Daphne Wynne Nixon
Fine Artist specializing in realistic still life oil paintings & plein air landscapes

Daphne Nixon painting in Big Sur, California (above).
Welcome to my website…I live in Carmel Valley, CA, and specialize in plein air landscapes and realistic still life oil painting.

I had fun painting my newest painting commission, “Ode to the Movie Sideways” for a movie buff who loves wine tasting on the Santa Barbara Wine Trail. He and his friend bought the coveted 1961 Cheval Blanc bottle of wine that the stars in the movie sought after. So, he asked me to paint the 1961 Cheval Blanc bottle in a still life painting for him.

The objects in the painting represent significant friendship moments and inside jokes like the cork and the horse hitching post from the restaurant in Santa Barbara, as well as his favorite wine-tasting scenes from the film like when Paul Giamatti sips from the glass and says, “mmm…citrus, maybe some strawberry, passionfruit,…oh! …and there’s like the faintest sousant of asparagus, and a flutter of …like a nutty Edam cheese…wait, are you chewing gum?”
This composition took a long time to paint. Since I set up the still life and don’t use photos, I used wax fruit so the grapes , strawberry and passion fruit would not whither. Plus, I used real lemon wedges, asparagus and cheese, and nuts, and kept replacing them with fresh food when they dried up. As for the wine, I kept a bottle of wine on hand to fill the glasses as the wine evaporated. In this manner, along with north light for constant shadows, I was able to spend all the time I needed to observe the objects to paint them realistically.

I was excited to be in the “Carmel Pine Cone Newspaper” in November, 2019 (please see article below).
Also, I was happy to be part of the 2019 Sausalito Art Festival on Labor Day weekend. Thank you to all who come by to see my latest work at Booth 640 and enjoy the wonderful venue in beautiful Sausalito at the biggest seaside art festival in the United States!
“The Love Bug in Capitola”, sold to a satisfied customer (above).
In addition, my artwork has been at the Winfield Gallery in Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA, at the 12th Annual International Guild of Realism’s Exhibit, and this past summer at the 2018 Oil Painters of America Salon Show of Traditional Oils. You can also see my art today at the Carmel Valley Art Association Gallery in Carmel Valley, CA…we’re very happy that our gallery, and my paintings, were featured in the “Carmel Magazine” Spring/Summer 2018 edition! Recently, I felt honored to win “First Place” at the Coastal Plein Air Painter’s exhibition at Wargin Wines Tasting Room 2018, as well the “Artists Choice Award” at the Santa Cruz Pop Up & Paint Out 2017. I also enjoyed the Capitola Paint Out, and the “Paint the Peninsula” in Port Angeles, WA, where 24 artists painted the Olympic National Park to support the arts. As a professional member of IGOR, my work was exhibited in the “Master Works from the International Guild of Realism” museum tour, 2015. In addition, my art was shown at the Millard Sheets Art Center in Pasadena; the “OPA 2017 Western Regional Exhibition of Traditional Oils” at the Marshall Gallery of Fine Art; and the OPA “Juried Salon Show of Traditional Oils” at the Castle Gallery. My paintings were in the “Best of America” exhibit, w/ NOAPS at the Addison Art Gallery, in Cape Cod; and the “11th Annual International Guild of Realism Show” in Denver. Hope to see you when you stop by the CVAA Gallery in Carmel Valley …(due to the Corona Virus epidemic, the CVAA Gallery where my paintings are for sale, has been temporarily closed, as well as the Monterey County Open Artist Studio Tour in May, 2020, and Pacific Grove Art Center Exhibition until further notice)...


“Carmel Magazine“, Spring/Summer 2018 edition, page 164-169.
Daphne won the First Place Award for her painting, “Swans Nestling Under the Trestle Bridge, Capitola” at the Coastal Plein Air Painters Juried Exhibit at Wargin Wines Tasting Room on July 6th, 2018 (above).
Daphne painting (above) at the old “Fort Capitola” building (now Castignoloa’s Deli Cafe), at the Capitola Plein Air 2017, in Capitola, CA. Come see the show on November 5th, 2017, from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm, with new “still wet” paintings of Capitola from 25 artists!.
You’re invited to see Daphne Nixon’s art studio at the Monterey County Artists Open Studio Tour. Visit studio # 21 on the Tour Map at “Lion Springs Lavender Farm”, Carmel Valley, CA on Sat & Sun, Sept. 23-24 from 11am – 5 pm to see the artist at work. Hope to see you there!
Daphne at the Winfield Gallery is in Carmel-by-the- Sea, CA, for the International Guild of Realism Exhibit, October 2017 (above).

Humbled that my fellow artists voted for me to win the “Artists’ Choice Award” at the “Pop Up & Paint Out” in Santa Cruz, 06/02/17.

“A Toast to Carmel” by Daphne Wynne Nixon, 11″ x 14″, oil on board



You can see more paintings by clicking on the menu to the right. Feel free to blog me at the bottom of each page, & complete the “contact form” on the menu to receive invitations to art openings, or to inquire about purchasing. Enjoy…
















Randy Sexton’s plein air workshop at Chileno Valley Ranch in Petaluma, CA in June 2008. He’s one of my favorite artists.
Senator Michael Machado and Daphne at the opening of the art show he gave her at the State Capital Building in Sacramento, California. The Senator selected her art to represent his district in the California Contemporary Artists Exhibition at the California State Capital.
Daphne’s art work at Phil Glashoff’s Sculpture Ranch spring show in Suisun Valley of May, 2008.
The cast of the “American Primitive” movie at the premier at the Palm Springs Film Festival in January of 2009 which featured Daphne’s murals on the set. We were all very happy because the film became one of the “Best of Fest” films in the festival.

Daphne being interviewed about her “Adobe” painting in July, 2010, by Ted Haskins for a Channel 26 TV show about how I discovered in 2005 by accident California’s last mission, Santa Eulalia (built in 1824) in Cordelia. The mission had been lost for 175 years (until I found it!). However, the records of Santa Eulalia’s existence were at the old Dolores Mission in San Francisco. Daphne with historian, Jerry Bowen, being filmed for Channel 26 at the site of the sacrarium at the Santa Eulalia Mission near Cordelia, California.
Sitting on the baptismal font at the Santa Eulalia Mission site. An old winery had been built on top of the stone mission building which can be seen in the background of this photo. Photo below: Pointing to my painting called “Cordelia Railroad Tunnel 1868)” which Solano County had etched in granite onto one of Old Town Cordelia’s historical markers.
One of Daphne Nixon’s paintings called “Thompson’s Corner Saloon” was etched in granite on one of the Old Town Cordelia historical markers in front of Thompson’s Corner Saloon in Cordelia, California. There is also a painting called “The Cordelia Fire House” etched onto another historical marker in front of the Cordelia Fire House across the street the above site. Daphne has three of her paintings etched in granite in Old Town Cordelia.
Daphne Nixon painting “Fisherman’s Beach” in Jamaica in March 2010.
Daphne painting the “Yellow Door” in Jamaica in March 2010.
Enjoying a Red Stripe beer in front of the local bar in Moneague, Jamaica, in March 2010 with Victoria Mimiaga, Daphne Nixon, Mary Lou Correia, Frances Whitnall, and Randy Sexton after a hard day of plein air painting outside in town.




“The Best of Show selection was the hardest to choose, he said (Rock Hushka). “It’s really a beautiful still life with a bit of humor. When you look close, you notice all the brush strokes and the artful articulation of the squash , the corn and the jar. It’s utterly superb and it completely captured my heart.”
“The Best of Show selection was the hardest to choose, he said (Rock Hushka). “It’s really a beautiful still life with a bit of humor. When you look close, you notice all the brush strokes and the artful articulation of the squash , the corn and the jar. It’s utterly superb and it completely captured my heart.”




Hi Daphne,
The website looks great and I like all the options to blog and such. Do you like the interface you used to build it and was it easy. I shows off the artwork nicely!
Talk to you soon!
Smooches,
Randy
Hi Randy!
Thank you very much for your comments. Yeah, I really like wordpress. Well, I have never used anything else… but once my friend, Jimmy, showed me how, it was pretty easy. You can also change the templates really easily and make a new page. I am still trying to figure out which template I like best. Plus, I like it because I can update it all the time. Do you want me to show you how to use it? Hope to see you soon sometime!
More smooches…and some for the doggies too!
Daphne
Your paintings are so awsome!!!!
Thanks, Chloe! You are awesome too!!
Old Cordelia is personal to me-I left a comment at your cordelia paintings-
Hello Daphne.I found you by mistake looking for the year the Cordelia RR tunnel was built.I saw your site and find out you are the artist of one of my favorite paintings.In fact I bought that picture from you about five years ago or so.I remember going to your house but I don’t remember meeting you at that time.I am a dentist in Stockton and have your painting hanging on very nice matting and frame in my office. Reason I am writing is I was wondering if your know the hx of the that yellow house by the Cordelia RR Tunnel that you painted.I grew up there as well as the rest of my siblings as my dad was a RR worker and my mom still lives there to this date.
Daphne,
Great paintings and website. I love “Fisherman’s Beach”. I’d like to see some paintings of Cape Cod. Sesuit Harbor in Dennis, the Chatham Fish Pier or the Wellfleet Beachcomber could capture some of this beautiful place.
Best Wishes and continued success,
Bob
Ms. Nixon, I grew up in Suisun Valley and was so charmed by several prints of your work in my sister’s home in Green Valley. My partner and I would be very interested to purchase some of your art. Please let us know how we can contact you.
Hello,
Thank you very much for your interest in my art. Suisun Valley must have been a wonderful and beautiful place to grow up in. I love all the farms and scenery there. I just got back from a long painting trip to Jamaica, so I apologize for the delay in responding to you. Please let me know which paintings you expressed an interest in, and then I can help provide you with information about them. Please feel free to contact me at daphnewynne.art@gmail.com with any questions. Have a great weekend! Thank you very much, Daphne
Congratsulations, Daphne! You have painted some amazing art. What a fun career you have talently developed. Continued success my friend!
Hello Ms. Nixon – Your paintings are wonderful. I lived as a very young child in Cordelia Junction (1948 ?) in one of the houses across from the railroad tracks and down the street from Thompson’s store. We used to walk there occasionally during the summer to get candy or a Nehi Orange. I would love to know the actual size of your Cordelia paintings and the price of the paintings/prints. We travel to California every couple years to visit my brother in Berkeley and plan to visit Cordelia on our next trip in ’16. When time allows would you be so kind as to let me know where and how I can get more information on your depictions of Cordelia.
Thank you so much –
Kathy (Kweder) Phillippe. (Midlothian, VA)
Is your painting of Larry’s Produce available for sale anywhere?
Hi Frances,
Yes, it is available. Please feel free to email me at winwithwynne@yahoo.com for more details. I look forward to answering any questions you may have. Thank you very much for your interest in my art work.
Sincerely,
Daphne
Okay, thanks. I sent you an email, hopefully you got it.
I have enjoyed looking at your site! I appreciate your eye for old time places. We lived at the James House in the Highlands for 7 years this decade, sorry we didn’t become aware of your work then. We are back home in Sonoma County. I’ll be back to look around more. Enjoy the wonderful gift you have.
Thank you, Jeanette!
Hi Dahpne,
I bought a painting from you (Island view from beach) last summer at Menlo Park art show. We love the painting. Will you be at the Carmel Art Show this weekend?
Is your Capitola painting available to buy?
Thanks
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
Thank you very much for the nice email. I’m very glad you love the painting you bought! I won’t be at the Carmel Art Show this weekend, but the painting of Capitola is available for sale at the Carmel Valley Art Gallery in Carmel Valley Village. It’s on the wall there. Just to make sure, do you mean the painting with the buildings in Capitola reflecting on the water? Or the one of the railroad bridge reflecting in the water? Please let me know. I’ll be around in Carmel Valley if you want to meet at the gallery, or in Carmel somewhere. Please feel free to contact me at 253-432-0459 if you have any questions.
Thanks again for contacting me! I look forward to your reply.
Best regards,
Daphne
Hi Jeff,
Thank you very much for the email and I’m happy you’re enjoying “Island View from Beach”. The Capitola painting is available at the gallery in Carmel Valley. Please let me know if you’d like me to meet you there, or if you need any information or help with anything. Were you able to make it to the Carmel Valley Art Show? I sent this reply earlier but I wasn’t sure if you received it. Hope you’re having a great day!
Best regards,
Daphne
Love your website!!