art collection.
It was evident David put forth much effort to make the show first-rate. The framing, matting, quantity, and quality of work were top notch. Papayas is fortunate to have the good foresight to host this exhibit. Truthfully, I am not an advocate of shows that usually amount to free wall decoration and/or promotion for businesses who fail to invest in those they purport to promote artistically. However, the layout of the exhibit was quite professional, clean and unencumbered. The paintings were well illuminated and easy on the eyes. And, in these days of high gasoline prices, parking is a breeze.
If you missed the reception, all is not lost. Much of David Peterson’s fine work is still on display at Papayas. His work can also be seen on the web at http://www.aquarellist.com
