Morro Bay at Sunset

Morro Rock has been something of a touchstone in my life. My dad loved its massive grandeur, and never failed to point out this rugged sentinel of the sea when we drove California’s scenic Highway 1 together. Morro Bay at Sunset depicts a lover’s paradise. Nanette, our girls and I have enjoyed quiet interludes here, delighting in each other’s company and savoring memories that reach back into my own childhood.

Recently, I visited the bay with Winsor and Merritt at my side. As I set up my easel for a Plein Air study, the sun setting behind the rock painted the azure ocean in radiant hues. I was enchanted by the ever watchful pelicans, and for the first time I included these great birds in my canvas. To celebrate my family’s fond attachment to this picturesque harbor, I decided to name one of the trawlers “Billy Boy” in honor of my father Bill Kinkade. You’ll also spot a “Nan” and a “Merritt” among the resting fleet. I challenge you to find the seven N‘s I’ve hidden in this painting in tribute to my wife and the joy we’ve shared here.

When I finished my canvas, Winsor, Merritt and I shared a seafood feast while savoring the spectacle of sunset over the bay. I hope that Morro Bay at Sunset will delight your family as it has mine.