Artwalk gets the good life to pose

June Casagrande

Sailboats and seascapes, flowers and colorful fish. The nearly 100

artists and crafts people who showcased their wares at Saturday’s

Balboa Island Artwalk unconsciously conveyed a common theme: the good

life.

“The art is really fun and it reflects the community and the

lifestyle here,” said Tara Shapiro, a Peninsula Point resident who

paused to appreciate a painting of a Yorkshire terrier that reminded

her of her dog Buck.

“We think this place is paradise,” husband Mike Shapiro added.

Art buyers and appreciators were out in force, even creating

pedestrian traffic jams as they perused works lined along the

island’s South Bayfront.

“This is a great turnout,” said Tracey Moloney, a Costa Mesa

resident and artist exhibiting at the show.

Moloney’s oil paintings on display included a colorful rendition

of Seal Beach’s Glider Inn and Sam’s Seafood on Huntington Beach. The

owner of the Costa Mesa-based mural and faux-finishing firm My Art

and Soul, said that the art walk is a good opportunity for artists

like herself.

“I want to start doing more with my paintings in addition to my

business,” Moloney said. “It’s easier to paint at home than it is to

paint on somebody else’s wall.”

Music was also part of the event. The Don Ross band played to a

small but appreciative crowd from a makeshift stage on the patio of a

private home.

Though no head counts are available of how many people attended

the show, participants say it’s growing every year. Artists are

encouraged to hand out fliers for the event. Word of mouth attracts

the crowds, while the high-quality art, stunning scenery and friendly

atmosphere keep them coming back year after year, participants said.

“It really is nice out here,” Moloney said.