San Francisco Watercolors

San Francisco Watercolor Artist Dale Perkins Represents San Francisco in Assisi, Italy

Dale Perkins was the only San Francisco artist to display many of his most popular San Francisco watercolor paintings at the unveiling of a newly completed statue of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy.

Assisi, the Sister City of San Francisco was celebrating the unveiling of a nine ton, nine foot tall bronze sculpture of Saint Francis, a permanent gift to the City of Assisi by San Francisco. The Sculpture Unveiling, Art Display and Musical Program took place on October 4, 2001, the Feast Day of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Background

Dale Perkins has painted Watercolor Paintings in Europe and Asia but his heart and soul are in the Watercolor Paintings he does of San Francisco, the city where he grew up. He attended Redding Grammar School, Commerce High School, San Francisco State University and the San Francisco Academy of Art on a scholarship.

Memories often draw people to a particular watercolor paintings. His Watercolor Paintings of Saints Peter and Paul Church may jog the memories of San Franciscans as they recall that Marilyn Monroe and Joe Dimagio were married there or it may be the site of their very own wedding.

When older San Franciscans see the ferries on the bay, they are reminded that these fast vessels which now cross the Bay between San Francisco and Oakland or Marin, were preceded by slower versions which at that time carried cars and people. It was the only way to cross the Bay before San Francisco’s renowned bridges were built.

Dale is acquainted with Bay Tour Boats too. His brother in law, Ron LeRoy, ran one of them while working his way through college and has shared some of his unusual or funny experiences.

Dale has watched San Francisco change through the years. He remembers Playland at the Beach, the old Key System trains and Kezar Pavilion where he played basketball against former Mayor George Moscone; with Hall of Fame Basketball Coach Homer Zugelder; and with Boston Celtic star Jim Luscotoff. His brother, Dean, participated in the first United Nations Meeting at the S.F. Opera House.

Personal memories also include taking his wife, Evie, to Mel’s Drive In on their first date, watching her being crowned Homecoming Queen at San Francisco State University and later getting married on Treasure Island.

Many years ago, as a child while fishing on San Francisco’s Municipal Pier, he witnessed the last attempt to escape from Alcatraz Island, hearing gun shots and viewing faint flashes of light.

He was on Market Street on V-J Day and selling newspapers at Hyde and Ellis when the news headlines shouted that FDR had died. He collected autographs of celebrities at the Golden Gate Theater on Market Street: Martha Ray, The Three Stooges, Bing Crosby and Eleanor Powell. Later he worked as an elevator boy at he Chancellor and St. Francis Hotels.

As a young man, Dale listened to Tony Bennett sing “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” in the Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel. He observed the construction of Henry Doelger’s huge planned community called Westlake, just south of San Francisco. Dale and his young family lived in one of those “little boxes made of ticky tacky” houses surrounded by cow pastures and by ponds full of frogs.

Dale’s Artistic Talents

Dale’s interest in art began at an early age. His career has been varied and rich. At age 12, he studied at the California School of Fine Arts. At 13, Tack Knight, a nationally syndicated San Francisco cartoonist, tutored him. In high school and college he took all of the art clases he could fit into his schedule. To earn money he painted posters for anyone and everyone who ran for anything. He also did work for the Chinese Daily World Newspaper.

Dale has taught art to students ranging from preschoolers to post graduates. In the Army he was Post Artist assigned to Troop Information and Education for the 6th Army. He painted posters for training infantrymen. His army buddy was Leonard Nimoy of Star Trek fame. Later he bacame Art Consulatnt for the Burlingame School District. He has done political cartoons for 11 Bay area Newspapers.

“I am determined to paint San Francisco as no one has every done,” he says. His work is a remarkable representation of the San Francisco scenes he loves, making viewers feel as if they are actually there. His unique style incorporating clear, bright colors, often with dramatic relections, sets him apart.

Dale now lives in Northern California where he works out of his home studio. He and his wife Evie have two grown children, Jeanne Perkins Carmack and Tarny Perkins, seven grandchildren and a longhaired doxie – and a house full of watercolors.

Although Dale’s favorite media is watercolor, he continues to do commissioned pen illustrations of special homes in San Francisco and San Mateo counties. This work includes Franklin Templeton Headquarters, Decorator Show Houses, Burlingame and San Mateo Centennial Scenes and a multitude of private homes.

“Every time I go to San Francisco, I take my 35 mm camera. My painting ideas begin with scene inspirations, rough sketches and my camera. I have hundreds of reference photos of San Francisco. Each one offers something special, providing distinctive images that will enhance or complete a particular painting. I look for shapes and colors and those special details that catch the eye but may be too soon forgotten.

“When I think I’m through with a painting I put it aside and look at it again the next day or so by checking it in a mirror to see if it is visually correct and what I want. I sometimes make minor modifications and additions. If I can crate the excitement that I feel when I first view a scene, I feel that I have produced a successful painting.”

“I love to paint and hope that I will continue to grow as an artist. I want the end result to look like a watercolor, not a photograph or an oil painting. I always try to include those unique watercolor qualities which have moved and inspired me through the years.”