LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Arts Council’s Main Street Gallery will host a talk by author Hal Baker and a signing for his new book, a biography of master painter Milford Zornes, on Friday, Dec. 8.

The event featuring the book “Happiness is Warm Color in the Shade: A Biography of Artist Milford Zornes,” will take place from 6 to 8 p.m.

Hal Baker is Zornes’ son-in-law. Both he and his wife Maria will be on hand for the event, and will bring some of Zornes’ paintings for people to see.

Zornes is a famed watercolorist best known for his involvement in the California Scene Painters movement of the 1930s. He’s also a recognized leader in the California Style watercolor movement.

He taught for more than 50 years. Lake County Poet Laureate Emerita Carolyn Wing Greenlee, who also is an artist, was his student, biographer and friend, and also assisted Baker on the book over the past three years.

Zornes’ style differed from the traditional use of watercolors. His work is characterized by the application of transparent washes of color, allowing the white to show through and define shapes.

His paintings are in every major art museum, including the Met and Smithsonian.

Baker gives a stunning inside look at Zornes through assembling interviews, quotations and insights that almost no one has previously seen.

Event organizers said the event is quite an opportunity for Lake County to hear from the Bakers about this new work.

Artists, writers, teachers, creative people and those curious about how it is to live in the influence of a world-renowned artist for more than half a century are encouraged to attend.

The Main Street Gallery is located at 325 N. Main St., Lakeport.