Beneath Pacific Skies

Sometimes, life can get rough. From health problems, financial concerns, interpersonal drama, to unexplainable bouts of the blues, no one, myself included, is immune to having a bad day from time to time. With that being said, one great way of shifting one’s attention from the inescapable pitfalls of the human condition is to practice the art of being grateful. One of the things that I’m confronted with on a day to day basis is the experience of chronic pain. When my back, neck, and leg pain gets really nasty, however, I’ve got an ace in the hole, a simple act that reliably takes me from a state of suffering into one of thanksgiving—taking a quick stroll down to the cliffs and gazing at the beautiful Pacific Ocean.

I know I’m not the only one who counts themselves blessed to have this renewable source of joy at their fingertips. My girlfriend, Anastasiya Bachmonova, is, apart from being a kind and beautiful soul, an extremely talented artist, one who’s made a name for herself by expressing her own appreciation for the sea through her remarkable paintings. Over the past year, she’s accomplished an impressive feat, compiling a collection of nineteen original acrylic paintings of Central Coast seascapes, based on her own photographs. They masterfully encompass the various moods, textures, and faces present at a number of oceanic vistas that many readers will be undoubtedly familiar with—from Davenport to Big Sur, and everywhere in between.

Last Friday, I was happy to join Ana at the unveiling of this latest body of work at the Pacific Grove Art Center in Pacific Grove. Entitled, “Beneath Pacific Skies”, the exhibit drew dozens of art aficionados, who enjoyed tasty wine and appetizers at the intimate setting, which was also celebrating it’s 56th anniversary. She sees this exhibit as, “the culmination of many years striving to perfect the ever-changing, and ever-inspiring essence of my adopted seaside home.”

In this article, I asked Ana to provide some additional context and insight into five of my own personal favorites from the show, which will be up and running through August 28th.

“Garden View

This piece was inspired by a favorite little window in my neighborhood. Down at the end of Rockview Drive is a viewpoint out to the Pleasure Point surf breaks and bay beyond. I often head here to begin my surf checks. There is a private residence right on the cliff with this enchanting garden of potted succulents. My mind drifts away and I imagine myself waking up to this view, coffee in hand as the sun warms me up, and perfect little waves send a playful invitation.

“Lover’s Point”

This collection of paintings was born from photos I have taken over the years, during various moments enjoying this stretch of coastline. Some ideas I hang on to for years before I paint them, but this one was a spontaneous inspiration. As it turns out, just this past winter I was on a mini-adventure to Pacific Grove to visit the Art Center and my soon-to-be-inhabited gallery space. With my daughter & Neal, we trekked down to Lover’s Point to take in the view and climb on the rocks. I liked the composition of the prominent rock formations sheltering a crystal clear pool, as a wave washes through a space between. My paintings often have a little adventure or memory attached to them, I love being transported back through the process. Every viewer might have their own memories that are stirred up by these paintings, and I find it so special to hear the stories that connect my audience to my art.

“China Cove”

Speaking of memories, this painting of China Cove in Point Lobos was inspired by an adventure with my mom, who lives on the East Coast and doesn’t make it over here very often. I loved having the opportunity to share the beauty of this coastline with her. China Cove is one of those iconic views that is often painted, for obvious reasons. The color of the water is so strikingly vibrant and the elements of rock, water, and foliage dance together harmoniously. This painting challenged me with its various elements, and I was able to explore new techniques and tricks through my layered painting approach. I’m most proud of the water, finally getting close to capturing kelp fronds underwater, finding the perfect color blend for the hue of the water, and adding light reflections to create texture, too!

“Poppy Bluffs”

This painting was pure fun to create! I took a view of 3-mile beach in Wilder Ranch State Park on one of those delightful sunny days, and embellished it with a foreground of bright California Poppies. I was already in a good flow of consistently painting, so the background seascape went by pretty smoothly. Poppies are always a challenge to paint, one of those subjects that I capture a bit more effectively each time I take it on, and these are my favorite yet! They took many layers of blending oranges, reds, and yellows, going back in and defining petal shapes, until they were just right.

“Summer”

I am truly a child of summer, always relishing the long days and warm weather, and this piece encapsulates my ideal day: sun shining, warm sand underfoot, gentle waves beckoning a frolic. Simple, joyous. If I could, I would spend hours in this painting everyday, surfing the fun-sized waves and sunbathing. It is a simple piece, and the last one I created in the series. Sometimes I feel a pressure to create complex compositions, full of detail and elements. It felt bold to create a few paintings that were filled with so much sky, as if taking an easy way out painting half of my canvas blue. (It was actually not easy to paint a smooth gradient on this scale with acrylic paint, I was surprised to learn!) But, I also love the simplicity of some scenes where water meets sky, and think they tend to have a tranquil and grounding mood. Life is all about the simple moments, after all.

Be sure to check out “Beneath Pacific Skies” at the Pacific Grove Art Center through August 28th. Address: 568 Lighthouse Ave, Pacific Grove, CA 93950

Buy Ana’s prints, apparel, greeting cards and more on her website www.followthesunart.com

Follow her on Instagram @followthesunart