Beneath the Cypress

There was something especially magical about this time of year along 17-Mile Drive. Beneath the iconic Cypress trees, the rocky coastline was hugged by a blanket of magenta ice plants, their brilliant color creating the most unexpected contrast against the rugged shoreline. I was captivated by the way the light filtered through the trees, catching glimpses of the Pacific beyond, just as the waves crashed against the rocks below.

It was one of those moments when all the elements seem to come together — the vibrant magenta blooms, the shifting coastal light, the sculptural Cypress trees, and the endless blue of the Pacific. I wanted to hold onto that feeling and translate it onto canvas. An 18 × 24 study of a fleeting California coastal moment that quite literally took my breath away.