Memory and Horizon: Painting Avila Beach

Avila Beach is located on the Central Coast of California in San Luis Obispo County

In the fall of 2020, life was defined by screens. Working from home as the Director of Advancement at Helios School - overseeing admissions, development, and communications - my days were spent perpetually tethered to Zoom windows and phone calls. Like almost everyone, I deeply missed being out in the physical world.

While I devised many ways to manage the isolation of that time, travel was an entirely different hurdle. When physical journeys were out of reach, I found myself traveling backward through old photo albums, revisiting places I loved entirely in my mind. That deep yearning for horizons beyond our four walls eventually gave birth to the West of Ordinary series, a collection of mixed-media pieces celebrating the West Coast.

Avila, which depicts the sunlit expanse of Avila Beach, was born out of this longing. The painting is built using a multi-layered technique combining acrylic and wax, capturing the texture and warmth of a place frozen in memory. The reference photo behind the work holds its own special history: it was taken during a treasured weekend getaway with two girlfriends who were also my colleagues at the time. Working the acrylic and wax allowed me to recreate that sunlit coastline in the studio, bringing a cherished memory of friendship and open air right back to my workspace.

Artwork Specifications

• Series: West of Ordinary

• Title: Avila

• Completed: Fall of 2020

• Dimensions: 10 inches X 20 inches

• Foundation: Wood panel

• Media: Acrylic and wax