Signs of the Time. 2023.

Radiant concentrated watercolor and ink on paper.

12”x9” framed.

As much of this coastal town becomes hastily gentrified, I appreciate the aesthetic notes that remind us of a past era. While most of the businesses depicted are still in operation, it seems that they will likely be forced to move or close in the next 5-10 years to make way for obscene condo developments.

Over several days, I sat in different spots along the Coast Hwy. sidewalk in South O to make visual record of these signs. As I studied them in their present form, I thought about the past and wondered what came even before these businesses. At some point there was nothing here but the things that grew naturally. I also wondered what this block will look like in the future. And in the future beyond that future - will those new buildings eventually become retro, and their signage offer a nostalgic feeling of an era gone by?

I work as a color chemist for a liquid color supplier. A couple days every week, I go into their lab and make paint, implementing formulas that have been around since 1934. Along with the pigments, dyes, dispersants and preservatives, I pour my intentional energy and love into these colors. Then I get to take some paint home and set it free onto my own canvas. It’s like being a farmer AND a chef, cultivating your own food, then cooking it into a delectable meal to share.