This gem of a museum is about the right size to soak up the artwork and read the informative labels. (I don’t like large museums where you see a lot but remember nothing.) Just as the name of the museum indicates, this is a museum of California artists. On display were many great works that depict California’s beach culture, surfing, architecture, and desert and mountain landscapes.

I also enjoyed the sections that highlighted artists, exhibiting a good number of their works. I loved the work of Emigdio Vasquez (1939-2014) who “captured the struggles of everyday working class, including day laborers and those who toiled in the citrus industry in California.” Millard Owen Sheets (1907-1989) is the creator of the mural at the entrance of the museum, and his watercolors were equally enjoyable. I loved the illustrations by Mary Blair (1911-1978), a Disney "illustrator and colorist who set the tone for... iconic animated films of the wartime era." On display were works she created for Disney’s Alice in Wonderland, 1951.

Art is for those who need therapy. Let’s begin this museum review.

Hilbert Museum of California (est 2016) is a 7,500 sq feet museum that house a wide collection of California art. This museum has North (permanent collection) and South Galleries (revolving art paintings which can be purchased). Those canvass for sale begins at $750 (smaller) to $30K (large). Thanks to the generosity of philanthropists and art patrons, Mark and Janet Hilbert, this museum is named after them.

I like art museums in general. And HMOC is one of my favorite museums in Orange County. It’s perfectly located in Oldtowne Center. Staff were affable and knowledgeable. Museum has parking lot but limited. However, there is a large parking structure next to it. I spent roughly 2 hrs in this museum, checking every paintings and reading their descriptions. Overall, I enjoyed this museum.