Gordon Mayfield is a California painter. 

He paints in watercolor, the wild tumult of Big Sur, mountainous backcountry, lakes and rivers of the West.

Mayfield’s wilderness experience and knowledge form the underpinning of much of his work—his many backpacking trips as well as his years living on the cliffs of Big Sur.

He began his art instruction in college, but didn’t seriously pursue his art until he was a full-time teacher of children.  He combined his love of the outdoors and painting into outdoor education programs emphasizing art, wild lands, and hiking. 

Gordon Mayfield is mainly self-taught. He has studied extensively with Dale Laitinen, Laurie Myers,  Dave Allan, and Dick Puckett.  Dan Reeves was also a major influence and inspired many of Mayfield’s treks into the wilderness searching for rock art.  Gordon’s paintings hang in many homes and businesses throughout California, Oregon and beyond.

Numerous ten-day backpacking trips into the Trinity Alps became Mayfield’s focus for many oil paintings and while working on studies in watercolor, he became entranced by the way paint and water moved together in a spontaneous dance.  For twenty years Mayfield has painted primarily in watercolor.  He has a home with his wife in the hills near Monterey Bay, where he maintains a studio.

Gordon’s work may be found at the Venture Gallery, 260 Alvarado St., in the Portola Plaza Hotel, Monterey, California.