April Artist of the Month Caryn Owen HouseOfBoysArt

How does your background in Marine Biology inform your work (outside of its content)? In my mind many aspects of the biological sciences are concerned with minutiae- is there a reason you turn to abstraction in your artistic practice?

I think my background in marine biology serves as a major source of pure inspiration for my subject matter. As a marine biologist, I was a field scientist studying dolphins and I spent years out on a boat. My eyeline in all of my paintings is almost from a boat, looking ashore. I definitely think it inspired my field of view.

Your paintings evidence a deep love and reverence for the California coast. Since you are based in Santa Cruz, is there a particular area locally that you find yourself turning to for inspiration?

I love ending the day at 4 Mile Beach up the coast and I think many of my seascape pieces are inspired by that beach.

As a self described colorist, what is your process from identifying a paintable landscape to translating the scene to canvas? Do you primarily work from memory, imagination, photograph, or en plein air? 

I always begin with a color palette and intention. I don't use one specific location in mind, but rather just features from memory of mostly the California coast. My process is very intuitive and not literal at all. When I am creating a seascape, I usually think of coastal bluffs overlooking the Pacific but not in one particular form.

What is your favorite piece on display at Stripe this month? Why?

I am very excited about the pieces at Stripe because they showcase my newer muted series of paintings. While I love bright colors, I just felt the need to shift to more subdued color palette. My favorite piece is "Tidepools" because it was one of the first in the series.