We are featuring fine art oil paintings by local artist, Park Merrill.

Park Merrill had a long career as an illustrator and graphic artist for painting conceptual designs for satellite systems and other high-tech space programs, including the Hubble Space Telescope. Since retiring, Mr. Merrill has developed his fine art skills and a style he calls "Soft Impressions of California." His works are images from California's past and present.

Park Merrill, a native Californian, was born in Fortuna, Humboldt County, in 1938. From an early age, Merrill showed signs of an artistic nature. After high school, Merrill attended Humboldt State College for a year and a halt, taking many art courses. Wanting a more intensive art education, he attended the four-year professional art school, Art Center College of Design, located in Los Angeles at that time. Art Center is one of the three most prestigious art schools in the country.

After graduating from Art Center in 1963, Merrill worked as an illustrator and graphic artist, ending his career with 27 years at Lockheed M.issiles & Space Company in Sunnyvale. During that time, he painted conceptual designs for satellite systems and other high-tech space programs such as Star Wars, Space Station Freedom, and the Hubble Space Telescope.

Since his retirement, Merrill has developed his fine art skills and a style he calls ''Soft Impressions of California." These images are from California's colorful past and present. Painted in oil, they combine pastel Colors with soft edges. "This has been the most exciting work I have done to date,'' says Merrill, and it is his hope that the art-viewing public will agree.

Looking for love? We asked people to find and photograph the hidden hearts that abound along our beautiful Central Coast . . . along the shore, in the sky, deep in the woods or high in the hills, or anywhere in unexpected places. This special exhibit displays the best of the best.

Our panel of judges is selecting its 10 favorite heart images, printing them in large format, and display them in our Cambria Center for the Arts Studio Gallery before and during the upcoming international Cambria Film Festival, February 8 – 11, 2024. Visitors to the Studio space will be able to vote for their overall favorite of the 10 on display.