Cliff Wassmann - Paintings and Fine Art Photography

Cliff Wassmann About the Artist After studying classic landscape and figure painting at the nation’s oldest art school, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Wassmann left the East coast and settled in South Orange County. His style is best described as “contemporary traditional”, mixing classical landscape effects along with an influence from his photography of which he uses as reference for most of his oils.

But the personal experience of being in the environment is just as important in the way the paintings are created. The work captures something that the mind perceives but the camera doesn't. Wassmann adds his superstition, loneliness and love to that which he views with his eyes. A camera usually only captures what is there. Realists at their best perform the miracle of transferring the spiritual experiences inherent to the scene to people who view the painting. Subtle changes in color, contrast and form create a signature sense of depth to his work.

The past several years he has focused on the western coastline, from intimate depictions of local beaches to the rugged coastline of the Pacific Northwest. His current series of work is more ethereal, embracing almost mystical lighting and leaving the mind to fill in the details. Many clients comment on the peaceful feeling of his paintings. There is a romantic calmness that emanates from the pieces that set them apart from other contemporary works. Quietly working away in his 1910 Laguna Cottage home studio his works have been exhibited in New York, Las Vegas, Toronto and for 14 years at the Laguna Beach Festival of the Arts. His paintings have won numerous awards including third place in the “Arts for the Parks” top 100 landscape painters’ national competition and first place in the 2008 Annual Laguna Beach City Hall juried show.

The Antarctica Collection

After painting the California coast almost exclusively for the past 20 years, Wassmann is now focused on a series of oils based upon his journeys to Antarctica and its islands.

Wassmann hopes that this new series of paintings, which were featured at the New York Art Expo to mark the beginning of International Polar Year (IPY), will raise awareness of the threat posed by these changes. Based on his photographs taken of the Antarctic Peninsula, the paintings depict not only the glaciers and icebergs but also the whales, penguins and other marine life that thrive in this unique ecosystem.

Right: "Livin' on the Edge"

18x36 oil on masonite
Original Available
Offered at $4850.

The original oil of "Livin' on the Edge", Wassmann's signature piece from the Antarctica collection has now been released and is available for purchase. The 18x36 oil painting, unveiled at the 2007 New York ArtExpo was produced as a nationally distributed poster. We are now offering this piece for sale. This is the original, it is one of a kind. View Larger>

Cliff Wassmann - American Realist Oil Paintings
Current Works

Coastal Series

The Antarctica Collection

Star Wars Commissions

Cliff Wassmann - American Realist Oil Paintings Current Works

Coastal Series

The Antarctica Collection

Star Wars Commissions

Cliff Wassmann - American Realist Oil Paintings
Current Works