When Memories Become Art: A Laguna Beach Painting
Some commissions feel like magic from the very first conversation. ✨
When Kelsey first reached out, she wanted to surprise her mom, Betty, with a custom painting for her home. During our Zoom consultation, she shared something that warmed my heart: her parents used to collect custom art from festivals, and she wanted this gift to capture that same joy. She told me about their years living on Laguna Beach — in a white, glass-fronted house perched on the cliffs, overlooking the ocean — the house where both she and her brother were born.
Right away, I knew this piece had to feel like coming home.
Designing the Laguna Beach Painting
As Kelsey described her mom’s love for bright colors, ocean views, and flowers, I could see the painting in my mind: a sweeping view of the Pacific, the warm glow of the setting sun, and a welcoming path that draws you back to the coast.
Because Betty planned to hang this piece in her entryway — the very first thing she sees when she walks in the door — I wanted it to feel like an embrace. A visual reminder of where her story began.
I sketched a concept that combined the family’s cliffside home with the vibrant, joyful colors Kelsey said her mom loved so much. The result was a painting full of movement and light — a love letter to the beach where her family’s memories were born.
The Big Reveal
Installation day was unforgettable. When we unveiled the painting, Betty’s face lit up with recognition.
“Wow, that’s like living on the beach!”
“It’s amazing. The colors are so vibrant.”
“It reminds me of living on the beach.”
Her joy was contagious — we were all smiling as she took it in. Seeing someone see their memories come alive on canvas is my favorite part of what I do.
A True “Welcome Home”
Now, this Laguna Beach painting greets Betty every time she walks through her front door. It’s more than décor — it’s a daily reminder of the view that once greeted her family every morning, the place where her children were born, the sound of waves just beyond the windows.
And this is only the beginning.
In our consultation, we uncovered a second idea — a painting that celebrates Betty’s love for travel and her many adventures to Europe. That story deserves its own moment, and I’ll be sharing it soon in Part 2 of this series. 🤩
