Charles Howard Allen (1916-1984)

“Howdy” Allen, as his friends called him, spent many hours walking on Brighton Beach in Bolinas. This painting captures a scene from the beach as late afternoon light breaks through storm clouds. A flock of Brandts directs the eye into the distance as they fly towards Bolinas Headlands and Duxbury Reef.

The artist, Charles Howard (Howdy) Allen, came from a family with deep ties to Marin County. The Allen family established Marin’s premier real estate company. When not running the company, Howdy Allen loved to paint. His wife and children were part of the vibrant Bolinas summer colony, and eventually they bought a house in Stinson Beach. Two of Howdy Allen’s children, Wheatley and Peter, learned to whittle bird sculptures from their father, and both went on to become renowned sculptors. Wheatley Allen was internationally recognized. Bolinas Museum’s Permanent Collection holds a Wheatley Allen bronze sculpture titled Snow Goose. Peter Allen was a well known member of the Stinson Beach community, a surfer, and gifted sculptor, primarily of marine animals, in both wood and bronze.