An Addition to the Palette of Laguna Beach's Eccentric Characters '

Laguna Beach takes pride in its art colony roots. Residents and visitors see vestiges of the town's early masters everyday without even knowing it. Ever strolled down Hinkle Place, Wendt Terrace, or Cuprien Way? These streets bear the name of famed early Laguna artists, whose work hangs in City Hall and the local library as well as in museums around the country.

Article author Howard Wyer with the Joane Cromwell work "WInter Wonderland," depicting the San Jacinto River, 18" X 14" oil on masonite board, which he purchased in May.

None of Laguna's crooked lanes bear the name Joane Cromwell. But this less well-known trailblazer was one of the original participants in the Festival of Arts and deserves recognition for more than just the brush strokes she left on canvas and masonite board.

Born Catherine Strode in a small village in Illinois, she appreciated the outdoors, and spent time studying nature with her father, who was a noted naturalist and medical doctor, according to Askart.com.

At the age of six, Catherine had shown an interest in sketching and drawing. She graduated from school in 1911 at the age of 16, and began her art studies at the Chicago Art Institute. She graduated three years later with honors. Catherine moved to California and took the pseudonym, Joane Cromwell. Cromwell was a family name dating back to Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England.

Cromwell moved to Laguna Beach and began to paint with other prominent local artists of the time. She took advice from Anna Hills, Edgar Payne, George Demont Otis, Jack Wilkinson Smith and signed on for a year's study with Hanson Puthuff.

She established herself as a painter of marine, landscape, and portraiture. She actively participated in the organization and growth of the annual Festival of Arts Association. From 1922-1956, she was a regular exhibitor at the Laguna Beach Art Gallery. She also served on the board and as a juror of the Laguna Beach Art Association, which became the Laguna Art Museum. While doing additional research for this article, I spoke to museum curator Janet Blake and Festival of Arts' spokeswoman Sharbie Higuchi. Cromwell was known as "a Sunday artist," Higuchi said, which could be a reason she hasn't received the same recognition as her contemporaries.

Joane Cromwell's "Festival of Laguna Beach," circa 1935, 20" X 24" oil on canvas, is part of the Festival of Arts' permanent collection. Cromwell was one of the original exhibitors and depicted the scene, Aug. 13-20, 1932, envisioned as a way to woo visitors to the Olympic games in Los Angeles.

Maybe someday she'll be recognized as a master, too.

According to Askart.com, Cromwell was swept up in an identity crises among artists of the '30s in Southern California whose works were labeled either modern or traditional. In one public contest, Cromwell's painting "Autumn Gold" was pitted against Seymour Paul's abstract work. She won hands down and declared that this particular painting was never to be sold. Her wish was honored even after her death. Her husband gave the painting

as a gift to another artist.

Known as a super salesman and horse-trader, she bartered paintings for goods and services. One of her most famous exchanges was for a new car from a Laguna Beach Ford dealer, Earle M. Hatheway. Hatheway needed five large paintings for his showroom and Cromwell needed a new car. In 1937, she drove off the lot with a new car.

Behind "WInter Wonderland" Wyer discovered a newspaper clipping from the Daily Pilot, dated July 31, 1968, which includes a photo of artist Joane Cromwell at her Festival of Arts' booth with the artwork.

I own two Cromwell paintings. "Winter Wonderland" depicts Riverside County's San Jacinto River and "Rolling Breakers" captures Laguna Beach's shoreline. Both were purchased from the heir of a longtime Laguna Beach couple, who explained in a letter that his mother met Cromwell while they participated in the Festival of Arts' Pageant of the Masters. "We were compelled to buy a painting from her," he said, estimating the purchase date around 1964, coinciding with his parents' purchase of a Thalia Street house. Cromwell framed the painting for the couple at

 

her studio, 30802 Coast Highway. A sticker on the back of "Winter Wonderland" reflects the original purchase price: $125.

A July 31, 1968 article from the Daily Pilot, taped to the painting, described one of Cromwell's patrons. "During one of Joane's exhibits, FBI's director, J. Edgar Hoover, so admired a painting that it was later purchased by his staff as a gift to commemorate his 25th anniversary of service on July 27, 1942, when he was recognized by President Roosevelt. That painting now hangs over his desk in Washington, D.C. 'Ever since then, we've been corresponding regu- larly,' Joane reported. 'I even receive his official Christmas card every Christmas, signed by him personally'."

In the article, Cromwell described her style and its appeal to customers. "I paint nature as I see it," she said. "They like what they can understand."

Her husband, Morris Liddle, described Cromwell to Askart. com as "the love of his life. I was her second love: art was always her first love."

Cromwell died Dec. 23, 1969. She was 74. Her cremated remains were scattered on the ocean in front of the former Victor Hugo restaurant, now Las Brisas, where she painted many of her beautiful seascapes.

Perhaps other residents can help me with other stories about Joane Cromwell and her artwork. I would love to hear from them: hwyer2002@yahoo.com.

The author is an Orange County native who moved to Laguna Beach in 1984 and worked in various jobs including the Laguna Beach Water District, Sandpiper Lounge and the Marine Room until 1998. He is the co-author of two books and resides in Aliso Viejo with his wife, Stacy. His mother, Lillyann Wyer, who passed away Aug. 3, first took him to Laguna Beach as a child.