The 2011 Irvine Museum Gold Medal was awarded to Jesse Powell for his painting "Cypress and Fog, Pt. Lobos" at the One Hundredth Annual California Art Club Gold Medal exhibition.  The Irvine Museum Gold Medal is presented to the best painting that exemplifies the traditions and collections of The Irvine Museum.  The paintings must meet the following qualifications:  it must be a major work, generally 24" by 30" or larger;  It must be a plein air painting or a studio work based on one or more plein air sketches;  It must be of the highest technical quality and of the highest visual beauty.

"Cypress and Fog, Pt. Lobos" is a superb painting that expertly illustrates the tradition plein air approach to landscape painting.  The drawing, perspective and light in the work are of the highest quality.  This is certainly due to the masterly skills of the artist, but also to the proper use of the plein air technique, essentially to sketch the subject outdoors and to use the sketch to finish the larger and majestic final work.

(Mr.) Jean Stern, Executive Director

The Irvine Museum

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