Donna Covey’s painting of the Peregrine Landing building is one of several illustrations featured in the artist’s new exhibit at the Benicia Public Library’s Marilyn Citron O’Rourke Gallery. (Painting by Donna Covey)

For the past eight years, Benicia artist Donna Covey has made a name for herself by painting images of local landmarks in Northern California communities such as Benicia, Napa, Vacaville, Truckee and Suisun Valley. Those who have spent any amount of time in said places might have seen her paintings, but the uninitiated will be able to see her work in the Benicia Public Library’s new exhibition “More Northern California Neighborhoods.”

Covey describes the show as a compilation of all of the neighborhood series she had done in the past. It all began when she did a painting of the Iwama Market in Suisun Valley, which led to her painting other landmarks in the region, including the Manka’s Corner restaurant, Rockville Corner, Gomer School, and Wooden Valley Winery. This series became so popular that she began doing series of paintings in other neighborhoods such as the Napa Valley, Truckee, North Beach, Vacaville and even Benicia.

Covey’s goal is to yield an emotional connection with the viewer that makes them smile.

“When people see (my paintings), maybe it brings back memories,” she said. “I have people saying all the time, ‘That was where my husband proposed to me’ or ‘That was somewhere we used to always go when we were kids on our bicycles.’ I want people, when they come to the show, it’s not meant to be a show that is incredibly thought-provoking. It’s meant to make people smile, make them happy and bring back memories of a location.”

Covey receives a lot of commission work these days, most recently with another addition to the Suisun Valley series, this time of the Suisun Valley Inn. The inn only opened last year, but the property itself has a long history. It was purchased in 1860 by James Monroe— no relation to the U.S. president—, who established Monroe Ranch as an epicenter for harvesting fruit and nuts in the region in the 19th century. The business now provides a place for people visiting Wine Country to stay.

Suisun Valley Inn owner Gary Bacon approached Covey to paint the building, which she did. Covey said Bacon was pleased with how it turned out.

Other commissioned pieces that Covey is working on include a “Quasi-commission” from her son and daughter-in-law of the Crest Majestic Westwood and Fox Theatre in Los Angeles, since they both used to go to movie premieres when they were attending UCLA. She also received a commission from a Fairfield woman to do a painting of Dave’s Giant Hamburgers, the Texas Street restaurant that turns 55 next year.

Until those paintings are made, viewers can get a glimpse of Covey’s work so far in the library gallery. The show consists of pieces from all her series, the most prominent being her set of Benicia paintings. As soon as people enter the gallery, they will be greeted with a painting of The Rellik Tavern, as well as illustrations of such hotspots as Rookie’s Sports Bar & Grill, The Union Hotel, Benicia Bait and Tackle, and The Peregrine Landing— all done in the artist’s instantly recognizable and whimsical contemporary Fauve expressionistic style.

“More Northern California Neighborhoods” will be on display in the library’s Marilyn Citron O’Rourke Gallery through Jan. 6. There will be a reception from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10 with a special discussion at 3:30 from Covey on the importance of artists promoting themselves through modern platforms and her process of doing commissioned work.

“I do commissions a little bit differently than many artists, in that I don’t ever ask for a deposit,” she said. “Many artists will ask for a 50 percent deposit, but I won’t ask for any deposit because I want the freedom to create the location the way I am envisioning it. Hopefully, the person likes it. When I’m done and if they want to buy it, they can. I’ve never had somebody at the end of the ‘commission’ ever not buy the painting.”

The library is located at 150 East L St. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays and noon to 6 p.m., Fridays through Sundays. For more information, go to benicialibrary.org/gallery.

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