Born and reared in Santa Cruz, Ed Penniman has painted since he could get his fingers around a brush. He works in all media, but he particularly enjoys watercolors, one of the most difficult mediums to master.

Ed was first "discovered" by his grandmother, Leonora Naylor Penniman. One of the "Santa Cruz Three", Leonora was an established watercolor artist and co-founder of The Santa Cruz Art League. She had a one person show at the Palace of Legion of Honor in San Francisco, and her works were displayed in the Paris International Exposition. Featured in "The Woman Artist and the American West, 1870-1970" by Phil Kovinick (University of Texas Press), and "California Painters 1880-1940" by Edin Hughs, Leonora encouraged then 7-year-old Eddy to "always put God in his work" by including nature. To this day, Ed finds real inspiration in painting nature: "It is invigorating, challenging and relaxing at the same time...it’s what I love best".

Ed Penniman graduated from Chouinard Art School of California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles where he studied with other major talents like Herbert Jepson, Watson Cross and Emerson Woleffer. Recognized early, he was hired before graduating as an Art Director at Carson-Roberts Advertising (Ogilvy-Mather Advertising), and later was a Graphic Designer for Ken Parkhurst Associates and later Robert Miles Runyan. As a graphic designer, he has won many awards for corporate identity, packaging, collateral materials and trade advertising. Communication Arts Magazine did a feature article on him in the ’70s, and examples of his work have been published in the U.S., Europe and Japan. While he has "made it" in corporate communication, Ed has always enjoyed painting.

In 1984, while working at National Semiconductor Corporation as the Graphics Manager, Penniman was stricken by Guillaine-Barré Syndrome. After surviving a near-death experience and quaduplegia, he started painting again using his teeth to hold the brush. With the help of many physicians, therapists, family and friends, he has made significant recovery and now walks with a cane. "It has been a journey I wouldn’t wish on anyone, but it helped me to learn much about myself".

PLEIN AIR PAINTER

A dedicated ‘Plein Air’ painter, Ed has followed the painting trail of Winslow Homer throughout the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. His artistic journey has found him in the West Indies, the California Coast, Italy, France, Hawaii, Brazil, Paraguay, Uraguay, Argentina, Mexico, the Southwest & Midwest, the Canadian border, and, in May of '98, he followed Gaugin’s path to Tahiti, Moorea and Rarotonga. He was painting in Venice for the month of September of '98 and then a month and a half in Maui for more painting.. "I have painted with watercolors for more than forty years for my personal enjoyment. After traveling so far physically, geographically, chronically and artistically, I would say, I feel comfortable painting just about any subject and love the drawing aspect of my painting. I use my design sense, and let my artwork reflect my love of life". Ed Penniman’s work is found in private collections all over the US and Europe and is often displayed in the Monterey Bay area.

Articulate and sophisticated with a down to earth sense of humor, Ed is a favorite speaker at high schools and colleges, service clubs and social groups. He has appeared on TV and radio and co-produced and hosted a television show with Joyce Anderson called "Inside Santa Cruz" on Santa Cruz Community TV, "Inside Santa Cruz" presented an interesting and lively inside view of the arts, personalities and activities of Santa Cruz.

While in Venice, he met Yuliya Borisovna Mikaelyan a Ukranian who was on a cultural tour of Italy. They corresponded on the internet and were subsequently married. They reside in Santa Cruz County.

"At this point in my life, I am on a dynamic growth curve with my artwork. I continue to be drawn outdoors to paint God’s work. This coincides with my search for a spiritual connection to this magnificent journey and the participants in my life wave".

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