by Britta Wilder

Artist James Parkhurst is literally drawn to the sea, and the bulk of his drawings reflect this lifelong passion. From local beaches to faraway islands, he’s been capturing ocean life on canvas and murals for years, creating detailed seascapes of magical places.

“I have a real love of the coast, the ocean and waves--the whole lifestyle,” Parkhurst explained. “I feel like I always want to catch the poetry in it.”

Born and raised in Manhattan Beach, this fourth-generation Californian took to art at an early age. “I have a memory of crawling to watch my Mom painting,” Parkhurst recalled of his talented mother. “I was fascinated.”

In grade school the young artist realized the power of the pen and began honing his craft in earnest-and amusement. “I started really drawing when I was in fifth grade - pen and ink - and my friends and I would have a ‘draw contest’ where we’d do everything from psychedelic space ships to Jimi Hendrix and Peter Max,” he laughed. “We were having fun!”

Parkhurst later attended Aviation High School where he enrolled in Advertising Art and continued to delight his peers. “On one of my projects I did this really cool album cover-- it was based on The Moody Blues’ “Seventh Sojourn.” The only problem is my teacher would display my work and people would end up stealing it!”  

Clearly, some of his best, earlier pieces are in someone else’s home somewhere. “It’s a compliment in a way,” he grinned, shaking his head.

Parkhurst’s love of art also competed with his love to surf, and like many coastal students at that time he’d be cutting class and catching waves at El Porto, 30th St., in the north end of Manhattan Beach near Bruce’s Beach. 

“When I didn’t show up to school sometimes the principal would tell me, it’s a good thing you’re so good at art or you’d be in trouble with me!”

Parkhurst’s reputation as an artist began expanding - he won numerous awards and at 18 he sold his first painting. After graduating he’d planned to launch his own business, focusing on house painting and commercial art. Then the ocean called.

 

“At 19 I jumped on a tuna boat heading to Baja and Central America,” Pankhurst said. “It was for commercial fishing and I did it for the money, but mainly for the adventure.” 

While working at sea, Parkhurst absorbed the amazing beauty around him, parlaying that experience into a visual memory he’d later use for his fine arts. “I saw so many things in the ocean doing that job, and it really enhanced my appreciation for the ocean and its incredible coastlines.” 

Returning to Manhattan Beach, flush with cash and ideas, Parkhurst met his first wife and the two of them headed to New Zealand for a year. Coming back the ambitious artist sought education to enhance his skills, attending the Otis Art Institute, Los Angeles, then enrolling at California State Long Beach where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Visual Communications degree. Shortly after they had two kids, Jamie and Renee, and moved to Long Beach where they bought their first home. 

 

Parkhurst’s talents kept him employed and he landed a couple of jobs at advertising agencies before becoming the art director/graphic designer for an agency specializing in the automotive industry. “We had a big budget and I was in charge of creating ads, brochures, TV spots – you name it,” Parkhurst explained. “I worked both fulltime and freelance at this for 20 years.”

The surfer in Parkhurst had long-loved the waves in San Clemente and in 1992 the family left Long Beach and moved to town. In 1998 he got divorced and back into painting. Murals especially. “My first mural I did was for a bar before I was legal,” Parkhurst noted. Now famous for his coastal surf scenes, sky and cloud scapes he is in high-demand by private clients, interior designers and commercial businesses throughout the country. “I would do all this while I was doing fine art, which is my first love.”

Some of his local murals include the North Beach Bacchus Fountain, Holiday Inn Express pool area, the ‘Noserider’ near Rainbow Sandals and the San Clemente Pier Snack Shack, where in 2022 Parkhurst stood on a wobbly platform above the ocean to paint. “That was tough with all the swaying,” the artist smiled.

After creating a gorgeous, sweeping sky-and-waterscape for retailer Vineyard Vines at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, headquarters the upscale clothier tapped Parkhurst to do the same for its affiliate stores in cities across America. He agreed and brought his talent and his brushes throughout Florida, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Boston, New York City, Dallas, Kiawah Island and Charleston. “It was a lot of work but it was great!” he enthused.   Parkhurst’s signature style- detailed, stunning strokes depicting coastal scenes and ocean beauty-has made him a favorite with collectors, too.

Some of his local murals include the North Beach Bacchus Fountain, Holiday Inn Express pool area, the ‘Nose-ender’ near Rainbow Sandals and the San Clemente Pier Snack Shack, where in 2022 Parkhurst dangled off a swinging platform above the ocean to paint. “That was tough with all the swaying,” the trapeze artist smiled.

After creating a gorgeous, sweeping sky-and-water scape for retailer Vineyard Vines at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, headquarters the upscale clothier tapped Parkhurst to do the same for its affiliate stores in cities across America. He agreed and brought his talent and his brushes to Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Boston, New York City, Dallas, Kiawah Island and Charleston. “It was a lot of work but it was great!” he enthused.

Parkhurst’s signature style - detailed, stunning strokes depicting coastal scenes and ocean beauty-has made him a favorite with collectors, too.

“My experience in graphic design enhanced my art in a lot of ways,” Parkhurst said. “How I looked at it, visualized it, how it all works together and how to make it enticing and exciting. I think that’s why people respond to it.”

His fine art has also garnered prestigious awards throughout the years: Boldbrush Regram Winner 2018 and 2020; First Place Public Choice Award in the SC Summer Show; Best of Show at the Juried Art Show, SC; Honorable Mention in the Dana Point Fine Arts Festival, among others.

While Parkhurst generates his fair share of originals and commissions, his inventory also includes hand-embellished giclee canvases and prints in a limited-edition series for customers to enjoy at every price-point. “I want to make my work available to everyone,” Parkhurst said.

His fine art most-popular with the locals are “Morning T” - a stunning tribute to surf spot T-Street and the Pier, and “Last Call” - a beatific sunset scene which captures the extraordinary essence of San Clemente life.

Parkhurst reflects that tranquility these days, too, happily married to wife Tracey, creating art in his studio, and still painting the town where it needs it. The former competitive cyclist also rides when he can, surfs on occasion and spends as much time outdoors as possible.

“I’m fortunate and blessed to do what I do and make money doing it,” he said, adding with a sparkle in his eye, “but of course I’ll get out in the water if there’s a swell!”.