Becher's Bay - Santa Rosa Island - A Southern California Plein Air Coastal Oil Painting by Marian Fortunati

Becher's Bay © Marian Fortunati 9"x12" Oil on RayMar Panel
Click on the link above for further details and PayPal information.

In 1980, Santa Rosa Island was included within Channel Islands National Park. The island's owners since 1902, Vail & Vickers Company of Santa Barbara, was opposed to inclusion of the island in the park. Vail & Vickers used the island for cattle ranching and a private hunting reserve. Vail & Vickers successfully lobbied to have the legislation stipulate that purchase of their land would be the highest priority of the Channel Islands National Park. Vail & Vickers, under threat of condemnation and planned government appraisals, sold the island in 1986 for the appraised value of nearly $30 million, which worked out to around $550 per acre. The initial agreement allowed continuation of the ranching and hunting operation for 25 years via a series of five-year renewable special use permits issued by the National Park Service. A lawsuit by the National Parks Conservation Association in 1996 resulted in a court-approved settlement agreement which included removal of all cattle from the island and phased reduction by Vail & Vickers of the non-native deer and elk by 2011.

Just before and during this trip, I had been reading a book titled "When The Killing Stops" written by T.C. Boyle.  It's a historical fiction account of the Islands and all of the political and ecological issues  involved with the changes that modern times have brought.   It became very real when we landed on Santa Rosa and were told that we had to stay in certain areas, because the hunters were out hunting the elk and they didn't want us to get shot by accident.

After taking the inflatable to shore at Santa Rosa Island, we hiked up the cliff and then up the mountain through the Torrey Pine forest to the top of the island.  When we came down several of us set up on the edge of the cliff and looked across Becher's Bay to Carrington Point.   I could see two piers in the distance, but left them out of the painting.

	Here I am overlooking Becher's Bay on the edge of the cliff.

Cindy painting toward Carrington Point.

In the photo on the right, taken by my painting buddy, Cindy Compert, I'm sitting with my legs dangling on the edge of the cliff with my pochade box on the ground in front of me.   Cindy can be seen in the photo on the right.


The day was beginning to warm as the sun was high in the sky.   Cindy and I sat cliffside to paint until it was time to wade back to the inflatable with our paintings and full packs to return to the Concepcion -- our wonderful 45-foot diveboat home of five days.

Comment on or Share this Article >>