Mario’s Art Gallery

I walked in on Thursday afternoon, and Mario was sitting behind a table looking angry. I asked him a question regarding one painting and he said something I could not understand so I asked him whats that and Mario became upset ans was mumbling nonsense. The only thing I got out of his whining was that I could not add for his paintings only Palos Verdes people can afford it. Really, then what are you doing in San Pedro? Mario is not very nice. There’s much better art stores elsewhere than his paintings. Will never buy anything from him, ever. Go elsewhere and buy your Art where your business is appreciated.

Mario, Croatian born and raised in Dalmatia, lives in San Pedro and does landscapes of the San Pedro/​Palos Verdes area, much of it on commission. As a person he is a sweetie-​pie; as an artist he is successful (makes a living from art) but perhaps a bit doing the same successful thing over and over again. His medium is oil on canvas, and he paints from color photographs of the landscapes and views he likes. A typical commission from «the folks who live on the hill» would be the ocean view from their own house. Personally, I prefer his views of his home island in the Adriatic to his Palos Verdes views, but then as my wife says I have no taste in art.
Prices go from $ 3−5K for something that goes over the mantelpiece, to under a thousand for a nice little picture.
Mario also teaches at the Palos Verdes Art Center.
Check out his gallery — he is usually there, painting in the back, while his charming wife runs the store.