Description

South Bound, Gasteria and Velvet Hills, CA
12×16 oil on canvas

Last summer I was spending some time on the central coast of California and decided to visit my succulent-loving Instagram friend Deana. I was without a car, so for the first time in my life, I boarded an Amtrak line called the Surfliner, from Guadalupe to Carpinteria. What a wonderful way to travel and see the coastline. I sat comfortably gazing quietly out the window as the rolling velvet hills of Guadalupe transitioned to the dramatic surf of Lompoc, Goleta, and finally to my destination, Carpenteria, where my friend met me with her sweet puppy. We spent the day exploring Santa Barbara, the Botanical Garden, and of course, her beautiful succulent and cactus garden. Lucky for me, her Gasteria, an aloe like plant, was blooming. Its vibrant colors epitomizing the sunny disposition of the California and its residents. Deana explained to me, that after a year of fire, mud slides and gloomy weather, the sun was finally shining, the community was so grateful. For this painting, I combined the elements of the day that were captivating to me, all glowing under a blue sky.
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from the Chasing Blue Series