Gaviota Coast, North of Santa Barbara

"Gaviota Coast Morning"
6 x 12 inches
oil on canvas
sold

"Gaviota Coast Midday"
12 x 16 inches
oil on linen
sold

After working in an office for the last 12 years, having a day working on paintings in this paradise was truly amazing. I was on the road by 6:30 am, coffee, drive to El Capitan -they don't open the parking till 8 am, plus its 10 bucks or something like that now. Used their facilities still couldn't wait for gate, kept going up the 101, turned around at Gaviota and found a deserted beach just past some private property. Probably that guys property who lives down the beach. It was pretty windy but sunny and clear and beautiful. I stretched, did some sprints down the beach, and then made the little one in the morning. I took a break, jumped in the ocean, laid down in the sun for 1/2 hour, ate lunch, ran down the beach again and explored the sea wall and cliffs. I relaxed a little more and waited for the sun to move past midday and began the next piece. It got much more windy and when I was taking a short break my easel fly into the air and down the beach. Everything went flying, but amazingly the painted stayed in the easel and emerged unscathed! I finished the piece holding on for dear life as the wind really got annoying. Both pieces look much more beautiful in real life!