F+h gaLLery: hank pitCher

(Top) “Lis Fish”, 2020 (68 x 36 inches, Oil on canvas); “East from Perkos,” February 7, 2006 (24 x 36 inches, Oil on canvas.)

Q + A with Leslie A. Westbrook

Although born in Pasadena in 1949, Hank Pitcher may as well be called a native Santa Barbarian, as he’s lived here most of his life . From Miramar Beach (where his iconic Pacific coastline/surf imagery was inspired early on) to downtown Santa Barbara (where he shows his work at Sullivan Goss) to UCSB where he’s been teaching at the College of Creative Studies since 1971 and inspired thousands of students, the painter is well-known, admired and loved . He’s also undeniably one of the nicest people on the planet .

An avid environmentalist, Pitcher founded the Institute for Landscape Painting, which has brought distinguished visitors from multiple disciplines to the UCSB campus to discuss the evolution of man’s relationship to nature as evidenced in art . We asked him a few questions .

When did you know you wanted to be an artist?

When I was young, I didn’t know anything about being an artist or about the art world . I just wanted to paint pictures and go surfing . As I got older and was exposed to the art world, it felt pretentious to call myself an artist . If a painting is good enough, someone else can call it art .

Were you encouraged by your parents?

My parents lived through the Great Depression . My dad survived the invasion of Poland by Russia in WWI and he spent all off WW2 in a Japanese Prisoner of war camp, being tortured and starved . Having enough to eat, being safe, and being happy was what was important to my parents . They supported and encouraged me to do whatever I wanted to do .

What medium(s) and scale do you work in?

I paint in oil primarily, from small to mural sizes depending on what I’m going for .

What artists are you influenced by, look up to and/or are inspired by?

In the late 1960s, as a student at the College of Creative Studies, I met many important contemporary artists . I studied with Paul Wonner, who was part of the Bay Area Figurative Painting Movement . He taught me a lot about that influential movement . He also introduced me to Indian Miniature paintings . After college, I was very fortunate to become close friends with and be mentored by Paul Georges and Charles Garabedian . Through them I got to know many of the major LA and New York painters . What influenced me most was how educated they were and how hard they worked, how many hours they put into their work every day . A Buddhist once shared a saying with me: “A large pot takes a long time to make .”

Studio: indoor or outdoor?

I work both outdoors and indoors .

Where do you go to get inspired in the art world?

I have a serious collection of art books, and I read everything I can, but what interests me is seeing the real thing . One summer, my wife Susan and I drove to New York by way of art museums we wanted to visit . It made for a long and interesting route, and maybe my all-time favorite trip .

As a teacher, what are you most proud of?

When I can say something useful and true .

Any pet peeves?

When people copy me .

Do you paint to music and if so, what?

I listen to music while I work . Thelonious Monk, John Adams, Nino Rota, and Howling Wolf, are some of my favorites, but I enjoy a range of music from all times and places . I am interested in how concepts like interval, melody, harmony, consonance, and dissonance can apply to painting .