Rex Brandt/Blue Sky

Rex Brandt/Blue Sky. . , The City Seal was designed by Rex Brandt and adopted by the City Council in 1957. , Ripples of water symbolize the ocean and bay. , Sailboats glide through the waters of our recreational and yachting resort. , Two albacore represent the city's origin as a fishing village. , The surrounding circle with four cardinal compass points unites the nautical theme., Blue Sky , Rex and Joan Brandt's Studio and Residence , Blue Sky, once located on the bluff to the right, was the home and studio of California Scene painters Rex Brandt (1914-2000) and Joan Irving Brandt (1916-1995). For nearly 40 years, Blue Sky was the site of the Summer School of Painting, where Rex and Joan instructed countless students in the art of watercolor painting., The Brandts and Blue Sky are a significant part of Newport Beach's artistic heritage. Rex was acclaimed as an artist, teacher, and writer. He is considered to be one of the central figures in California art during the mid-20th century. Joan is nationally recognized for her work depicting local scenes, and her sensitive portraits of women and children. Both Rex and Joan served on the Library Board of Trustees during the 1940s and 1950s, and were active in the founding of the Newport Harbor Art Museum., It was at Blue Sky where Brandt and Irving were able to create the elegant, naturalistic paintings that captured the feel and beauty of mid-century California for which they are renowned.