I’ve been wanting to get to La Mirada, part of the Monterey Museum of Art, for awhile now and I just managed to squeeze it in before the obligatory (but no less fantastic) visit to the aquarium. So glad I did!

It’s a quaint museum, full of all the beautiful charm of early California and it exhibits gems like this oil painting, Cypress, Monterey, by Francis McComas amidst crystal chandeliers, a grand pianos, painted ceilings and murals, antique tile work and lovely gardens. This painting was on my mental list of “must sees” as it so perfectly picks up on Art Deco California!

Just look at the Cypresses less that a stone’s throw away from the museum!

And of course the Monterey Bay when you look over your shoulder!

The other pieces I really wanted to were part of the exhibit of Si-Chen Yuan’s work like this gorgeous oil painting, The Sea.  Love that palette knife technique!

Castroville Farmhouse was another Painting by S.C. Yuan that makes you feel that you  would only have to look out the window to see that kind of local landscape. Such a sublet but perfect palette!

There are so many fascinating period details on the grounds of La Mirada like this tiled doorway above and it’s thick wooden door with it’s charming doggie knocker and this detail of a beetle a fountain in the woodland garden.

It’s officially on my list of dreamy places to exhibit!