Central Coast Impressions

Arts and Images Revealing California's Central Coast

12/18/2014
by skleedom 1 Comment

From A Sandbar

The tide is out, you take a break from shopping and walk across the hard-packed wet sand. Reaching the sandbar, you turn around to take in the view of Santa Barbara. The air is cool, salty and abundant. Artist Susan Belloni carried a large canvas to the sandbar and set to work painting this image on a less than sunny day. She recalls: “As an artist you sometimes think you don’t want to paint outside on a cloudy day but the grays can be just gorgeous so I try to remember that.” Originally from Canada, Susan says her favorite art scenery comes from Gaviota, Hollister Ranch, Santa Cruz Island, Santa Ynez vinyards and ranches, Montecito and Devereux Slough. Susan is a member of the Artists Guild, Santa Ynez Valley which exhibits at the Gallery Los Olivos; and one of the founders of SCAPE (Southern California Artists Painting for the Environment). Take a moment and breath it in!

Ragged Point

12/10/2014 by skleedom Leave a comment

16 miles north of Hearst Castle on Hwy 1 is Ragged Point. If you are traveling north to Monterey; the inn, restaurant and services there could be your last taste of civilization for many rollicking miles. Artist and Michigan native Ken Christensen, who is currently exhibiting “The Central Coast in Living Color” at Studios on the Park in Paso Robles, describes his visits to Ragged Point: “I love Big Sur and go there often not so much to paint as just for the pure stimulation of the awe-inspiring natural beauty. I always head up to Big Sur from the south so when I arrive at Ragged Point I always stop for a cup of coffee. It’s the beginning of Big Sur and coincidentally Rocky Point seems to be the perfect bookend at the northern edge of Big Sur.” I think the breath and movement of our Pacific Coast come to life through these bold colors! Did you catch a whiff of that chilly sea breeze off the cliffs?

Bottom Feeders

12/09/2014 by skleedom 1 Comment

These Central Coast characters are from the pottery workshop of Los Osos artisan, Richard Rowe. A graduate from Cal State Fullerton, Richard explains: “My goal is to produce reasonably priced functional pottery with an aesthetic content. I use life influences for the contents of my work. Subject matter depends on what I find interesting. Landscapes, fish, oak trees, politicians masquerading as sea creatures and even the Fullerton City Council have seen my interpretations.” Bottom feeders and other more traditional pottery items of Richard’s craft are for sale at Gallery at the Network in San Luis Obispo. As it happens, bottom feeders like to lurk under Christmas trees too!