"Victoria Market in Green and Orange", Victoria and Olive Streets, Santa Barbara

"Victoria Market in Green and Orange"
oil on canvas
16 x 20 inches
$600

My old neighborhood, I am happy I made a point to paint this place a few times. I imagine I will go back there from time to time for a little nostalgia.

"Whales at Hammond's", Hammond's Beach, Montecito

"Whales at Hammond's"
oil on linen
18 x 24 inches
$750

I had a few moments alone with my whale buddies. Has anyone seen anything inspiring around here lately?

"Black Rock Morning", near More Mesa, Santa Barbara

"Black Rock Morning"

12 x 36 inches

oil on canvas

$850

This is the beach between Goleta Beach and More Mesa. The clump of trees in the right center of the painting is where the More Mesa steps are. Thats Hope Ranch up above of course. Those are seals on the rocks to the right. I had never ventured way out here before to paint because you have to get the painting done between the tides and the sun. Otherwise be stranded or clambering over rocks to get home. I am proud to say I painted this in about 2 1/2 hours and was able to home by 10 am. The rest of the day was a little tougher...

"Devereux Point Flowers", Isla Vista

"Devereux Point Flowers"
24 x 24 inches
oil on canvas
$750

I am here to say that the ice plant and succulents at Devereux Point are really incredible. Many people will drive hours to see the wildflowers, when the still haven't walked out to this point to see these ones. Not to mention you will see a hundred different types of birds, dolphins, whales, seals and a few random docents. This was our main surfing break as a kid. I hope to make it my main painting break this year...

This painting along with about a hundred others can be seen at:
Fastframe
1333 State Street
Santa Barbara, CA

"Puma Canyon Ranch", Winchester Canyon, Goleta

"Puma Canyon Ranch"
18 x 24 inches
oil on canvas
sold


Puma Canyon is a little canyon at the end of Winchester Canyon. They grow native plant species and avocados up there now. Back in the day it was owned by the Hollister's, heard of them before?

"Taxi Dancer", Santa Barbara Harbor

"Taxi Dancer"
16 x 20 inches
oil on canvas
sold


This painting was commissioned and it was one of those paintings that I really had to work for. The first attempt the tide came up and a wave crashed on the breakwater, myself and the painting. I couldn't work on it after that as oil does;t mix with salt water. I tried to go out there the next day and it was very windy. I thought I would walk out there and give it a shot. Well, I never even I got my easel set up as the wind picked up a nice sand storm that peppered the painting. I then waited 4 days for it to dry and removed most the sand. The last day went great and I was able to come up with this.

"Gibraltar View West"
8 x 10 inches
oil on panel
$300

I believe the last ridge you see is the one that leads towards Point Mago, which is 40 miles away. Rincon mountain is the pointy one in front of that. Then we have the great and omnipresent Ortega Ridge. That ridge is the one behind my Hammond's Beach paintings. Ortega hill(also in the Hammond's paintings) appears as those jagged trees near the ocean on the right. The hill in front of that is Montecito... Enjoy

"The Harbor Landscape", Santa Barbara Harbor

"The Harbor Landscape"
8 x 10 inches
oil on panel
$300

This one will come with a frame and a glass of wine at my show this Thursday, May 3rd, at:

Fastframe

1333 State Street

Santa Barbara

5:00 - 8:00 pm

We will have live music from my friends Lynette Goana and Chad Stone. I will also have some very recent paintings not available online. Exciting!

"Santa Claus Lane Mountain View", Carpinteria

"Santa Claus Lane Mountain View"
8 x 10 inches
oil on panel
$300

Its always hard for me to come to the beach and not paint the ocean. The mountains here are just too resistible. They seem to be taller and closer then at the Santa Barbara beaches. Plus the foothills have all these great contours and sandstone outcrops.

"Alice Keck Park Light", Alice Keck Park Park, Santa Barbara

"Alice Keck Light"
9 x 12 inches
oil on canvas
$300

This is what it looks like in my childhood memories...

"North Refugio Road", Santa Ynez

"North Refugio Road"
30 x 22 inches
oil on canvas
$1100

There is another road that connects our front country with the Santa Ynez Valley. North Refugio Road has a magical feeling. I spent the day with the cows and the butterflies and the lady bugs. Down by the bubbling brook below the the ancient moss covered trees I thought I might of seen one or two fairies.

"April Full Moon Set - Studio Painting", More Mesa, Santa Barbara

"April Full Moon Set - Studio Painting"
12 x 12 inches
oil on canvas board
$300

Here is a simplified studio version of the April Full Moon Set at More Mesa. I pulled out the pthalo blue for these tones. I haven;t used that color for years but now I see that you need it to get those really intense cool blues and greens.

"Me Painting", Riviera, Santa Babara

There are times in life when you know you are in the right place at the right time. This was two years ago just as I was ready to quit my day job. How could I resist after moments like these?

"Santa Claus Lane Layers", Carpinteria

"Santa Claus Lane Layers"
5 x 7 inches
oil on panel
sold


Every time I come here I imagine the beach filled with Chumash plank canoes.

"Arch Light", Santa Barbara Courthouse

"Arch Light"
14 x 14 inches
oil on canvas
$500

I thought it was funny to catch someone taking a picture of me from across the Sunken Garden. I will teach her a lesson and include her in the painting and my blog.

"De la Guerra for Dr Brewer", Santa Barbara

"De la Guerra for Dr Brewer"
16 x 20 inches
oil on canvas
sold


I was lucky to be asked to make this for the doctor who delivered my two kids. He probably delivered a few of yours too.

"Old San Marcos Greens", San Marcos Foothills, Santa Barbara

"Old San Marcos Greens"
9 x 12 inches
oil on linen
sold


My paintings are about the feeling of a place. I am most successful when I am in the moment. For painting, that means that I am seeing what lies before me, not what is in my minds eye. While our imaginations are amazing, they are nothing compared to what nature can serve up. I never would have seen these colors and shapes had I been painting an idealistic view. The scary thing is that these moments are happing all around us, everyday and we are too busy to notice them.

"Campus Easter Full Moon Set", UCSB Campus

"Campus Easter, Full Moon Set"
8 x 10 inches
oil on panel
sold

This one is dedicated to my Grandma who reads my blog everyday. Happy Easter Grandma, I love you and miss you. I was putting the kids to bed when you called, lets talk soon!

"Douglas Preserve Tree", Douglas Family Preserve, Santa Barbara

"Douglas Preserve Tree"
15 x 30 inches
oil on canvas
$800

Anyone recognize this tree? I know a few of your dogs do.

"Hollister Snow", Noleta

"Hollister Snow"
6 x 12 inches
oil on canvas
$220

This is the view from my home and yes thats snow on the mountains. Its always magical when you see snow in SB. After I finished the painting we got the kids in the car and hit the slopes. If you can believe it we went sledding and had snowball fights.

"Top of Old San Marcos Road", Santa Barbara

"Top of Old San Marcos Road"
8 x 16 inches
oil on canvas
$380

I made this right where San Marcos Road ends and intersects with the 154. There is a section that is no longer open that has a great place to hang out and enjoy this view. It was very crisp and clear on this morning and you could see all the details on the islands. I even painted Storke Tower behind the Santa Barbara Airport,

"Alice Keck Park in Spring", Downtown, Santa Barbara

"Alice Keck Park in Spring"
10 x 20 inches
oil on canvas
$550

I was always inspired by this park as a kid. When I came here to paint I was trying to remember those feelings. When the world was so much bigger and mystical.

Now in attempting to paint all the foliage I find the world has expanded again and is infinite in its beauty and variety.

"De la Guerra Vivid", Santa Barbara

"De la Guerra Vivid"
20 x 30 inches
oil on canvas
$1500

We should have more streets like this if you ask me. I am one of the few who like all those rules about buildings in SB. Goleta has similar views but we didn't build any streets that have equal beauty.

"March Full Moon Set at More Mesa", Santa Barbara

"March Full Moon Set at More Mesa"
8 x 10 inches
oil on linen
$380

Its so important to push yourself and strive for something better. As a painter I constantly feel like I need to acquire more knowledge and more experience. If I don't I get bored with what I know and have done before. For this painting I planned the night before to be at More Mesa by 5:30am. Not an easy task as the hike is 20 min. It was also 32 degrees on this morning. By the end of the walk my hands which where carrying my canvases and my lunch where numb. A cold wind picked up as I was setting my easel up. I was thinking, what the hell am I doing here at 5:30 in the morning? Then I looked upon this view and it took my breath away. No longer did I feel the wind or care that I didn't feel my fingers. I was in the right place at the right time. May you all find your own moments out there. Or come join me for the next full moon set at the Mesa.

"Stage Coach View 2", Old San Marcos Road, Santa Barbara Foothills

"Stage Coach View 2"
5 x 7 inches
oil on panel
$120

"Stage Coach View", Old San Marcos Road, Santa Barbara Foothills

"Stage Coach View"
5 x 7 inches
oil on panel
$120

One of the things that I enjoy about painting is the ability to go into the past. While painting this I imagined what it was like for the people taking this road by stagecoach and looking upon this view. There are farms and homes instead of empty fields and oaks.

"Presidio Chapel Evening", Santa Barbara

"Presidio Chapel Evening"
16 x 20 inches
oil on canvas
sold


If I have a choice I will always have our mountains in the composition. It was fun to paint the white walls. Every moment as the sun set they reflected a different shade. It reminded me of an abalone shell.

"Railroad Agave", Santa Barbara Train Station

"Railroad Agave"
5 x 7 inches
oil on panel
$100

Agave, railroad tracks, parking lot, 3 palm trees, a cypress, the fig tree, a sycamore, and the Mesa Hill below a cloudy sky. It rained on me a few minutes after I finished. I was happy I decided to do a little one.

"Butterfly Beach Seawall", Montecito

"Butterfly Beach Seawall"
12 x 24 inches
oil on canvas
$550

I started this painting before the wind picked up and finished it after I moved. Both days I enjoyed the shade of the cypress tree that is creating the shadows in the painting. Shade on a hot beach, sounds like paradise to me.

"Butterfly on the Fly", Butterfly Beach, Montecito

"Butterfly on the Fly"
5 x7 inches
oil on panel
sold


For the past 5 days we moved our family across town. All the things people say about it being stressful are true. This painting reminds me of better days.

"February Full Moon Set at Butterfly Beach", Montecito

"February Full Moon Set at Butterfly Beach"
8 x 10 inches
oil on linen
$380

One of the most beautiful moments I have experienced. The great thing is it happened two days in a row and I was there both times.

"Anapamu Light", Anapamu Street, Downtown Santa Barbara

"Anapamu Light"
12 x 16 inches
oil on panel
$450

I have been living on this street for the last few years. The walk to downtown begins with this canopy overhead. The shadows it makes on the sidewalk are just as magical. I will miss living here. My new street, Hollister, is not quite as picturesque so I will have to use some ingenuity to express equal beauty.

"High Tide at Miramar", Miramar Beach, Montecito

"High Tide at Miramar"
15 x 30 inches
oil on canvas
sold

I had to do this one from the steps. I was out of the wind and in the sun. There was also a hot wall behind me. It must have been the hottest place on earth for a while there. I was forced to go swimming a few times to cool off.

"Butterfly Full Moon Set 3", Butterfly Beach Montecito

"Butterfly Full Moon Set 3"
5 x 7 inches
oil on panel
$120

I like this one a lot.

"Butterfly Full Moon Set 2", Butterfly Beach, Montecito

"Butterfly Full Moon Set 2"
5 x 7 inches
oil on panel
$120

I am always a little surprised as to where the moon is going to set each month.

"Butterfly Full Moon Set", Butterfly Beach, Montecito

"Butterfly Full Moon Set"
5 x 7 inches
oil on panel
$140

I woke up early to catch the full moon set over Butterfly Beach. As the moon got closer to the horizon the sun's light started to illuminate the landscape. There is a moment where they both are giving equal light. The colors where extraordinary. So much so that I had to go back the next day to see them again.

"Hammond's Layers", Hammond's Beach, Montecito

"Hammond's Layers"
24 x 36 inches
oil on linen
$1800

Any view that you can get all these layers in makes me happy. Beyond the first point is Miramar Beach. Behind that, the orange cliffs is Ortega Hill. You can see Summerland Just before the canvas ends. The purple hill that sticks out from the mountains is called Torro Ridge, I believe.

I still haven't done the view from the end of Miramar Beach at Fernald's Point.

"Butterfly Beach Wind Swell", Butterfly Beach, Montecito

"Butterfly Beach Wind Swell"
5 x 7 inches
oil on panel
sold

This was my third painting this morning. I woke up to get the moon set over butterfly beach. I made a couple other pieces that need some adjustments. Its really hard to see your painting under headlamp and there are usually some things that aren't planned. This piece however was done in great light and great spirits as the sun rose over a hefty wind swell.

"Sunset from Loon Point", Loon Point, Summerland

"Sunset from Loon Point"
5 x 7 inches
oil on panel
$220

This one looks a lot better in person. I have 50 or so paintings lying around and this one keeps catching my eye when I walk by. Imagine with a nice gold frame.

"Loon Point Near Sunset", Loon Point, Summerland

"Loon Point Near Sunset"
5 x 7 inches
oil on panel
sold

The little trees and the littler people where fun to paint. I have painted this point from Santa Barbara so many times that its surreal for me to be there. I felt like I was walking around in one of my paintings.