A Guide to the Best of Southern California : GALLERIES : California Impressionists

THE CLARITY AND FORCE of Southern California’s ambient light--as well as our Mediterranean climate and gorgeous natural landscape--lured artists here in droves at the turn of the century. Often compared to French painters of the time, these California Impressionists hailed from the eastern United States and Europe; 75 of their soft and silken plein-air paintings, by nine artists, compose “California Light, 1900-1930,” on display Oct. 12 through Jan. 6 at the Laguna Art Museum. The works pay tribute to the beauty and brilliance that was Southern California during an earlier, more tranquil time.

Laguna Art Museum, 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach; (714) 494-6531.