A Window of Light

Plein air artwork the coast at El Capitan State Park on the Gaviota coast of Santa Barbara, California

I was supposed to drive a lot further up the coast on this day back in 2019. I didn’t get past this point though. After a few hours in the water, laughing as a handful of us rode these hypnotic little waves spinning down the point, I knew I was going to paint here as well. Made a whole day of it. ⠀

Passing showers were visible on and off in all directions as the sun took its turn occasionally sneaking between the clouds and showering the earth with light. ⠀

Every once in awhile a window of light would fall in such a way that made everything seem timeless- as though the surfers and the park rangers and the tourists and the railroad barons, and the cattle ranchers, and the Spaniards, and the Chumash who lived in a small village right here were all seated silently, just out of sight from one another admiring the same beautiful scene.


Artwork Information:


Artwork Title: "A Window of Light"
Original Size: 20" x 16"
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Year Painted: 2019

Additional Artwork Information:


Method: Plein Air
Date Painted: 05/22/2019
Region: The California Coast > Santa Barbara > Southern California
Road Trip: Maycember 2019

Artwork Logistics:


Parking Logistics: Paid Park Entrance Required
Miles Hiked: 1-2 Miles
Botanical Hazards: Some Poison Oak Observed
Biological Hazards: Food/Drink Delivered and Consumed While Painting
Anthropological Hazards: Surfers Are The Worst, Crowds with Lots of Questions
Weather Logistics: Threatening to Rain


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