Ocean-Inspired Art for Laguna Beach Visitors
Artists at Sawdust Art Festival Share Love of Ocean with Visitors
Jul 14, 2008
The Sawdust Art Festival began more than four decades ago in Laguna Beach, California as an alternative to the more structured, juried art festivals. Today, the Festival’s independent roots are clearly evident in the unique experience that is Sawdust. Unlike other arts festivals, Sawdust is home to Laguna Beach artists who exhibit a wide range of their own work in an idyllic eucalyptus grove within walking distance of the ocean. Live music, flowing waterfalls, good food and drinks, and, of course, a diverse array of art makes an afternoon or evening at Sawdust an experience you will not soon forget.
For some Sawdust artists, like Paul Delaney, Kelly Headrick, Donita Lloyd, Pamela Otto, Jan Sattler, and others, it is the nearby ocean that provides the inspiration for some or all of their work. This article provides an overview of a few of the ocean-inspired artists exhibiting at the 2008 Sawdust Arts Festival.
Jan Sattler – Ceramic Sculpture & Painting
Jan is a professional artist who grew up in Laguna Beach and who cares deeply about the town’s “bluebelt.” A vocal advocate for California's coastline, it is easy to see how the biodiversity observed in local tidepools inspires her ceramic sculptures, which include many familiar marine animals like starfish and anemones. Jan’s husband, Fred, founded the Laguna Ocean Foundation, and he can often be found at Jan’s booth too.
Paul Delaney – Oil Painting
Paul Delaney, originally from New York City, spent the summers of his youth vacationing with relatives in France, where he was inspired by Corsica’s Mediterranean cliffs to begin painting seascapes. Paul “struck by the awesome beauty of the Californian landscape,” has now moved to Laguna where he is a member of the Laguna Plein Aire Painters Association. “There is not a single day that goes by,” he says, “that I am not moved by the splendor of California and through every painting I want the viewer to share that feeling with me.”
Kelly Headrick – Beach and Wave Art
Kelly says, “I have always been captivated by the ocean and the beauty of its landscapes.” Having grown up in Hawaii, she is no stranger to waves, oil paintings of which dominate her Sawdust booth. “While I have painted many subjects, I am continually compelled to come back to painting one of my greatest teachers—the water.” Kelly has lived in Laguna Beach for 15 years, where she is an avid body surfer. “I believe my work captures much of the mystery, power and depth that the ocean holds,” she says.
Pamela Otto – Palette Knife Oils
Pamela works with a palette knife and bright colors, making the seascapes that dominate her Sawdust Booth quite distinct. Having lived in Laguna Beach for a quarter of a century, her booth at Sawdust is dominated by several large canvases of readily recognizable locales. “Because of my love of nature and the outdoors,” she says, “I prefer to work on site as well as from photographs. This, coupled with my impressionistic style, allows me to convey the energy and feeling of the places I live and love to visit.”
Nita discovered her love of art when she was six and growing up in a suburb of Chicago. Inspired by her father, an artist, she says she finds “a certain peace and serenity in creating paintings that reflect the beauty in nature that still surrounds us.” While she also frequently paints cottages and ocean canyon scenes, it is her seascapes (especially winter ones) which clearly embody her love of the ocean.
Sawdust is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. from 27 June to 31 August. The address is 935 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach, which is within easy walking distance of the village's many restaurants, bars, galleries, and shops.
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