Beverly Hills Parks

Catherine Dickson artistically captures the essence of the iconic LA palm tree in a mesmerizing manner. Through the use of a serene, blank toned sky and the minimalist suburbs in the distance, she skillfully portrays the beauty of a park nestled in glamorous Beverly Hills. The vast expanse of space that surrounds the palm tree symbolizes opulence and elegance. Notably, the palm craze reached its pinnacle in the 1930s when approximately 25,000 of these magnificent trees were planted as part of an unemployment relief program in preparation for the Olympic games. However, it is in neighborhoods like Beverly Hills and Hancock Park, especially during the 1920s and 1930s, that one can predominantly find the Canary Island date palms, a true favorite of the affluent.

This drawing is a stunning example of masterful field work when it comes to gesture sketches. It is fascinating to see how these seemingly simple sketches can eventually blossom into larger masterpieces, serving as a foundation for capturing the essence of form, value, and emotions in a piece of art. What strikes me the most is the distinction in size and stature between the palm trees depicted here and the ones typically seen in Hollywood. The artist has beautifully captured the majestic Mexican fan palms, which can reach heights ranging from 70 to 100 feet. On the other hand, the delicate Canary Island date palms, featured alongside, only manage to reach half that height, if they are lucky. In this artwork, Dickson skillfully creates an atmosphere that is distinctly Los Angeles, evoking a sense of familiarity and wistfulness felt solely by Angelenos.

Catherine Dickson have shown her work in Seattle and Los Angeles for the past 20 years. After attending Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, where she grew up, she then went on to attend Arizona State University with a double degree: a BA in Art History and a BFA in Digital Photography. She has shown many works, many times at Santa Monica Art Studios, Hanger Gallery, and the Cornish College of the Arts Alumni Gallery. Dickson ebbs and flows between various mediums, having a mastery of each technique while keeping a consistent sensibility of mood and tone.