Eileen McCullough is a plein air
watercolor artist. She lives in Huntington
Beach, California and has made her home town her favorite subject matter. Her paintings capture everyday life, hiking
through the Bolsa Chica wetlands, dining outdoors and walking dogs in Central
Library park. It is the artist’s strong
belief that a connection to your subject is imperative for a successful
painting.
Eileen has had a busy career as an
illustrator. She has worked in the surf
wear industry, N.R.N Designs and Dekra Lite.
During all the years of freelancing she always made time for watercolor
painting. “I was lucky to have access to
such gifted artists as Tim Clark, Linda Stevens, and Chris Sullivan.”
While taking classes and workshops
she developed her strong style. Her
paintings are saturated with bold color and lyrical brushwork. Eileen is now working full time as a watercolor
artist. “My formal training as an artist
began very young. My father was a
watercolor artist and would take me out on location to paint. By the time I was ten, I had a sketchbook
full of my drawings.” Eileen was born
and raised in Northern California. “I
lived in watercolor country: redwood forest, the jagged coastline, and abandoned
farmhouses were everywhere.”
In 1982, Eileen moved to Southern
California to attend the University of Long Beach. After graduating, she made Huntington Beach
her permanent home. “While I loved my
new home, I was at a loss as what to paint.” This changed for the artist when she had her
first child in 2000. Her time was spent
playing outdoors with her son. She
discovered the wonderful parks, nurseries and nature centers Huntington Beach
has to offer. “The same beauty I found
in Northern California I now see in my own backyard.” With an endless inspiration for subject
matter, Eileen’s future is in watercolor.
