A California native, Elaine West earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Mt. St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles in 1974 graduating with a specialization in drawing and painting. Ever the pragmatist, she’s made her career since then in graphic design, calligraphy and art education. Elaine longs for the day when she can return to her roots and pursue fine art full-time. This is her first show in 30 years.

Most of Elaine’s work for this show began with photos taken between 1998 and 2006, while traveling the world or just poking about in Sausalito or the greater Bay Area. Initially she worked with her photos like a designer “playing around with art effects” on a computer using Painter and Photoshop. Realizing these could be the preliminary steps to painting on canvas, she focused on composition, color and experimentation, with an eye towards recreating these digital works with paint and brush. Her very first painting (of skiffs tied to a dock) using this process was purchased by a world-renowned naval architect and collector of marine paintings.

Elaine was the primary designer of a major remodel to Stone Soup, the houseboat she shares with husband David, and made sure that it included an art studio. She figures the end of her career as a full-time graphic designer is around the corner, and views her participation in this show as the first step in a life much more devoted to fine art.