June CasagrandeGeorge Watts remembers that when his...

June Casagrande

George Watts remembers that when his daughter Leslie was 6 years old

she would pick up some of the myriad art supplies lying around the

house, haul them outdoors and create. Nearly five decades later,

Watts’ artistic influence on his daughter’s life endures.

The father-daughter team will participate for the fifth time this

year in the annual Balboa Island Art Walk, an outdoor exhibit and art

sale by more than 90 artists.

“It’s a great event to be a part of,” said Leslie, whose last name

is now Avalos. “There’s music. It’s beautiful out here.”

Watts’ art is deeply influenced by his 1944 experience as a Navy

gunnery officer of the coast of the Philippines. During one of the

worst typhoons in military history, Watts watched as three destroyers

and about 700 men were lost at sea.

Violent waters have since dominated his art. His ironically named

watercolor “Gone Fishing” shows a boat being violently jostled by an

angry sea.

Avalos, now 54, is the plein air painter of the family.

“A lot of people in here the artwalk are plein air painters,”

Avalos said. “There’s a lot of very talented artists here. And you

can get great deals.”

Watts and Avalos, both Mission Viejo residents, have shown their

watercolor paintings together for about 18 years. Together, they were

founding members of the Mission Viejo Fine Art Society and they now

show in the Mission Fine Art Gallery in San Juan Capistrano.

The annual artwalk is organized under the guidance of island

artist Debra Huse.

“I’m very excited about the artwalk,” said Mayor Steve Bromberg, a

Balboa Island resident. “It grows every year and gets better every

year.”