venice, california paintings
Detail of Venice Boardwalk Parade View painting »
I live in Venice, California. The light here is interesting: sometimes it is hazy, diffuse, and layered. Other times, when the wind blows strong off the ocean there’s a clean, Moroccan light. Crisp edges. Far away mountains seem closer.
Venice is filled with an eclectic mix of surfers, artists, film people, visitors and old timers. The center of gravity of Venice is the boardwalk, where on a warm day, you can find roller skaters, fortune tellers, henna and incense sellers, and pretty much anything else. Besides the boardwalk, you will find a neighborhood filled with canals; gorgeous cottages; nouveau modernist architecture; and a couple of miles of urban beaches where you can still carve out your own little corner of Los Angeles paradise.
Venice was originally known as "Venice of America." It was founded by Abbot Kinney in the early 1900's on unincorporated land South of Santa Monica. Abbot Kinney's aim was to create a resort destination and year-round town. He drained the marshes adjacent to Ballona Creek and created miles of canals, remnants of which still exist today. He built a 1,200 foot long pier and a hot salt water plunge (i.e. pool), as well as a downtown area with architecture that copied that which you would find in the Old World Venice.
Later in the century, Venice endured change over and over. For a time there was a small oil boom which saw an infusion of wealth and a proliferation of oil rigs. The city of Los Angeles annexed Venice in the mid-1920's, and filled and paved many of the canals. Movie stars moved in, then out. By the 1950's, Venice was essentially a slum, where one could find cheap rent, cheap cafes, and a place to park with Beat Poets and other "undesirables."
These paintings are an homage to Venice. From everyday things like a view across rooftops, to the touristy-yet-hip boardwalk scene, to the omnipresent surfers and beachgoers who are addicted to this combination of sun, sand and West Coast culture.
All of the paintings in this series are available for purchase as prints.
