Join Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains and Seashore, and the Topanga Canyon Art Gallery in presenting “On Location in the Santa Monica Mountains and Seashore.� The exhibit highlights the natural beauty of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA). The show features watercolor, pastel, and oil landscape paintings by six local artists: Bonnie Freund, Carole Garland, Russell Hunziker, Virginia Kamhi, Timothy Kitz, and Linda Melber. Within an hour’s drive from the city are remote parks with mountain lions, bobcats and deer roaming in the distance. Ocean vistas from headlands high above the Pacific Coast Highway, uphill trails through tangled undergrowth, or surf crashing on a shoreline where dolphins play. Running from Franklin and Runyon Parks in the east to Point Mugu State Park in the west the SMMNRA includes areas in northwest Los Angeles County and southeastern Ventura County and covers over 156,000 acres of public parklands. There are more than 500 miles of trails, 450 animal species, 40 miles of coastline, and contains Sandstone Peak, the highest location in the Santa Monica Mountains. It is a lush oasis of mountains, canyons, forests, meadows, creeks, ponds, beaches, and even waterfalls, amidst the urban sprawl of Los Angeles. Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains and Seashore is a 20-year-old organization of fine artists who paint representational art of the Santa Monica Mountains and beaches to “Paint and Preserve the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.� They provide information, art, and an appreciation of the local mountains and seashore as a public service. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to local and national groups that support the SMMNRA. The group collaborates with national and local agencies such as Will Rogers State Historic Park, National Wildlife Federation, #SaveLACougars, Western National Parks Association, National Park Service, Mountains Restoration Trust, and King Gillette Visitor Center to present art shows to raise funds to help preserve the mountains and beaches. Allied Artists also sponsors free monthly paint-outs on the second Saturday of the month. The free paint-outs provide a unique opportunity for any painter to enjoy a sense of camaraderie with like-minded people and are a great way to see the beauty of the natural environment. A painting demonstration and friendly critique is usually held at the paint-outs. The free paint-outs are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and are open to any artist and any media at any skill level. The exhibit and sale runs from February 6-28. Topanga Canyon Gallery is located at 120 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd, Topanga California 90290; (310) 455-7909.The gallery is open Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Available for in-person and on-line sales at topangacanyongallery.com.