From Coast to Canvas: How Living on the West Coast Shaped My Art

Art has always been my compass, but sometimes, the landscapes we walk through shift the direction of our creative journey. For me, the three years I spent living along the sun-drenched coastline of Southern California were transformative, not just as an artist, but as a person. From Santa Monica to Venice Beach and Malibu, California's light, color, and culture found their way onto my canvas and into my soul.

A Living Gallery: SoCal’s Creative Pulse

Living in the heart of Santa Monica, Malibu, and Venice Beach, I was immersed in a blend of natural beauty and artistic expression. I spent days soaking up the rich culture of the Getty and LACMA, while weekends often led me into intimate, indie galleries that dotted the beachside streets. These spaces weren’t just for observing—they were alive with possibility, challenging me to reimagine what my art could be.

Boldness, Layers, and Surrealist Play

California’s creative energy encouraged me to push boundaries. I became bolder with my subject matter, embracing surrealist influences and experimenting more freely with layered compositions. My work began to take on a more impressionistic and dreamlike tone, influenced by the shimmering coastal light and the movement of ocean waves. I wasn't just painting landscapes; I was interpreting them emotionally, infusing my work with waves of color and unexpected textures.

Restraint Before the Rebirth

Ironically, while surrounded by so much energy and opportunity, I found myself working on a smaller scale, producing more intimate, focused pieces. It wasn’t until I was preparing to move back to Michigan that my work took a dramatic turn. The creative tension I’d built up in California released into a new level of vibrancy and originality, allowing me to refine my voice with sharper clarity and deeper emotional resonance. Much of that experimental time I was livestreaming the creation of these pieces.

Inspiration in the Creative Ecosystem

Living on the West Coast meant daily encounters with people in the film industry, music scene, and performing arts. These weren’t distant figures, they were friends, neighbors, and peers. Conversations were filled with passion and storytelling. Being an early "influencer" leant to these unique experiences which shaped my outlook and approaches. Being part of this tight-knit, expressive community inspired me to lean deeper into my own voice. My art became less about convention and more about personal narrative and visual poetry.

California Beaches: A Series Born of Light

One of the most defining bodies of work from this chapter was my California Beaches series—a collection of coastal landscapes that captured the movement, serenity, and brilliance of the Pacific shoreline. These paintings are layered with textured blues, golden sand hues, and the soft glow of sunrises and sunsets. Each piece carries the essence of a moment spent beside the sea, where light meets land in a whisper of color.

Looking Back, Moving Forward

The West Coast gave me more than inspiration, it gave me the space to evolve. I stepped away from safe patterns and stepped into bolder, richer territory. It wasn’t always easy. At times, it meant questioning my direction or navigating unfamiliar social spaces. But every moment there added a new layer to who I am as an artist.

Now that I’ve since returned to Michigan, I carry that Californian glow with me, infusing my current work with a balance of grounded roots and coastal dreams. My art has become a fusion of two worlds: one of deep forests and fresh water, and the other of salt air and sun-drenched cliffs.

And that, I believe, is the truest form of creative evolution: taking all the places you’ve been and turning them into something new.