Southern California Decorative Painters History

Our painting group was the first to be established in Southern California in January 1975. At that time there were two painting groups in California – Northern and Southern. We were affiliated with the Society of Decorative Painters from 1975- 2022, until SDP closed its doors. We are now an independent group having obtained our own 501-C (3) status with the Internal Revenue Service. Members come from cities around Southern California, such as Redlands, Oxnard, Lompoc, Running Springs, Santa Clarita, Santa Barbara, San Diego and many cities in-between. We also have members from out of state and other countries!

SCDP met at the Holy Trinity Church on Badillo in Covina with over 140 members. We also met at the Elks Lodge in Covina, the upstairs of a California Federal Bank and later in the Masonic Hall in Downey, where there was a full kitchen, allowing the chapter to host many pot lucks at our monthly Paint Ins. We then moved to a Recreation Center at a Bellflower Park and then on to the La Habra Community Center. The last several years we were meeting at the East Whittier Women’s Improvement Center. With the onset of Covid-19 in 2020, we have become a Zoom group.

Our membership consists of people that share a love for painting, including many teachers and those in the Decorative Painting industry, such as tole shop owners and designers. Member Tami Carmody owned The Painting Garden in Santa Clarita. Member Heidi Allsion owned Catalina Cottage in Redlands and Periwinkle Woods in Calimesa. Past members include Carl and Phyllis Gustafsson who owned the wood cutting company, Cabin Crafts. JoSonja Jansen is one of our founding members. Many of our early members are still active in our club today.
Teas and fashion shows were held over the years. Our first fashion show was held in 1985 for our 10th Anniversary. We had large bazaars around Halloween in members’ homes for our fundraisers. We currently host a yearly Christmas party via Zoom. A portion of our funds are donated to worthy charities in the Whittier area.

We participate in the Memory Box Program. Our members paint special boxes to be given to grieving parents to hold mementos after the loss of their child. The memory boxes are donated to Long Beach Memorial Hospital. We get together to “Paint Along” with one another the first Monday of the month. Each quarter, our Paint Along is dedicated to painting Memory Boxes.

Our club votes on the projects we would like to paint every year. We meet for a Paint In via Zoom the second Monday of the month, 10 times a year. A teacher guides us through the painting step by step as we complete the project. This gives our members the opportunity to learn new techniques and work with different mediums. We host a seminar with nationally known artists each year.

Find us on social media: scdp.webador.com
Facebook: Southern California Decorative Painters