Signed Contemporary Marin County Seascape, by S K Farnsworth

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This captivating work is a minimalist, impressionistic seascape titled “Pacific Sunset,” executed in pastels by contemporary West Coast artist S.K. … Read more This captivating work is a minimalist, impressionistic seascape titled “Pacific Sunset,” executed in pastels by contemporary West Coast artist S.K. Farnsworth. In this bold, geometric interpretation of a sunset, the sun sits perfectly at the intersection of a central axis. It sends a geometric, segmented pathway of golden reflections slashing straight down the center of the water toward the viewer.

LOCATION: Written cleanly along the bottom margin, is “Hwy One Marin / Bolinais (sic),” looking directly out toward the Pacific horizon. Bolinas is a historic, notoriously reclusive coastal enclave located in California’s Marin County (where residents routinely remove the directional signs to discourage outsiders). It is renowned for its dramatic ocean vistas, pristine marine environments, and artistic community.

MEDIUM: The work is executed in pastels, mixed with colored pencil highlights. The stippled, woven texture of the paper grain peaks through the color layers, creating a vibrant, luminous shimmer. This technique is highly effective at mimicking the atmospheric scattering of coastal evening light.

TECHNIQUE: The artist has applied the pastel with rhythmic, radiating strokes in the sky, creating a halo effect around the setting sun. In contrast, the water features dense, cross-hatched strokes that give the Pacific Ocean a sense of deep, active movement.

STYLE: The Marin County work offered here--when considered with Farnsworth’s "Signed Bay Area Landscape of the Japanese Tea Garden," the "Signed Landscape of Oakland’s Historic Lake Merritt" and the "San Francisco Waterfront “July 30, 2014," each being sold separately--underscores the artist’s deliberate approach documenting public landmarks around the San Francisco Bay.

ARTIST: As established, S.K. Farnsworth is a highly capable contemporary regional landscape and plein-air artist. Rather than painting commercial, mass-produced cityscapes, Farnsworth produces highly localized, observant drawings of famous Northern California coastal geographic points. The artist’s style leans heavily into vivid, unexpected color palettes—such as the striking juxtaposition of the turquoise-blue water against the acidic chartreuse-yellow band of the twilight sky.
Signature/Maker’s Mark: Bottom left corner (photo #7). Unframed dimensions: 9.5 inches high x 12.75 inches wide. See less