Geoff Allen’s art journey began unconventionally. He graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Economics, and had developed a passion for black and white street photography. Soon after that, he graduated with an MFA from Claremont Graduate University and immersed himself into the contemporary art scene of Los Angeles. He has worked as an art gallery director and taught drawing and painting at local community colleges. Currently he lives on the coast near San Diego, California.

“My most pivotal moment as an artist came during a summer plein air watercolor class in the Sierras. When it began snowing on us, I was thrilled and hooked. For me, watercolor echos an idea of immediacy and nature. I find that watercolor is both medium and metaphor, and at times both a blessing and a curse.  I love that aspect of making art – when something is slightly out of my control and a challenge. It allows me to feel that I am playing with mysterious forces beyond my own understanding. My earlier artwork was focused on oil painting and relief wall sculptures. As different as all these experiences may seem, I have found connecting threads all leading me to plein air watercolor.”

Geoff is an award-winning plein air artist with feature articles in the 2023 January issue of Plein Air Magazine and the 2022 Summer issue of  Watercolor Artist Magazine.