Tag: California

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Stunning Resin Art Inspired by the Pacific

Ocean wave casted in clear resin with quartz rocks and a white and brown Mexican sea shell poking out

This beautifully colored hard resin sculpture captures the energy and excitement of the Pacific Ocean. I lived in Oregon for a while and visit the ocean when I can. Watching the waves crash on the rocks is something that draws me in and holds me captive. This spectacular wave reminds me of just that feeling. Also available: green with a big dark grey rock and clear with a beautiful sea shell and quartz rocks.

Ocean wave casted in clear resin with quartz rocks and a white and brown Mexican sea shell poking out
copper tube frame around square assembly of nine 4" x 4" transparent aqua resin tiles. The tiles look like water and the shiny warm copper colored frame contrasts with the cool aqua.
This splashing ocean wave Measures 11" tall by 10" wide and 2" thick resin wave slab. exciting reminder of the ocean.
transparent resin painting in blue, green, black, and yellow with light blue mica powder.

I’ve always been interested in topography and landscapes. Something curious about a scene is that its look can change according to the wildflowers growing on it. That is where abstract landscape art is born. I can visualize land with changes due to light, vegetation, snow, water. I painted this scene in resin after reading about bioluminescence. Plankton of a certain species will glow in the dark. The water is filled with the plankton and so the entire scene is changed. For further reading, here is an interesting article https://www.kqed.org/science/1983841/where-to-see-bioluminescence-bay-area-kayak-tours

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3D Mountain Art: Landscapes Embodied in Plaster and Watercolor

plaster casting of topographic model

Fresco is an old technique where the pigment is embedded in wet plaster while painting a mural. I have adapted the technique to a more modern application. I use plaster on a foam casting to build natural looking topography for mountains and coastal samples of land as seen from above. The plaster takes the watercolor very well and it becomes a permanent part of the finished painting / sculpture.

The interesting part of a topographic sculpture is that it casts shadow on the painting just as the sun casts shadow on the land. These shadows are incredibly interesting and change as the light moves. It is easy to visualize just how the land looks because of the 3D shape and the lighting on one side and shadow on the other side of mountains and hills. There are even shadows cast from waves as the sea rolls onto the beach!

My background in surveying and civil engineering has given me a passion for seeing land from a terrestrial or aerial perspective. I find that I can experiment with watercolor to capture a genuine look by layering of similar or different colors. The transparency of watercolor looks so vibrant with a background of white paper. Why not do the same with white plaster?

Some of the pieces get heavier than intended, which is why I use a foam core. With proper hanging and framing the piece can be displayed on a wall or set vertically on the floor against the wall. Having the light incorporated into the art is a “sick” idea according to my son.

The lights I use are strong but warm LED lights that have a motion sensor so the light comes on when someone is near the artwork. The light has a USB charged battery in the attractive design. The lights are included with the sale of the painting.

mountainous terrain in three dimensions
mountainous terrain in three dimensions built from plaster and watercolor
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Jalama Beach at Sunset

3D sculpture of land at Jalama Beach, California painted in watercolor,

This amazing piece illustrates the coastland at #Jalama Beach in California.  The motion sensor LED light is placed to the west of the coastland and casts shadows like the sun.  The land is sandy #beaches and rocky #cliffs and rugged hills sporting a colorful red and green Christmas coat. My 3D painting of Jalama land is original, unique and ready for a new home. 

3D sculpture of land at Jalama Beach, California painted in watercolor, equipped with motion sensor light on the left side pretending to be the setting sun.
Jalama Beach at Sunset, 36″ x 36″ x 6″ framed shadowbox
intensely lighted plaster relief model of Jalama Beach in as it appeared to the artist during Winter
30″ x 30″ plaster relief model of Jalama Beach in Southern California. The winter landscape covered in autumn colored ice plant contrasts with the white sand beach and blue ocean washing ashore. Strong topography shows cliffs and rolling land as it appeared to the artist during days of study.
Jalama Beach is in California south of Vandenberg AFB. There are miles and miles of empty land. The video shows light from the left side of the model (west) at a low angle casting shadows on the opposite side of hills, waves, rocks. The model is colored like the land, a green and red scrub from the winter ice plant turning orange. The model was created using topography from Google Earth.

Photos

Here are some terrain photos so you can compare and judge how well I modeled the relatively untouched land I walked on and photographed.

orange ice plant on land above the ocean shore with headland in the distance below a cloudy sky.
An S shaped coast of cliffs and shore and waves in foreground with dark blue headlands in distance
Orange basin of ice plant with ocean and mountains in the distance.
Flat sandy beach with cliffs rising up on one side and ocean stretching out on other side.
perfect lighting condition of yellow clouds, grey fog, dark brown cliffs and wet surf.
Changing weather with sun and shade, fog and dry, hills and flat shore.
A black stork like bird flying above rugged waves of solid turquoise in foreground and grey stillness in background.
Slices of rock leaning on each other like crackers but they are green moss covered at edge of ocean.
Ruins of an old house in the lonely ice plant sand with fog in background.
Point Concepcion, CA Lighthouse