Artist Biography

ARTIST’S BIOGRAPHY

Ms. McCullough has been creating art over 50 years. With an adventurous personality, an entrepreneurial spirit and an interesting background, she continues to articulate those assets in her artwork.

Growing up in Santa Monica, McCullough has the freedom of her early childhood burned into her memory by the California sunshine, her lasting friendships, the beach, and the horizon of the ocean. These memories are conveyed throughout her work and especially in her series of horizon paintings.

After living in Santa Monica for 50 years, McCullough decided to go on an adventure and headed for New Mexico. She landed in the village of Cerrillos, NM where she lived out in the open space with two Rhodesian Ridgeback hounds. Again she was drawn to the landscape and it’s expanse of the horizon much like the ocean horizon of Santa Monica. While in New Mexico McCullough honed her painting skills but also developed her photography skills. She was inspired by the many images of historical adobe buildings, the enchanting landscape and the fantastic blue skies. Her photography led her to printmaking and she began to transfer her images to photopolymer etching prints.

After 10 years of living in New Mexico and missing her family and the ocean, McCullough returned to California and ended up in Ventura. Ventura being a city full of artists she changed a dirty warehouse into Sea Breeze Art Galley and Studios in 2004. The neighborhood quickly became a hub of creative activity. As Owner/Founder she was able to further her career in the arts and helped other artists develop and build their art careers. McCullough was integral in building an art scene in Ventura by developing and collaborating on the self guided studio/gallery tour “Ventura’s First Friday”. Her gallery participated in Ventura’s Art Walk and hosted Dia de los Muertos celebrations along with vibrant exhibitions every 30 days. Because of her participation in the local art community, McCullough was nominated for the 2007 Arts Leader category of the Mayor’s Award.

After closing Sea Breeze Art Galley and Studios in 2010, McCullough moved back to Santa Monica to be close to her family which was quickly growing. She now has 5 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. She continued to paint the ever present horizons while being close to her family.

Currently Sandra McCullough is back in Ventura and has become a member of the Inkspots, Ventura’s only printer’s guild, where she is focusing printmaking. She continues to evolve her printmaking skills.