Big Wave at Del Monte Beach, Monterey, California, 36″x72″

Description

Initially I painted Big Wave for my bedroom. It’s an averaged sized bedroom, but this is a big painting. I thought it would make me feel like I could almost hear the ocean as I went to sleep each night. As time drew on however, it became a bit overwhelming. One day I realized that it was just too big for the space where it was hanging, but I had no idea what to do with this piece. So there it stayed until the perfect opportunity came along.

On August 18, 2020 at approximately 8:15 pm, a fire was set that would consume 128,050 acres of forest in Big Sur. During the blaze, the nonprofit Ventana Wildlife Society of Monterey lost a sanctuary that has been used to release captive-bred condors into the wild since 1997. Soon after the fire destroyed the Condor sanctuary, the Ventana Wildlife Society put out an appeal for funds to rebuild the nature preserve. They announced a silent auction. This was the perfect opportunity for Big Wave! I delivered the painting to their offices in Monterey. On September 5, my painting sold in the Ventana Wildlife Society’s silent auction, raising $950 for the fund to help rebuild the Condor’s Big Sur Sanctuary! I couldn’t have been happier!

Although the painting is living happily in the wonderful person’s home who purchased it, I will be glad to make you a print if you are interested in sharing in the history. All proceeds will go to the Ventana Wildlife Society of Monterey.