About the Artist
About the Artist
"My intent is to express the intrinsic truth and beauty of my subject. To reveal the power or presence of spirit in a place or person. I am inspired by what I feel and by what I see...They reflect one another."
Cynthia's favorite activities are twofold - painting and spending time in nature. It is the combination of these two passions that have resulted in her becoming an award winning plein air painter. "I can't imagine a more gratifying experience than painting outdoors while listening to the birds sing and feeling the sun on my face."
While majoring in fine art at Fullerton College, Cynthia was introduced tot he Impressionist painters. She continued her studies at UCLA and Putney College of Art in England. Both the French Impressionists and the early California Impressionists deeply influenced the direction and concentration of her work.
Europe, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and the Yucatan Peninsula area all locales where she has enjoyed painting, but California holds a special place in her heart. "Future generations will not have the experience of this quickly disappearing natural landscape. I aspire to create a permanent repository of these unique places in my paintings."
Cynthia Britain's work has been shown at The Laguna Art Museum, The Orange County Museum of Art, and the San Diego Museum of Art, where she was awarded a Gold Medal. Her work is shown in a corporate and private collections throughout the world.
AFFILIATIONS:
Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, Founding and Signature Member
California Art Club, Artist Member
Oil Painters of America, Artist Member
JURIED EXHIBITIONS, AWARDS & HONORS:
2023 1st Place “Excellence in Traditional Fine Art Competition”, California Art Club
2023 LPAPA 25th Anniversary Group Show, Laguna Beach, CA
2023 Laguna Canyon Artists, Group Show, Laguna Beach, CA
2022 “The Best and the Brightest” Group Show, Scottsdale Art School, Scottsdale, AZ
2022 Laguna Canyon Artists, Group Show, Laguna Beach, CA
2022 Laguna Beach Magazine, Feature Article “10 Minutes with Cynthia Britain”
2021 LPAPA Signature Members Group Show, Laguna Beach, CA
2021 “The Best and the Brightest” Group Show, Scottsdale Art School, Scottsdale, AZ
2019 LPAPA Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational, Laguna Beach, CA
2019 Laguna Canyon Artists, Group Show, Laguna Beach, CA
2018 LPAPA Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational, Laguna Beach, CA
2018 "Beaux Arts Ball" - Scottsdale Artist's School, Scottsdale, AZ
2017 Scholarship Recipient, Scottsdale Art School, Scottsdale, AZ
2016 La Quinta Country Club - Permanent Collection, La Quinta, CA
2016 LPAPA "Signature Impressions" Group Show - Huntington Beach Art Center, CA
2015 ArtFoodHome.com - Featured Artist
2015 The Lake House - Solo Exhibition, Cedar Glen, CA
2015 The Grand Chateau - Painting Workshop Instructor, Normandy, France
2014 Guest Lecture and Demonstration, San Clemente Art Association
2012 Picerene Foundation Grant for Artist Outreach Program, Fullerton, CA
2011 Scholarship Recipient, Scottsdale Art School, Scottsdale, AZ
2011 “Gypsy Caravan” Solo Show at Rothschild’s Fine Italian, Corona Del Mar, CA
2011 “Painting & Passion: An Artist’s Journey” Solo Show at Segil Fine Art Source, Monrovia, CA
2011 Beaux Arts "East Meets West" - Scottsdale Artist's School, Scottsdale, AZ
2010 “Gypsy Caravan” – Solo Show at Vieux Carre, Laguna Beach, CA
2008 "Serenity" - The Esther Wells Collection Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2008 "Yosemite on Canvas" - Knowlton Gallery, Lodi, CA
2008 Gold Medal Juried Exhibition - Pasadena Museum of Art
2007 “The Legacy Continues” - Monterey Maritime and History Museum
2007 Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational, Village Gallery, Kapalua
2006 “Capistrano Valley Plein Air Exhibit” - Joan Irvine Smith Fine Arts
2006 “Vineyards & Villages” - Solo Show at Ester Wells Gallery
2005 “The Best of Plein Air” Laguna Plein Air Painters National Juried Show
2004 Bowers Museum Plein Air Invitational Exhibit
2004 Oklahoma National Juried Art show - Omniplex Museum, OK, Merchandise Award (Jerry’s Artorama)
2004 Arts for the Parks - Selected as top 100 national competition
2003 OPA Western Regional Exhibition at Waterhouse Gallery, CA
2003 Solo Show at The Center Club, Costa Mesa, CA
2003 Salon International Museum of Contemporary Masters of Fine Art, TX
2003 Beaux Arts Ball, Scottsdale Artist School, Annual Art Auction, AZ
2003 Lee Youngman, “Wine, Women & Song” Show, Calistoga, CA
1999 - 2004 Laguna Art Museum Invitational Plein Air Painting Exhibition
2001 Laguna Canyon Foundation Permanent Collection, Joan Irvine Smith/Athalie Clarke Foundation Grant
2001 California State Parks Foundation Presidents Award
2001 Joan Irvine Smith Fine Arts – Images of Crystal Cove
2000 Gold Medal Award - San Diego Museum of Art, Juried Exhibition
2000 Honorable Mention - American Plains Artists National Juried Exhibit, TX
2000 Bower’s Museum - Plein Air Invitational, Santa Ana, CA
1998 Exhibited in the Brief Family Gallery, Laguna Art Museum
1998 LPAPA Back Bay Exhibit - Orange County Museum of Art
1997 Southern California Open Juried Exhibition, Laguna Art Museum
1997 Silver Medal Award, Plein Air Competition, Carmel, California
1996-1999 Festival of Arts, Laguna Beach (Juried Exhibit)
COLLECTIONS AND COMMISSIONS (Partial List)
Joan Irvine Smith Collection
Jean Stern (Executive Director of the Irvine Museum)
La Quinta Country Club
The Bank of Orange County
San Clemente Savings
Sunwest Bank
Center Club
EDUCATION - STUDIED WITH:
Fullerton College, Fullerton, CA
Putney Art Institute, Putney, England
UCLA, Los Angeles, CA - Kim English
Studied with Ted Goerschner, Kevin Macpherson and Kim English
Below: Joan Irvine Smith (left) with Cynthia at the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park ceremony.
