Dreamin’ of Taft Gardens

Dreamin’ of Taft Gardens
30 x 30 • Oil and Cold Wax Medium on Cradled Board

Taft Gardens has long been one of my favorite places in Ojai. The garden is filled with unexpected combinations of plants, textures, and light, creating a sense of discovery around every turn. Rather than painting a literal view, I wanted to capture the feeling of wandering through the garden—the layers of foliage, the interplay of shadow and sunlight, and the way forms seem to emerge and disappear as you move through the landscape.

Built through layers of oil and cold wax, this painting balances observation and imagination. Organic shapes, marks, and veils of color overlap and intertwine, echoing the abundance and complexity of the garden itself. Hints of botanical forms drift in and out of focus, inviting the viewer to linger and make their own connections.

For me, Dreamin’ of Taft Gardens is less about a specific moment and more about the experience of being immersed in a place where nature feels both cultivated and wonderfully untamed.