Started on a busy Friday and finished on a very “Quiet Monday”.

This painting is symbolic of the beautiful California coast and its both, at times, energetic and peaceful beaches.

The quiet day at the beach

Depth Through Layers

Through the use of carefully layered brushstrokes, starting with the most distant point of the horizon, I created an endlessly deep vista that helps portray the vastness of the Pacific ocean stretching out from the California coast.

One of my real special talents as an artist is my ability to layer oil paint in such a way to create an interminable amount of depth… that is what separates my art from many other artists ;)

Some of the very special moments in this painting are the framed glimpses of the ocean, sky and beach peeking through the matrix of brushstrokes making up the life guard tower.

Energy of Brushstrokes

Another feeling I wanted to instill into this painting was the energy of the beach. To do this, I used quick, intentional and energetic brushstrokes to create the organic movement of the wind, ocean and clouds.

Another great example of this movement is in the very spontaneous brushstrokes of the wind blown American flag.

The footprints in the sand where one of the most challenging/improvised moments in this painting and where created to give the sense of the life and energy the beach and I experienced through the very busy weekend when this painting was started.

Without going into too much, this painting was an emotional journey for me of the importance of community/friendships/relationships and the very juxtaposed peaceful and solitude life of being an artist.

This painting is meant to bring a calmness and appreciation for the natural beauty of the California coast.

Oh yeah, I included a teddy bear as a continuing ode to my Stuffed Animals and cRaZy stuFFed aniMALs series ;)