Oxnard, Calif. – World War II Navy veteran and award‑winning artist Don Fay turned 99 on August 27 and celebrated the milestone with a bustling weekend art show and sale at the annual Art Walk at the Shores. The event, held Saturday and extended Sunday, attracted longtime supporters, family members, and new collectors eager to purchase his distinctive paintings.
Family and Community Gather to Honor a Local Legend
Fay’s wife, Linda “Fran” Fay, helped coordinate the exhibit, noting that her husband’s relentless creativity is a key to his longevity. “He is always thinking up new ideas,” she said. The couple, both musicians, once performed together at Tony’s Steak & Sea Food in nearby Ventura, adding another layer to their shared artistic life.
Children and grandchildren assisted with the sale, proudly describing their great‑grandfather as a poet who writes senryu‑style verses and a mentor who has taught seminars in national parks such as Yosemite. “He’s a true patriot and a devoted family man,” one of his grandchildren remarked.
Hundreds of Paintings Find New Homes
Over the weekend, Fay sold hundreds of works, ranging from sweeping landscapes to whimsical pieces featuring dragons, question marks, and other mysterious motifs. He expressed mixed emotions about parting with his art. “I am really delighted that my family helped with this exhibit and that many paintings sold, but I am also a bit sad because one invests in these things and then, by God, they must eventually be sold,” he said.
Fay’s landscapes continue to command strong interest, but his more experimental, mystery‑laden canvases have surprised him with steady demand. “There is a side of me that loves mystery. I never thought those pieces would sell, yet many people—just like me—buy them,” he added.
Looking Ahead to a Centennial Celebration
Buoyed by the success of this weekend’s show, the family hopes to mark Fay’s 100th birthday with another Art Walk exhibition next year. The upcoming celebration promises to showcase a new body of work and further cement his legacy as a beloved figure in Ventura County’s cultural scene.
For more information about Don Fay’s art and upcoming events, visit fayproductions.com.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
