Leo Carrillo Beach, Malibu

This painting was created plein air during a California Art Club paint-out. It was my first time at Leo Carrillo Beach, and that is exactly why I love paint-outs so much — each time they open a new, previously unknown piece of beauty for me.
I paint these places with love, through first impressions — clean, honest, and open, like a child seeing the world for the first time.

It was a summer morning, but cool and foggy, with a light rain drifting through the air. I remember joking, “Ah yes, California summer.”
But this weather worked in my favor. I deeply love silvery tones and subtle, restrained color harmonies. The cool ocean air wrapped around me like a silk blanket, and the fine rain slowly turned into mist, creating a soft, breathing presence on the canvas. In that moment, I felt with my whole body just how many faces California can have.

This painting is featured in my 2026 calendar, which brings together landscapes of Southern California — an invitation to notice the quiet beauty of half-tones all around us.

The painting is 12 × 16 inches — not large, not tiny — a format that easily finds its place within an existing collection. I often imagine it as part of a coastal series, where different locations and emotional states are gathered together. At the same time, it works beautifully as a standalone piece, especially in interiors with lower ceilings.
It can also be a thoughtful gift — or a gentle companion for those who move often and want to carry a sense of place with them.

For me, this painting is a breath of fresh air of Southern California.