It’s a Monday morning in late May, and Linda Mutti is feeling lucky. “I am gonna paint today,” she announces jubilantly. “And then I’m doing a mentoring class, and then I’m going to hang with my two little rescue dogs. They’re very yappy, but I adore them. They like to come hang out in the studio.”

If Mutti’s day doesn’t sound sufficiently idyllic, consider this: The studio in question is on the second floor of her home in Santa Barbara, California, with a panoramic view of the Santa Ynez Mountains. If she feels like painting outside instead of in the studio, Goleta Beach, one of Mutti’s favorite haunts, is a quick drive away. If she wants to explore further along the coast, she has a close-knit community of artist friends nearby, and someone is always up for a road trip. And she’s enjoying the kind of professional success that has her crossing achievements off her bucket list on a regular basis.

Read the full article in the September/October 2021 issue.

California Gold

Pastel
12” by 16”

“I am drawn to the ‘golden hour.’ One of my favorite spots to paint is a quick five minutes from my home, Goleta Beach. When I saw how the late, low sun was lighting up the eucalyptus trees, I knew instantly that I had to paint the scene. The contrast between the golden light and the shadows was very compelling for me.”

One Fine Day

Pastel
12” by 16”

“This painting was done completely onsite on one of those pleasant, soft-breeze days. It is so inspiring to be immersed in the scene I am painting, hearing the birds, smelling the ocean at my back, feeling the movement of the air. It all came together where it feels as though the painting is painting itself.”