original painting by Brooke Harker available at Lu Martin Galleries in Laguna Beach, CA.
There is a playfulness about the city of Laguna on a summer day which shows up in the colors and strokes of “Lagunatics Lounge.” The scene depicts busy beach goers near the famous lifeguard tower on main beach, next to Hotel Laguna.
I painted this on location outdoors at Lu Martin Galleries, the gallery which represents my work in Laguna Beach. One day while I painted behind the gallery, a woman came outside to meet me and suggested the title “Lagunatics Lounge.” After years of spending time in Laguna, I hadn’t known that locals often refer to themselves as “lagunatics.” The sense of fun in this word resonated as so many people express being crazy in love with the beauty of Laguna. I suppose I am an occasional lagunatic, if that is possible. I don’t live there, yet frequent visits recharge my soul.
I have a fond memory of taking a break from painting this on a sunny day to cross the street in front of the gallery. I descended the steps beneath Heisler Park, to one of my favorite beaches where I jumped into the water in all my clothes. My painting outfit that day, a turquoise cotton skirt and top, once drenched made it easier to stay cool at work in the sunshine. Those moments of playing in the waves charged my energy for painting and reminded me again why I love Laguna so much. Although the water doesn’t show up in “Lagunatics Lounge,” the people are on the beach for the water, the sun or the scene that these two elements create. A candy colored recreation paradise where aqua colored water crests and breaks over a sandy shore. I am not alone in being someone who goes crazy to get sane beneath the sun in this California town.
Brooke Harker
