About

About the artist:

Hello!

And welcome to my website!

My name is Courtney Scruggs and I am an artist and adventurer. On my website, you will find everything from sea creatures from the deep painted upon cabinet doors to whimsical bronze pieces depicting the nautical and somewhat abstract intricacies of my cerebral cortex. As an artist and sailor, I tend to focus on my connection to my community as well as the wildlife that surrounds me. I am fascinated with the work of Ernst Haeckel as you will see in the bronze pieces I have created. The focus on smaller aspects of this larger reality helps me realize just how small we are in the grand scheme of life.

At the top of this site you will find tabs to help you navigate.

Please enjoy and shoot me an email if you have any questions about the work, pricing or where to find it in person.

Courtney Renee Scruggs
CourtneyRScruggs@gmail.com

Jingle Shells

This Sunday I will be showcasing my jewelry at the Seymour Center along with some other amazing makers. Admission is free for members and $7 for the general public.

December 13, 2019

Holiday Bazaar

Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing is hosting a wonderful lineup of artists Sunday, December 1, 2019. Come check out my bronze work as well as plenty of other jewelers and makers who are selling goods for the holidays.

SC Mountain Brewing
402 Ingals St.
Santa Cruz, CA, 95017

November 30, 2019

First Friday at Felix Kulpa - November 1st!

A huge thank you to all of you who came out to see me at Open Studios 2019. It was a wonderful turn out and my studio mate Darci Shea and I had a wonderful time meeting you all!

If you didn't get a chance to check out my new work, I will have two pieces at Felix Kulpa for just a few days on Halloween, October 31st for an art party and bake sale and November 1st for first friday!

Hope to see you all there!

October 29, 2019

Santa Cruz
Open Studios

October 12 & 13th, and October 19 & 20
Studio Hours: 11:00am - 5:00pm

980 17th Ave,
Building 1, Studio 5,
Santa Cruz, CA, 95062

Come visit me and see where the magic happens! I'll have lots of new work and some less expensive functional pieces for sale.

October, 2019

MBMAG at the Santa Cruz Art League

I am a little late on this one but I hope you all got the change to see the wonderful combination of the Monterey Bay Metal Arts Guild in collaboration with the Santa Cruz Watercolor Society at the Santa Cruz Art League on Broadway and Ocean. I had 3 bronze pieces in the 2 month long show and there was a wonderful reception for the First Friday of August. If you missed it, don't worry I am doing Santa Cruz Open Studios this year and you will get a chance to see these pieces, and more!

Also, my piece made the poster!

September, 2019

17th Avenue Spring Show

My studio mate, Darci and I just finished wrapping up the Spring Show at our Studio on 17th Avenue. It was wonderfully successful and although it was raining, we had quite the turnout! Darci sold a ton of jewelry and I sold a painting. Keep posted for the next show!

Also, I found out I will be doing Santa Cruz Open Studios this year so mark your calendars for October and come see me! I'll be doing some demos!

June, 2019

Mothers Day Jewelry Sale at Cabrillo

Come check out some awesome jewelry at Cabrillo on May 11, 2019 from 10am-4pm and buy something awesome for your mother! She deserves it for putting up with you! =p

May, 2019

Whatknot Studios Opening

We are happy to announce that Whatknot Studios (a side project of mine) and Darci Shea Creations are now open for business! Darci and I had our debut of our joint shop on the First Friday of February. It was a huge success and we were amazed with how many people turned up on a stormy night in February!

Thank you so much to our friends and family and to DJ FREE for playing us some sweet jams all night long. We are looking forward to many more events and hope to see you all there!

February, 2019

New Paintings!

First and foremost, happy new year everyone! New year, new paintings. I have a great feeling about this one my friends.

Over the last few years I have been doing increasingly more plein air paintings. For those of you who don't know what that means, it's a painting done of a particular place you are looking at in person while you are painting it! I have compliled quite a few of these and am planning on making prints due to popular demand. For now, they can be found in the 2D section of my website underneath the first block of oil and acrylic paintings. Please shoot me an email if you are interested in purchasing a print!

This original painting has already been sold but I will make a limited edition print soon!

January, 2019

El Patio First Friday

It's a little late but, I did a first friday at El Patio on December 7, 2018! Opening night I sold 5 paintings so thank you to Hayley Montgomery and the El Patio staff for hosting me and to all the wonderful new friends who bought paintings from me. If you didn't make it on Friday and are interested in seeing the show, it will be up until December 19 so please go check it out! There are still some great little paintings up for sale and priced to buy. They make perfect little Christmas gifts for a loved one or maybe just something for yourself for being so good this year. ;)

Happy holidays to you all!

December 9, 2018

Latitude 38 Magazine

My work was featured in the Latitude 38 Magazine's July issue! Be sure to pick up a copy and read all about the fascinating world of Santa Cruz Ultra Light Displacement Sailboats.

July 30, 2018

Made in Santa Cruz

Felix Kulpa, Round II

Good news! If you missed the last show, my newest piece is going to be in a show this Friday at Felix Kulpa. I hope you can make it but if you can't, the show will be up for the whole month of March so be sure to stop on by if you're in the Santa Cruz area.

Felix Kulpa is located at 107 Elm Street, Santa Cruz, CA next to Street Light Records.

Visit their website at Felix Kulpa Gallery

March, 2018

Felix Kulpa Gallery

Be sure to check out my piece at the Felix Kulpa gallery in Santa Cruz. My piece "Encephalon Lighthouse" is there on display until at least the end of February. Keep checking back for more updates. I may have another piece entering the gallery soon!

Felix Kulpa gallery is located at:
107 Elm St, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060

February 1, 2018

Summer Fun

It's been a busy summer for me and unfortunately, that means my ideas and sculptures have not gotten a whole lot of attention. I figured I would give you just a little teaser of the bust I've been working on for the last few months to keep you all interested. It still needs A LOT of work but it's getting a little bit closer every day to what I imagined it would be.

August 19, 2017

Working Girl

I just wanted to pop in and show you a few things I've been working on. If you're not following me on Instagram, you wont have seen some of my new pieces in progress. I have 3 works currently in progress and this is a sneak peak of one of them I haven't yet put on Instagram. It is probably 40% finished and has a long road ahead of it. Stay tuned for more!

April 26, 2017

Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting

Thank you again to the wonderful people at Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting for hosting me for the months of May and June 2016. I met many wonderful people and got to show off my new series of cabinet doors.

Looking forward to seeing you all at the next show!

July 2016

Om Gallery, 1st friday, round two

Here is a fun picture from the live painting I did the last time I had an event at Om Gallery. Enjoy!

Alright, it's that time again. I am doing another first friday event! That's right folks, the lovely people at Om Gallery have invited me back to do another show. That is Friday, November 6th at 6:00 PM I will be showing a whole new line of work including six new paintings, and 2 in progress bronze pieces. I would be absolutely thrilled if you could make it down to check out some of the new work I have going on. A big thank you again to Om Gallery for having me back. Here's a fun picture of the last time I did an event at Om Gallery.
Here is a quick link to the Facebook Event.

Om Gallery's Address: 1201 Pacific Ave.

October 14, 2015

Instagram

Hello everyone!
So important news... I am making my way into the 21st century. I got an instagram. And I'm using it! Follow me on there to see all that I am doing on the daily. I am mostly posting updates on works in progress and maybe some fun adventures from time to time.

Click here for my Instagram

Keep your head up and your heart strong!

July 2, 2015

New Photography

Life is crazy. With all the chaos in my life with moving and such stressful summer work it's nice to take time to be with the people you love and care about. I was fortunate enough to have a little mini, impromptu photo shoot with my best friend, Lauren and her 2 year old daughter, Colbie. We had a great day at the park in San Jose and I took a few pictures. After getting home and reviewing them I realized that the moments I captured from that day are going to live on forever and be the memories that I hold in my heart when I am old and gray. And on top of that, they will be the photographs that little Colbie will appreciate in a ratty old photo album some day down the road.

So remember to cherish the times you have and never get too wrapped up in work to make the time to go to the park and take a picture.

June 11th, 2015

Iveta Cafe Show: Friday, March 6th

That's right folks.! I am having a show at Iveta Cafe on the west side of Santa Cruz on March 6th starting at 7:00 pm. I am honored to share the spotlight with two wonderful artists, W.T. Klamer who has a studio in Capitola along with long time Maverick's surfer Sean "Barney" Barron. Accompanying our work will be DJ "J" for an evening of wonderful artwork and music. I will be showcasing a new series of work which I like to call, "Shifting Gears." It will focus a lot on my technical ability to control my brush along with the concepts of time and progression. Enough about concept, there are really probably only a handful of you that care about that stuff. In which case, you can ask me about it at the show! That series, along with some of the old favorites and some more affordable prints will all be available for sale. I hope to see you all there!

Here is the website for Iveta in case you would like to know more about the venue and get their address.
http://info.iveta.com/cafe

February 11th, 2015

OM GALLERY FIRST FRIDAY EVENT, June 6th

It's time again to come out and support your local artist. I am having a show friday, June 6th at Om Gallery in downtown Santa Cruz. Let's face it, this is going to be an AMAZING event. There will be live music from 6 to 9pm along with dancing and art and I am even going to be doing a live painting. Om Gallery is an amazing venue with the most amazing lighting and the perfect atmosphere to breed creativity. I am very much looking forward to seeing you all and hopefully selling some artwork. I will have framed and unframed prints available along with paintings and even bronze works for sale.

Om Gallery is located at 1201 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060 and you can view their Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/OmGallery and check out the Facebook event at https://www.facebook.com/events/1508989572653786/ to let everyone know that you will be there!

Looking forward to seeing you all!

May, 2014

Life after graduation

Recent commission for John Ribera.

So, it has been quite a while but don't fret! I am hard at work! I have been working on commissions for a few different patrons (like the piece you see to your right in the photograph, which can aslo be found in the 'paintings' tab) as well as placing work in a salon in Los Gatos. By the middle of next month you will be able to see a lot of my recent micro organism influenced abstracts at Los Gatos Beauty Bar as well as a few of my intaglio prints and some of my less abstract work. It should be a wonderful array of work and a great opportunity to see it all in one setting. Feel free to get yourself a new do while you're there. Their staff is wonderful and professional and I would highly recommend them. I personally get my hair cut by Michelle Nation. She is the best in the business! If you want to know more information like their hours and address, that can all be located at their website:
http://www.losgatosbeautybar.com/los_gatos_beauty_bar/Home.html

As far as life goes, I am still living here in Santa Cruz and loving how inspiring it is here. I began working for my professor, Sean Monaghan upon graduating from UCSC at his foundry. I am keeping busy and really enjoying being able to continue with my art career after graduating. I am very fortunate to have found work in my field and am looking forward to my future endeavors.

New to the website

Recent commission for Stu.

Since the last time I posted, I added a commissions section, updated some paintings, water colors and bronze castings. I look forward to your feedback as always and for those of you looking to purchase, I am looking to sell.

October 22, 2013

Artist Update

Recent night photo shoot with strobe and 15 second exposure.

    It has been a while since I have updated my site and I thought I would add a few more peices I have done along with a short description of how things have been going in my life.
    I have finished one year now at UCSC and it is going very well. I became the faculty liason for SAM (Student Art Movement). We are a group on campus who are collectively changing the way in which the art department functions. We are working on both on the student level and the connection between faculty and students. Last quarter we acquired an on campus office as well as created a resource page for artists to begin to research and looks at grants and residencies both in the United States and international We also created our own website where you can reach all of this information: SAM Website
    As well as being a member of SAM, I have been exploring the different sculpture media. I have been focused on using the wood shop and metal shop and recently received the Irwin Grant in order to pay for a wooden abstract water sculpture that I have been waiting to explore. I look forward to posting more on that once I finish the piece in which I proposed.

    There is so much more I could say but I think that this is more than enough for now. I will update you all more later on in the summer.

August 1, 2012

First semester at UCSC

    I know I haven't posted anything or updated anything in a while and for that, I am sorry. I have been EXTREMELY busy this past quarter at UCSC. I pretty much saw no one for 3 months while I was immersed in my creative practices. The past quarter I took Photography, Screen Printing and Intermediate Painting.
    It was my first time taking photography outside of high school and I really enjoyed it. I hope to be able to take more photography classes in the future and I have to give a shout out to my wonderful parents for supporting me with a new camera. I hope to post a few of my photographs from the quarter on here under a new tab but we will see if/when I get around to that.
    Screen printing was.... challenging but I can't say that I reallllly enjoy it. I enjoyed mono prints and lithography much more.
    Painting was also a real challenge. I had taken a few painting classes before but both of those were with oil paints and this time I was introduced to acrylics. I really enjoyed my professors style of teaching after I became acquainted with Frank and began to understand the reason behind his madness. The course entailed a nine week period where we had to create over 30 paintings. If you do the math, that's more than 3 paintings a week. If you have never tried making more than 3 paintings a week for that long of a time period, I urge you to. I learned more about myself and what I hate than I had in any other painting class. Although it was hard at first, by the end I really understood the beneficial qualities to this style of teaching. I can absolutely say that I am no longer afraid of a blank white canvas.
    The frog in the picture to the right is one of those thirty paintings and the first of them that I sold. I am excited for you all to see my new work and find out what you think about it all.

    In case this is my last post before the holidays, Merry Christmas. I hope you're creative juices are flowing and all my artist friends continue to create extraordinary work over the break.

Alexander Fine arts, July 22, 2011

Alright, so I know I've been absent from renewing the work on this site for a while. So! A few new additions to note before I get to the good stuff; there are now folders for the different mediums I work in. In paintings you will find oils, acrylics, Sumi ink and watercolors. In the drawings folder you will discover mostly life drawings and drawings based on pictures that are varied in their media as well. The Sketchbook tab will lead you into the world of yours truely. I draw with whatever is handy to me at the time and bring to you sketches from all over California and beyond. Make sure to look at the titles to check out where I have been and what I am doing. My sketchbook is my life. Although I have been failing at this lately, I try to draw every day and the ones I have posted are those experiences dearest to my heart.

        Now onto bigger news. After being displayed at both the 2011 Mesa Student Art Show and in the Gay Pride Festival in Balboa Park, My Disco "Dildos" will be making their third appearance in Alex Salazar Fine Arts Gallery on July 22, 2011 for the Comic Cock Convention. Yes, I spelled that right. This show will feature some ASTOUNDING artists and I might be there too. =p I would love the support and look forward to seeing some of you there.

        Thank you so much to all my fans and believers. Your support (and funding) has gotten me where I am today and is apriciated more than you will ever know.

Alex Salazar Fine Arts Gallery
635 Broadway Street.
San Diego, CA
619.531.8996

Add Alex on Facebook!

I love you all dearly!
    Court

July 17, 2011

Evolution Fast Food Show

Hey! I know it's kind of last minute but I am going to be showing my art at Evolution Fast Food on 5th Street downtown tonight from 6 to 11 pm. I will have a few pieces there. Come out and support good home grown San Diego artists!

Here's the address or call me for directions:
2949 5th Avenue San Diego, Ca 92103

May 28, 2011

UC Santa Cruz

So, this past weekend, I went up to Santa Cruz and talked to some people in the art department and talked my way into the art department. This just shows that you should never take no as an answer. Like my dad always says, "the squeaky wheel gets the oil." See dad, I am listening. =p

May 20, 2011

Raw and Exposed

...is what the show at Mesa College was called. Fun fact! And My work was definitely raw and exposed. My piece, Night Fever, was sold before the show even started and my other piece, Clash, got a scholarship award from the Clairemont Art Guild. Both were pretty exciting achievements for me. It was great to see everyone who came out and if you saw that giant sculpture of a monster with it's arms blowing, that was my class project as well. I can not wait to see you all at the next show whenever and where ever that may be.

May 19, 2011

Mesa Student Art Show

Clash, Oil on canvas, 2011

It's time again for the Mesa Student Art Show. I was lucky enough to have two pieces chosen again this semester and this one to the right is one of those pieces. This picture really doesn't do it justice and I really hope that some of you who are in San Diego are able to come out to see it in person. The other piece I have in the show is a little more... interesting? I can't wait for you all to come out and see it because I think you will all really get a kick out of it. I have already gotten a few offers for it and it hasn't even been hung yet. =) Haha. if you only knew what I know that last sentince would be a lot more funny.
Anyways, Mesa College is located at 7250 Mesa College Drive
San Diego, CA 92111. The art gallery is directly across from the library and opening day is on Thursday, May 20, 2011 from 4:00 to 7:00. There will be free food and beverages and I urge you all to come out and support local artists like myself. Please bring a few dollars to help support the gallery and all they do there at Mesa. They have very limited funding and appriciate every dollar that goes towards their efforts.

April 27, 2011

What's Going On?!?!?

    Hello everyone. So here is just a little update on my life as an artist... In case any of you are wondering.
    So I got into UC Santa Cruz! I will be returning North very soon to join their business department instead of their art department to pursue my real dream of being a business woman in the field..... hahaha. Yeah, right. In actuality, I got rejected from the art department and am waiting from a response from them as to why. Seriously though, I will be trying again as soon as I can to enter into their art department. It just simply wasn't in the cards this semester.
    On a positive note, I am going to be showing my art again very soon in the Mesa College Student Show.
    Life is going well for me and I can't wait to see what the future has to offer. For now, I am following my feet and seeing where life takes me. I hope that everyone who supports me and reads any of this is doing just as well.

April 27, 2011

Women's History Month Show at
San Diego Mesa College

Just so you know, my work is up in the Library at San Diego Mesa College for the women's history month show. I am not sure how much longer it will be up. It is located on the second floor in the hallway before you get to all the books. There is a lot of great work there and this piece to the right, Over-Nurtured is a part of it. I hope you all get to check it out.

April 1st, 2011

Hello!

Thank you soooo much everyone who showed up and supported me at the show. I really look forward to hearing from those of you who were interested in buying pieces and hearing about those potential commissions. Make sure to get a hold of me either through my Contact me form, my email, facebook or if you grabbed a card, my phone number is on there as well. Make sure to check back for new work and new venues for my work.

March 14th, 2011

Sole Bass

Hey!

Come check out my work! This show is going to be a dubstep benefit concert downtown. It's going to be really cool! There should be good music, some great art and even fire breathing belly dancers. At least, that's what I have heard... Come out and support by paying either $20 at the door or $15 in advance to help pay for kids to get shoes in Africa. =) It's a good cause and a good show and my art will be there too on the 2nd floor along with some other fantastic artists.

It's going to be at Jolt'n Joes downtown. The doors open at 6:30 I believe and Hugnation who frequents Burningman this year will be kicking it off with a little speech.
The address is 379 4th Ave., San Diego, CA, 92101
Hope to see you there!

February, 2011

Thank you!

Thank you so much to everyone who came out and supported! Sophia, Dustin, Dan and Kaitlyn and V, yall are the best! I couldn't keep creating if I didn't have people who supported me. =)

Hope to see you at the next one!

February, 2011

Thumbprint Gallery

Ok, it's time for another show. I will have a piece showing at the Thumbprint gallery in Northpark on January 8, 2011. Come out and check it out! Should be a good show. Every piece in the gallery will be the same size (18x24), hence the name. I'm really excited to see this work. Should be awesome. Good thing I finished my piece before I broke my hand this weekend! =D See ya there!

January, 2011

Student Show at San Diego Mesa College

Hey everybody! So, I just found out that I am in the Student show at Mesa Community College in San Diego. It is going to be located in the art Gallery adjacent to the LRC. If you're not busy you should come by and check it out. I have both a painting and an ink drawing in there. It runs for the next few days! I think I sold my Dizzy piece. Check it out before it's gone forever.

December, 2010

Courtney Renee Scruggs