Central Coast Impressions

Arts and Images Revealing California's Central Coast

Sea Creatures

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seacreaturersAt Open Studio Art Tour in Santa Cruz my family recently had the opportunity to watch Heather Richman create fused glass at her hilltop studio.  This blog is about the inspiration of the Central Coast, and the wild thing above could certainly be one of our imaginary friends.  According to Heather;  “My creations are inspired by the colors, shapes and themes of nature – from the Monterey Bay area, from my travels, and from my imagination.”   Heather will be participating in this weekend’s Santa Cruz Sea Glass and Ocean Art Festival right on the Santa Cruz Boardwalk; so start making plans because it’s going to be a beautiful weekend to hang out on the boardwalk!

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Coastal Salt Marsh

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Coastal Salt Marsh, Lynn BHere is an example of the kind of treat you can find when you venture off the freeway.   Local oil and pastel artist Lynn Byrne Simon recalls: “I was driving to Santa Barbara on the 101 from Camarillo, where I live, and I noticed this beautiful scene outside of Carpenteria.  I got off at the next exit and wound my way around the surface streets until I came upon the salt marsh.”   “It was really beautiful and worthy of painting.  I have traveled that part of the 101 hundreds of times and never noticed this area before.  I think since the leaves are off the trees it gave me a rare glimpse as I sped past.  I’m happy that I stopped.”  See more of Lynn’s impressions of our Central Coast at OVA Arts Gallery in Ojai.

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Where’s CC? #5

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Where’s CC? #4

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Johnson Ranch Trail

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Jayne ScheldenOpen Studio Art Tours taking place this month in several areas of the Central Coast, is the ultimate road trip!  After visiting artists in Cambria (and some AMAZING scarecrows) last weekend, I plan to visit the San Luis Obispo area this weekend.  On my list is the studio of Jayne Schelden (#141) in Shell Beach.  Her oil painting, Canyon Shadows, Johnson Ranch Trail caught my eye because the 242 acres of Open Space on the Johnson Ranch, right off HWY 101 south of San Luis Obispo, is one of our favorite hiking destinations.  And as you can see by Jayne’s painting, our hills and canyons are still beautiful even after a long summer.  Take a ride to the Central Coast this weekend and say hello to our painters, jewelers, potters, glass designers and other unique artisans participating in the Arts Obispo Open Studios Art Tour.  You know in December you’ll want to have something “just right” to put under the Christmas tree.

Where’s CC? #3

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CC3

Moon Vines

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Moon Vines, Nancy HorowickThe Ojai Valley resides about 15 miles northeast of Ventura; and was originally named by the Native American Chumash, “Awha’y” meaning “moon”.  The city of Ojai may be small, but it has plenty of personality to make up for its size.  The focus of the community is driven by an appreciation for the natural beauty of the environment, arts, health and spirituality.  Chain business, by design, are largely extinct here in favor of small local businesses.  This unique community has two big events coming up which feature the arts.  In October don’t miss the Ojai Studio Artists Tour; and in November the Ojai Art Festival runs in conjunction with the Ojai Film Festival.   Could you say that Nancy Horwick’s oil painting, Moon Vines embodies heath, environment, spirituality and love of nature?  While you are getting your fill of fresh air and culture, don’t forget to stop by OVA Gallery to see more works from Nancy and her fellow local artisans.

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River Rush

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River RushThe city of Cambria, half way between Los Angeles and San Francisco, is perhaps the southernmost area on the California map where the evergreen pine trees line the beaches.  As one of the “Wednesday Irregulars”, Shannon McNamara enjoys capturing our local environment while experiencing it in the fresh air.   Shannon says; “Painting plein air, in the open air surrounded by nature, is the most exciting time for me – to focus on the various elements and challenges of bringing them to the canvas.  My body of work reflects time spent in many beautiful locations here on the Central Coast as well as many other places in the United States and Europe.”   See more of Shannon’s work at the Cambria Center for the Arts Fall Show beginning September 4th; and in the current Spirit Animals exhibit at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art through September 28th.

http://cambriacenterforthearts.org/

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Under the Pier

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Under the Pier Cayucos PostThe Cayucos pier was originally built in 1872 by Captain James Cass, who was also the founder of Cayucos.  Soon after it was built, steamships from Los Angeles and San Francisco began docking several times a week.  According to the Help Save the Cayucos Pier website:  “The steamers carried passengers, took butter, milk, and other farm and ranch products to market and unloaded lumber and various goods. A steamer might load as much as 8-10 tons of butter and 90 passengers from the pier.  All of that activity meant that as many as 120 teams of horses were tied to 700 feet of Cayucos hitching posts on Butter Day, the day before departure.”   The Cayucos pier is scheduled to be re-built beginning in October. I remember my father-in-law used to love to fish from the pier; he really didn’t care whether he caught anything or not.  He just enjoyed the view and fresh air.  Help Save the Cayucos Pier website says it best:  “For residents and visitors alike, the pier has become a place to walk and lose oneself in grand views of the sea running to the horizon, spectacular sunsets, uninterrupted coastline, surfers dropping into wind-swept waves and Cayucos nestled between the Pacific and coastal hills. For many of us it is a vehicle that takes us back to younger days: time spent with parents, grandparents and cousins, adventures in growing up, memories of weddings, July 4th fireworks and Thanksgiving day walks.”  The photo above is provided by Central Coast photographer Dave Coronel, who celebrates our area with a camera and a good pair of walking shoes.  See Dave at Art in the Park this Labor Day weekend in Morro Bay, and visit his website (link below) for more beautiful photos of the Central Coast.

http://davecoronelphotography.com/

http://www.artcentermorrobay.com/art-in-the-park/

http://www.savecayucospier.org/index.htm

http://galleryatthenetwork.com/

Where is CC?

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CC1(#1)  Where in the Central Coast is CC the opossum?