Beach Cruiser and Surfboard

Beach Cruiser and Surfboard

original oil painting, 12x12 SOLD

Viewpoints Gallery

You won't see this anywhere, except at the beach - a surfboard strapped to a bicycle. An orange beach cruiser bicycle, a board with a little wax on it, and ready to surf. 

I'm finishing up paintings for my show at Viewpoints Gallery, titled "Santa Cruz to San Francisco." This painting and many more will be in the show December 1 - January 2, with a reception on Saturday, December 5, from 2-5 pm.  Come by and say hi!  

Sea Swings at the Boardwalk, Santa Cruz

Sea Swings at the Boardwalk, Santa Cruz

original oil painting, 6x6, $175

Elliott Fouts Gallery

The Beach Boardwalk is only open on weekends until the end of March, then it's open daily.  The Sea Swings extend out high over the beach with the Monterey Bay below.

West Cliff View, Santa Cruz

West Cliff View, Santa Cruz

original oil painting, 20x20, $950

Elliott Fouts Gallery

 

A view from West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz. Near the center of the painting are steps down to the beach to an area surfers call Steamer Lane. The Beach Boardwalk is in the distance.

 

I'm very excited to have a new gallery, Elliott Fouts Gallery in Sacramento!  Stop by the beautiful gallery space to see 11 of my paintings.

Boardwalk at Night, Santa Cruz

Boardwalk at Night

original oil painting, SOLD

Elliott Fouts Gallery

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a seaside amusement park that has been operating since 1907. In my painting you can see the 1924 Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster, the Boardwalk's most popular ride. The unique location spans a wide sandy beach where it’s not unusual to see otters, dolphins, sea lions and even whales.

I was interested in the light and colors at night at the amusement park. As the sun was setting, the neon signs and lights contrasted with the evening shadows. There were hints of purple and yellow in the clouds reflecting the sun setting in the sky.

Santa Cruz Apartments

Santa Cruz Apartments

original oil painting, 12x12, SOLD

 Viewpoints Gallery, Sept 2-27

 

These colorful apartments are off of 41st Avenue in Santa Cruz. They have an ocean view and are steps from the surf spot called the Hook - so they are popular with surfers.  I loved the turquoise color of the apartments against the vibrant colorful flowers.

Surfboards for Sale, Santa Cruz

Surfboards for Sale, Santa Cruz

original oil painting, 11x14

Viewpoints Gallery
SOLD

I was walking along West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz and noticed this little beach cottage with surfboards for sale in front of the house. I liked the color and composition of the surfboards in contrast with the small house.

The painting is in a show at Viewpoints Gallery called "Hello Summer" through the end of May.

View from West Cliff, Santa Cruz

View from West Cliff, Santa Cruz 

original oil 6x6

Viewpoints Gallery
SOLD

The cliffs are very dramatic on the westside of Santa Cruz - a good subject for a painting.  As I setup to paint, it was a beautiful clear day and a wave was coming in from the right.  The surfers were just behind me at Steamer Lane. 

There were two main challenges with this painting. The first was to edit out details of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in the distance.  And the second was to emphasize the solid rock shapes in the foreground.  Emphasizing the rocks was easy because of the sharp contrast in values on the cliffs, the light yellow ochre color contrasts against the black shapes.  Simplifying the background is part of composing a scene.  I repeated some of the same shapes and used grayer values to make the background recede.   

The Penny Ice Creamery, Santa Cruz

The Penny Ice Creamery, Santa Cruz

original oil painting, 12x12

Viewpoints Gallery
SOLD

The Penny Ice Creamery on 41st Avenue in Santa Cruz, makes small batches of delicious ice cream completely from scratch. There's an open kitchen where you can watch the process of making ice cream.  They use flavors that change with the seasons and feature local organic ingredients. 

Next door is Pink Godzilla, a sushi restaurant.  I like the name and weird logo of a graphic pink godzilla on a surfboard.  Together I think the buildings make an interesting painting with the warm and cool color combination. The people add life and movement to the composition.

View of Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz

View of Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz

original oil painting, 8x10
SOLD

The ocean in Santa Cruz is part of the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary, some of northern California’s most beautiful shoreline. Along West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz are stunning views of the cliffs and the ocean.
  

I was attracted to this particular scene because of the colorful iceplant in the foreground, contrasting with the jagged cliffs against the ocean.  I've used cerulean blue in the painting, although I've found it tricky to integrate into my oil paintings.  Cerulean is a bold, pure pigment that leans toward azure and is often used in skies and reflections on water. I think it works well in this composition of the coastline on a bright fall day.

Sunset at Pleasure Point

 

Sunset at Pleasure Point

8x10 original oil painting
SOLD

Pleasure Point is a world renowned surf location on the northern Monterey Bay in Santa Cruz County. During Prohibition the speakeasies gave the area the name Pleasure Point.  Through the development of the surf culture, this area has been a place of distinction along the California coast.

Pleasure Point has been the home and training grounds for many great American surfers, including Peter Mel, Jay Moriarty, Robert "Wingnut" Weaver and Flea Virostko to name a few. The early big wave rider Fred Van Dyke and the inventor of the wetsuit, Jack O'Neill, are historic figures associated with this area.

Almost every weekend I look at this beautiful view of Pleasure Point.  I've painted it several times. I've tried different compositions and color palettes.  It's been a challenge to paint.  I like the warm tones of this view at sunset.

Beach Street, Santa Cruz

Beach Street, Santa Cruz

8x10 original oil painting

SOLD

As you're walking along Beach Street in Santa Cruz, to the right is the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the Wharf and the Pacific Ocean.  On the left is the street scene above.  Beach Street is lined with surf shops, bikini shops, restaurants and all things related to surfing.

Surfer Girls

Surfer Girls

8x10 original oil painting

SOLD

During a recent trip to Santa Cruz, I watched the local school kids compete in an Interscholastic Surfing Federation competition.  The boys were out in the water and the girls were on the beach, waiting for their heat. When the horn blared, signaling the end of the heat, the boys came in and the girls paddled out. It's great to see so many young girls surfing.

This painting makes me think of another surfer girl, my friend Alicia.  Alicia and I spent two years surfing together at Mondos in Ventura.  We went out a couple of times a week, encouraged each other and learned to surf.

During the winter when the waves got big and the ocean was a churning mess of white water, Alicia had a rule: three and out.  Paddle out, catch three waves and get out.  You'd be amazed at how much energy and strength it takes to paddle out through the white water and stay in position to catch a wave without getting swept down the coast with the current.  My admiration and respect goes out to all surfer girls.