Where Water Meets Watercolor: Lenn Goldmann’s Landscapes on Display at Plumas Bank

At Plumas Bank’s Chico branch, the walls tell a serene story about Northern California. Sunlit creeks wind through watercolor landscapes, riverbanks glow with shifting light, and quiet moments from the natural world unfold across the bank’s interior. 

The paintings — created by local artist Lenn Goldmann — are on display through May as part of the bank’s partnership with the Museum of Northern California Art (monca). 

“We’re very excited to have Lenn Goldmann’s work at our location,” said Ian Macmillan, branch manager at Plumas Bank in Chico. “His paintings allow guests a chance to pause and enjoy their visit. They show the natural beauty of our area and bring both energy and calm to the space.” 

Painting the Rhythm of Northern California

Goldmann has spent decades painting California landscapes, from the rugged coastline of Big Sur to the rolling hills of the Inland Valley and the peaks of the High Sierra. The collection currently displayed at Plumas Bank focuses on the waterways that shape Northern California — landscapes defined by movement and atmosphere. 

“For me, nature is my outdoor church,” Goldmann says. “I want to express the forces of nature, the energy of sunlight, wind through trees, and the power of water shaping the land.” 

He starts his work in the field, sketching and painting directly from nature. He then returns to the studio to refine the composition, drawing from both observation and memory to capture the feeling of a place rather than simply its appearance. 

That process gives his paintings their distinctive sense of motion and energy. 

“The range of landscapes in our state is amazing: from clouds touching the Sierra Nevada to the chocolate soil of the coastal strawberry fields of the Pajaro Valley, and all the rivers and streams that flow into the Pacific,” Goldmann shares in his artist statement. “It has everything the rest of the world would like to have, and we get to paint it.” 

Working with Chinese calligraphy brushes on French Arches watercolor paper, Goldmann uses loose, expressive strokes that allow water, color, and light to interact naturally on the page. The motion technique mirrors the very subjects he paints — flowing water, shifting clouds, wind moving through trees. 

A Modern Approach to Display 

Goldmann’s background in art, architecture, and design also shapes how his paintings are presented. 

He graduated with an art degree from Chico State University in the 1970s, and shortly after, began to design houses. He became known for his nature-friendly homes with water features. 

But throughout his career, he has continually evolved his approach to art. He developed a unique framing method in recent years that mounts watercolor paper to plywood and seals the surface without glass. The result offers a clean, contemporary presentation that fits comfortably in modern interiors while allowing viewers to see the texture and detail of the watercolor surface. 

Turning Everyday Spaces into Galleries 

Through its partnership with monca, Plumas Bank’s Chico branch regularly features work from Northern California artists, transforming the branch into an informal gallery space. 

Past featured artists include Paula Busch, Judy Kane, Rick Vertolli, Simone Senat, and Tim B. Moore. The program reflects the bank’s ongoing commitment to supporting creativity and community throughout the region it serves. 

“Partnerships like this allow art to be experienced in everyday spaces,” said Patricia Macias, executive director of monca. “Lenn Goldmann’s work captures the spirit of our region, and we’re grateful to Plumas Bank for their continued support of local artists.” 

Visit the Exhibit 

Community members are welcome to stop by the Plumas Bank Chico branch at 900 Mangrove Avenue during regular business hours to view the exhibit. 

In addition to Goldmann’s current collection, the branch also features permanent works by regional artists, including metal landscape prints by Paradise artist Jeremy Vesely and an outdoor mural by Chico artist Dylan Tellesen. 

To explore more of Goldmann’s work, visit lenngoldmann.com.