I designed the exhibition catalogue for Legacy of the Land, produced for the California Center for the Arts, Escondido as part of the Art in Nature Alliance. The exhibition paired pre–World War II plein-air landscapes with works by contemporary painters, and the catalogue needed to reflect both the historical material and the continuity of California’s living landscape tradition.

Working closely with Executive Editor Robert W. Dudley, I developed a design approach inspired by the paintings’ natural luminosity. Vibrant greens, floral tones, and impressionist color relationships informed the palette, while a subtly decorative headline style and brighter accent colors were used to support essays and reflect the exhibition’s modern-impressionist character.

Each major section opened with a full-bleed detail spread, allowing readers to immerse themselves in color and texture. The plate section followed a calmer, more structured layout, using soft dividers and clean captions to support images that required contextual text without competing with the artwork.

The overall design blended rustic warmth with refined clarity, creating a catalogue that honors both the historical legacy and contemporary vitality of Southern California landscape painting. The result is a publication that feels grounded in tradition while remaining visually open and present.