Galerie Sommerlath Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Joan Carl Strauss was a Los Angeles-based artist, educator, and civic voice whose prolific work spans sculpture, painting, and public commissions. A graduate of the Art Institute of ...

Joan Carl Strauss, artist and activist in the Los Angeles art world, left behind a refined and committed body of work. Trained in Cleveland and at the Art Institute of Chicago, she d...

This original caricature by John Marx is divided into two registers: above, an urban scene with four figures; below, a mechanical setup centered on a dog. In the upper half, three ...

A man bends down to pet a cat sitting on the sidewalk. He seems intent on coaxing affection from the animal, but the cat remains wary. Its ears are pulled back, sideways glance — it ...

The figure is centered, framed within a narrow black border. This original drawing by the Californian artist Jerry O’Day. She was an American artist, born Geraldine Heib in 1912 and...

Dormer constructs a scene where two hybrid figures meet halfway between the organic and the mechanical. A threadlike, almost insectoid form on the left unfolds in a complex tangle o...

In this watercolor by Judy Pike, the seated figure, positioned on indistinct ground, oscillates between presence and erasure. The face, fragmented as if shattered by light, hovers be...

Original and whimsical drawing of a peaceful island life scene, treated with a humorous tone. The composition presents a joyful figure standing mid-calf in the water, her arms raised to the sky, as if embracing and thanking the sunny horizon and the serenity this moment brings her. In the foreground, on the left, stretches a landscape framed by lush tropical foliage, delicately rendered in soft greens, blues, and yellows, dotted with flowers evoking idyllic, fantasized landscapes of distant islands. The key character, wearing diving goggles, is dressed in a skirt of banana leaves à la Robinson Crusoe—his only outfit, suggesting that without it, he’d likely be in nothing but his birthday suit. Alone in the world, or nearly, as a rooster and a little pig seem to delight in the spectacle of this happy man, adding an almost surreal narrative touch, worthy of a storybook. The palm trees and vibrant flowers are carefully illustrated, providing a rich, natural backdrop without overshadowing the main figure, the placid ocean, and the unperturbed horizon line. The sun, hanging low in a clear sky, bathes the entire scene in warm light, capturing a moment of harmony suspended in time. Michael Dormer was an American fine artist, writer, songwriter, entrepreneur, and creator of the 1960s TV show Shrimpenstein. Highly influential in California surf culture...

This Mac Mechem's drawing features a seated nude man draped in a small loincloth. Sitting in a wood-crafted chair, his gaze fixed downward as though he were brooding over some bad news. Despite the defeatist posture, his physique radiates a stark contrast—the sculpted body exudes strength and athleticism through pronounced abdominal lines, robust thighs, and defined biceps. Both hands rest passively on his knees, amplifying the sense of resignation portrayed in the artwork. The artist signed in the lower right part of the artwork. Mac Mechem, a figurative contemporary painter...

"Paddling Woman" is a minimalist watercolor that captures the essence of the human experience. Through the delicate strokes of a brush dipped in watercolor, the artist has conveyed the inner turmoil of the main subject, which may be remembering or dreaming of past or previous journeys. Her long, curly hair cascading down her shoulders symbolizes the wildness within us all. The simple black ink lines that create the birds and ships in the background add a touch of innocence and childlike wonder, evoking a sense of nostalgia for a simpler time. The signature is in the right corner, and it is dated (September 1995). It sits in a simple black wood frame. Christopher Paul Cobb is an American artist born in the 20th Century. He is the grandson of baseball great player Ty Cobb.

A whimsical, abstract drawing. Signed Michael Dormer, 1970. Michael Dormer is a prolific Southern Californian artist. Highly influential in California s...

This very unusual and introspective watercolor is a contemplative piece that invites viewers to ponder the nature of memories and how they come back into our brains. The artist creat...

Reclining Female figure, original signed line drawing, in pencil and ink by Albert Radoczy. Albert Radoczy was a master at exploring the female form. Throughout his career, his draw...

In this humorous yet thought-provoking sketch, individuals from various walks of life are momentarily diverted from their routines. The artist captures the unexpected interruption th...

Brennan never ceases to amaze us, as once again showcased in this mixed-media composition. It features an assemblage of geometric shapes - deep hues of red and yellow accentuated by ...

This framed watercolor is signed lower right by the American artist J.W. Dunn. It depicts a thrilling equestrian polo match from the 1930s, featuring four riders in traditional pol...

Another clean line drawing by Brennan, done with sharpie, or marker. The lines created are bold and precise. A remarkable piece by Brennan. Clean and thick lines made with ink, featuring a clown-like figure very different from the usual clowns existing for the kid's fun. The background contrasts the clown's attire. Christopher Mark Brennan...