Robert Perine (1922-2004) Born: Los Angeles, CA; Studied: Chouinard Art Institute (Los Angeles), University of Southern California; Member: California Water Color Society, West Coast Watercolor Society. Robert Perine is a native Southern Californian and attended art school in Los Angeles during the 1940s. He studied with Rex Brandt, Phil Dike, Tom Craig, Richard Haines and Francis de Erdely. He quickly became an excellent watercolorist and before graduation was exhibiting in art exhibitions. Through the 1950s and 1960s, he divided his time between commercial illustration and fine art watercolor painting.

During this period, his watercolors were classic California Style paintings. He produced them on location with transparent paints and usually chose to depict regional scenes of the city and coastline. He exhibited nationally and sold his work at art galleries in Southern California. His commercial illustrations appeared on magazine covers, record album jackets and other commercial products. He designed posters, brochures, book cover designs, and directed a visually interesting and historically important promotional campaign for Fender Musical Instruments.

Perine was one of the key California Style watercolorists to emerge during the post war era. He was an active member of the California Water Color Society and taught art at the Chouinard Art Institute, University of Alabama, and Mira Costa College. In addition to working as a fine artist and teacher, he has authored two books: California Romantics, a history of the California Water Color Society and Chouinard – A vision Betrayed, a history of the Chouinard Art Institute.

Biographical information:

Interview with Robert Perine, 1984

Biography courtesy of California Watercolors 1850-1970,

©2002 Hillcrest Press, Inc.

Courtesy of CaliforniaWatercolor.com