"Leadbetter Intense", Leadbetter Beach, Santa Barbara

"Leadbetter Intense"
5 x 7 inches
oil on panel
$90

How different ways can I say I love you?

"Leadbetter Portrait", Leadbetter Beach. Santa Barbara

"Leadbetter Portrait"
20 x 30 inches
oil on canvas
sold
I had been meaning to do a big one out here. Since its sold I will have to do a bigger one soon.

"Mid Morning on DLG", De la Guerra Street, Santa Barbara

"Mid Morning on DLG"
12 x 24 inches
oil on panel
$550

Oh the blue of our mountains! I will never cease to be entertained.

"Miramar in May", Miramar Beach, Montecito

"Miramar in May"
30 x 40 inches
oil on canvas
$2500

I can still find plenty of inspiration out here even though the old Miramar Hotel is no longer standing. The upside is, you get a better view of the mountains and the train coming through. If you look close enough you can see the last two cars of the train where the hotel once stood.

"Spring Clouds at the Botanic Garden", Mission Canyon, Santa Barbara

"Spring Clouds at the Botanic Garden"
18 x 24 inches
oil on canvas
$850

I made this last week as the clouds slowly started to dissipate. I was able to stand out in the open and be comfortable looking at this view. By noon it must have been 80 degrees with no wind. I ran home with this!

"Taste of UCSB", Rec Center, UCSB, Goleta

"Taste of UCSB"
8 x 10 inches
oil on canvas
donated to the silent auction

This was a UCSB Alumni event held a week ago. I made this painting for the silent auction. All the proceeds went to benefit the Alumni scholarship program.

"Midway Up Gibraltar", Gibraltar Road, Santa Barbara

"Midway Up Gibraltar"
12 x 24 inches
oil on canvas
$550

I just love to see all of the points of our coast lined up. Can you recognize each of them?

"Little Led", Ledbetter Beach, Santa Barbara

"Little Led"
5 x 7 inches
oil on panel
sold

I ducked out of the wind to get this one...

"Eling's Park View", Santa Barbara

"Eling's Park Evening"
9 x 12 inches
oil on canvas
$380

My best attempt at the amazing view you get from Eling's Park. I really enjoy the late evening shadows here.

"White Rock in April", Santa Ynez River, Paradise Road

"White Rock in April"
16 x 20 inches
oil on canvas
sold

This is the first Day use area off of Paradise Road on the Santa Ynez River. So why haven't you and I spent more time here this year? It really is paradise!

"Sands Memoir", Sands Beach, Goleta

"Sands Memoir"
10 x 20 inches
oil on canvas
$350

I could paint this place from memory. So I did.

"Hendry's From Above", Douglas Preserve, Santa Barbara

"Hendry's From Above"
12 x 24 inches
oil on panel
$550

Click on the image to get a closer look. I think that might be you down there one the beach. This was this past Friday evening.

"Windy Sunset at Mesa Lane"

"Windy Sunset at Mesa Lane"
5 x 7 inches
oil on panel
$80

I was stuck between the tide and the falling cliffs. The wind was a solid 20 mph and the light was leaving. I had to stay...

"Windy Mesa Lane", Santa Barbara

"Windy Mesa Lane"
11 x 14 inches
oil on canvas
$300

Gale force winds couldn't stop me from painting down at Mesa Lane. There was some protection down there but I still had to tape everything to my easel.

"R Beach Break Down", Ellwood, Goleta

"R Beach Break Down"
20 x 30 inches
oil on canvas
sold

I started this almost 10 months ago. At that time, I had my first "Van Gogh", and wasn't mentally able to complete it. Things are clearer now but I still am unsure about this composition and color combinations.

"Hendry's Bon Fire", Arroyo Burro, Santa Barbara

"Hendry's Bon Fire"
5 x 7 inches
oil on panel
$80

These guys had the smarts to have a huge bon fire party last Saturday at Hendry's. I am wondering why I haven't been to one of those recently.

"Hendry's Magic", Arroyo Burro, Santa Barbara

"Hendry's Magic"
8 x 8 inches
oil on panel
$180

I arrived at the beach with just a half hour before sunset. I set up quickly and used my instincts to get it all in. It was one of those truly amazing sunsets that happen 100 times a year at this beach.

"Carr Winery", Salsipuedes Street, Santa Barbara

"Carr Winery"
8 x 10 inches
oil on linen
sold

I made this last night for the Loa Tree Green Drinks Show. I painted over an old painting that I never finished. Having a darker background made it fun to paint in the white wall.

"Goleta Beach Fog", Goleta

"Goleta Beach Fog"
5 x 7 inches
oil on panel
$90

I am from Goleta so I should know how to paint the fog. The truth be told, I usually avoid it. I decided to quit running from my demons and I plan on being an expert at these conditions by the end of the year.

"Goleta Cliffs", Goleta Beach

"Goleta Cliffs"
5 x 7 inches
oil on panel
$80

These are the cliffs of Goleta Beach in the Fog. There was a lot of bird action as to be expected...

"De la Guerra Morning Light", Downtown Santa Barbara

"De la Guerra Morning Light"

12 x 24 inches

oil on canvas

sold

When the fog rolled away we where left with some of the most amazing morning light I have experienced. Easy to be inspired here!

"Mission Friends", Santa Barbara Mission

"Mission Friends"
9 x 12 inches
oil on canvas
sold

I really like this one.

"San Marcos Layers", Old San Marcos Road, Santa Barbara

"San Marcos Layers"

12 x 24 inches

oil on canvas

sold

I started this painting a couple seasons ago and just finished it yesterday. This is a view from Old San Marcos Road, looking East in the morning. You can see Cathedral Peak up to the left. The bumpy purple hill is Ortega Hill I believe. The blue mound just beyond is for sure Rincon Mountain and after that are the mountains beyond Oxnard that lead toward Point Mugu. What are those called I wonder?

"Castle Church", Trinity Episcopal, Micheltorena and State, Santa Barbara

"Castle Church"
12 x 16 inches
oil on linen board
$350

My kids are calling this the Castle Church lately. I used to go here when I was young. I would draw in the pews, and marvel at the blue stained glass.

"Palm Reader Sprinkles", Canon Perdido Street, Santa Barbara

"Palm Reader Sprinkles"
9 x 12 inches
oil on linen
$280

I was about to paint the view down Canon Perdido Street when it started to sprinkle. As we all know, water does not mix with oil, so I moved my easel under the archway of the Lobero Theater and had this view.

"West Beach with Clouds", Downtown Santa Barbara

"West Beach with Clouds"

oil on canvas

8 x 24 inches

sold

I made this at low tide between storms. The air was crisp but not cold. The sun felt amazing after a few days with out it. The mountains where a beautiful deep blue and the houses on the Riviera shinned like little crystals.

"Mission in Color", Santa Barbara Mission

"Mission in Color"
18 x 24 inches
oil on canvas
sold

Trying to find a new composition for an old subject. This place has been pictured by many before me.

"Point Sal, State Park", Santa Maria, CA

"Point Sal State Park, Santa Maria"
12 x 24 inches
oil on canvas
$900

Probably not gonna do another painting from this spot for a while. Its a 6 mile hike in with lots of elevation. I was sore for a few days afterwards...

This painting is also on display with the Oak Group at the Faulkner Gallery in the Santa Barbara Public Library. The reception is May 8th from 5:30 - 7:30.

"Butterfly Beach Day, March 1st", Montecito

"Butterfly Beach Day, March 1st"
15 x 30 inches
oil on canvas
$800

I just had to do another one of these. Probably the nicest day of the year, I finished this yesterday. A nice warm breeze and elated Santa Barbarians made this an easy one.

"Presidio Rain then Sun", Presidio State Historic Park, Santa Barbara

"Presidio Rain then Sun"

8 x 24 inches

oil on canvas framed

$800

For sale at the Faulkner Gallery in the Santa Barbara Public Library. On display through April 1st with many other paintings of State Parks by Oak Group Artists and friends. There will be a reception Friday, March 8th from 5:30 -7:30. Please come and see how my works look next to these Santa Barbara legends.

"Goleta Beach West", Goleta, CA

"Goleta Beach West"
5 x 7 inches
oil on panel
$90

This is where we would come for family beach days. Thats Campus Point in the background.

"All Day at Butterfly Beach", Montecito

"All Day at Butterfly Beach"
30 x 40 inches
oil on canvas
$1800

I spent all day last Friday at Butterfly Beach in Montecito. We had summer like conditions and everyone came out to play in the afternoon as you can see in the painting...

"State Street Gold", 1333 State Street, Santa Barbara

"State Street Gold"
8 x 8 inches
oil on panel
$180

I made this in the morning looking down State Street toward the Granada Theater on the left. Thats the Arlington Theater on the right. It was fun to be in a different palette of colors.

"Emma Wood February", Emma Wood State Park, Ventura

"Emma Wood February"

18 x 36 inches

oil on canvas

$1400

Not sure if you can tell but I have been taking more time with the design of my paintings. Instead of jumping in and painting the most obvious view, I have been searching for the most interesting combination of shapes and colors. For this one, I wanted that ocean to be the largest area in the composition and I adjusted real world objects around that idea.

"Coral Casino Sunset", Butterfly Beach, Montecito

"Coral Casino Sunset"
5 x 7 inches
oil on panel
sold

The waves where nice on this cool winter evening. That's the Coral Casino on the left and Rincon Mountain in the background.

"Butterfly Encore", Butterfly Beach, Montecito

"Butterfly Encore"
15 x 30 inches
oil on canvas
sold

I made this as a follow up to the painting I made last week at the same spot. I ended up selling the first one to a nice local that evening and not getting a great photo(see below). I was asked to do another so I didn't waist any time. This one now has a good home too.

Different days, different moods, yield different results.

"Farmer's Market Evening", State and Cota, Downtown Santa Barbara

"Farmer's Market Evening"
12 x 12 inches
oil on panel
$280

I came downtown to paint Joe's and it turned out it was the Tuesday Farmer's Market. It was fun to be one of the street performers until someone thought I was homeless and asked if I needed a place to stay. I said I need $300 for this painting so my family could eat tonight and pay our cell phone bill. He didn't buy it...

"Douglas Preserve Cypress", Santa Barbara

"Douglas Preserve Cypress"
18 x 18 inches
oil on canvas
sold

One of the greatest playgrounds on earth, the Douglas Preserve. You can walk, run, bike through an amazing set of trails with your dog off leash. All with these ridiculous views of Arroyo Burro. See you there soon!

"Shoreline Sunset", Shoreline Park, Santa Barbara

"Shoreline Sunset"
5 x 7 inches
oil on panel
sold

I made this waiting for the full moon to rise. That is the breakwater and Sandspit in front, with the masts of the sailboats catching the last of this winter sunset.

"Santa Barbara Layers", SBCC Hill, Santa Barbara

"Santa Barbar Layers"
9x12 inches
oil on panel
SOLD

This is a view from the edge of SBCC's campus. I never would have guessed you would be able to see the Courthouse, Granada, Arlington, The Mission, and St Anthony's all in one view. Look closely...