From Claude Monet’s transportive water lilies series to J.W.M. Turner’s dramatic marine paintings to David Hockey’s colorful LA swimming pools, artists have always been attracted to the challenge of capturing water. Through Oct. 26, Paso Robles’ Studios on the Park is displaying Above and Below the Surface, “a selection of paintings that depict the environments and activities found around different bodies of water,” the gallery announced.
Featured artists include Frank Eber, Jordan Hockett, Anne Laddon, Drew Mayerson, Staley Pearl, Gisele Thompson, and Christy Wilkins, and the approaches to the subject range far and wide from realistic crashing waves to surrealist seascapes to the abstract light refractions under water’s surface to those dramatic sea/landscapes where land meets ocean.
The work is displayed in the Atrium Gallery, and Studios on the Park is located at 1130 Pine St. It’s open daily from noon to 4 p.m. The nonprofit organization is “dedicated to providing a creative, educational, and transformational experience to enhance understanding and appreciation of the visual arts,” according to organizers. It’s also a place where you can see art being made.
“We are honored to serve over 100,000 students and visitors every year through our Kids Art Smart and Community Arts Access programs.” Δ
This article appears in Oct 16-26, 2025.

