William Dubin-Regionalist Watercolors

William Dubin

Urban Realism in Watercolor

As much as the so-called art elite try to dismiss it, realism in painting has a strong history. If the last few years are any indication, realism has a strong future as well. In particular, regionalism is a painting style and art movement that spotlights and romanticizes urban and rural scenes, and has strong roots in the early part of the 20th Century. The movement, also known as American Scene painting, is making a comeback, as museums, galleries, and art collectors begin to recognize both the historical and aesthetic value of works that depict events, landmarks, or daily activities that perhaps no longer exist. Early and respected artists in this field include Thomas Hart Benton, Grant Wood, and Harwood Steiger.

We can now add William Dubin to that list. Mr. Dubin, an artist who has established his name in San Francisco and San Diego since the 1960s, became a Tucsonan in 2004. In the last five years, Dubin has lovingly, almost obsessively, explored San Diego’s industrial waterfront and Tucson’s Old Pueblo Trolley system, and subsequently captured a downtown and 4th Avenue that is in the midst of renewal. As a result, this body of work has historical value, as many of the scenes that William Dubin has so artfully captured have already undergone noticeable change.