2017 San Clemente Fiesta Music Festival 50th Anniversary Summer of Love T Shirt Design by Kimberleigh Gavin

2017 San Clemente Fiesta Music Festival
50th Anniversary Summer of Love Design
by Kimberleigh Gavin
©2017 Gavin Arts - All Rights Reserved

The 2017 San Clemente Fiesta Music Festival 50th Anniversary Summer of Love T Shirt Design was created by Kimberleigh Gavin, another in her long line of San Clemente Fiesta designs.  Kimberleigh hand draws every element of these beautiful designs in her own distinctive style the Classic Retro reminiscent of the style of 1960's and 1970's and this year being the 50th Anniversary of the now mythological Summer of Love it had to be mentioned.  A beautiful girl's dress billows in a Summer Breeze as she grabs her hat looking up at a figurative sun in a colorfully explosive coastal sky filled with words, chili's and musical notes.   The design will be available on Adult T's, Mens and Women's Tanks at the event on Avenida Del Mar in San Clemente Sunday, August 13. Go to this great event and get one there as they usually sell out but if not may be available at GavinArts.com after the event.

Gavin Arts Huntington Beach Surf City Hawaiian Shirt on Huntington Beach Community Forum Facebook Page post

Gavin Arts' Huntington Beach Surf City Hawaiian Shirt

Gavin Arts Huntington Beach Surf City Hawaiian Shirts rediscovered thanks to a post on Huntington Beach Community Forum Facebook Page post.  What a nice surprise.  First one order, then another, then more… Kimberleigh asked the new clients why the sudden interest and was sent the HB Community Forum Page link with positive reviews of her work.  The orders were great; the kind comments even better!

They are available in all sizes for men, women and children and also long and short sarongs.  It’s a special design with much history behind it.  Paul lived and created art in HuntingtonBeach from 1975-79 in his 419 C 11^th Street home studio (still there), and again in 1982–1988 in a converted Dentist’s office on the corner at 501 Walnut next door to the Surf Theater and had a work space upstairs at 115 ½ Main Street next door to Perqs.  Perqs is still there but like the Original Golden Bear, the Surf Theater and other Huntington Beach Classic structures Paul’s downtown HB studios and home are now gone. 

During that time Paul painted many Classic Surf City scenes including the first (1982) and second (1983) OP Pro’s painted from the pier and also painted and published limited editions prints of the Golden Bear (1986)and the Old Huntington Beach Pier (1988).  Then after almost 20 years in 2002 the Gavins (Paul had since met and married Kimberleigh) who had also now done military Air Show Art for years ventured into Gavin Hawaiian style fabrics for the US Navy Blue Angels, the USAF Thunderbirds and US Marine Corps and then created the San Clemente and Surf City Hawaiian Designs.  

Each design was created from Kimberleigh and Paul’s own original artwork and each design pattern was hand drawn by Kimberleigh.  For the Surf City Hawaiian shirt she redrew Paul’s paintings of the old Huntington Pier and the Golden Bear and other sketches of buildings and people from this earlier Huntington Beach “era”, all of them part of Paul’s daily life including George’s surf shop with Jan’s smoothie stand, the Sugar Shack and International Surf Museum that was founded when Paul lived down the street in 1987.  Then there are newer versions of older structures, like Duke’s that was previously Maxwell’s and a view of the new lifeguard tower and the new pier.   The 1951 Ford Pickup parked in front of the Surf Theater was the same truck Paul drove when he lived there. Most noticeably Huntington Beach’s world famous surf heritage and very well known Fourth of July Parade are perfectly married in Kimberleigh’s “United We Surf” image of surfers riding the stripes of Old Glory.

It’s a very special and beautiful design.  Thanks for remembering.

They are available in all sizes for men, women and children and also long and short sarongs. Remember they are limited. Order yours now.

90th Anniversary Charles Lindbergh New York Paris Flight Today May 21 T Shirt Now Available at EAA

EAA Aviation Museum Lindbergh Spirit of St Louis Display 

90th Anniversary Charles Lindbergh's New York Paris Flight Today May 21 - He landed 90 years ago today at 10:22 PM (2222 hrs) Paris time, or 1:22 PM (1322 hrs) California time after 33 1/2 hours - in about 15 minutes.  I read the "Spirit of St. Louis' years ago; always impressed with his focus, determination and just plain physical stamina.  The photo was taken in the EAA Aviation Museum as part of our research for the 90th Anniversary Design - and the shirts are now available on EAA's Merchandise Web site.  EAA is one of Aviation's best organizations.  We support them and recommend anyone interested in aviation learn more about them and maybe join or otherwise contribute.  Their EAA Oshkosh AirVenture is probably the greatest gathering of aircraft and air shows in the world.  Pilots and fans, if you like aviation you would love Oshkosh.

90th Anniversary of Charles Lindbergh's New York Paris Flight Began Today May 20

90th Anniversary Charles Lindbergh Flight T-Shirt

The 90th Anniversary of Charles Lindbergh's nonstop New York to Paris Flight in the Spirit of St. Louis began today May 20 2017.  With no sleep in the previous 24 hours, for the next 33 1/2 Lindbergh kept the NYP aloft (even when he fell asleep for a short period) and navigated correctly for the first solo Transatlantic flight. EAA now has Kimberleigh and Paul Gavin's 90th Anniversary Lindbergh flight T shirts available on their web site. Celebrate aviation, support EAA. Check it out. For more about the Gavins and Gavin Arts go to their site www.gavinarts.com.

90th Anniversary Charles Lindbergh T Shirt

90th Anniversary Charles Lindbergh T Shirt

The Gavins' 90th Anniversary Charles Lindbergh T Shirt is printed and will soon be available for sale through EAA.  The piece is finished.  Much research went into this project be sure to get it right.  Along with photographs of the original aircraft three Spirit of St. Louis Ryan NYP N-X-211 replicas were inspected and photographed to use as models and for other details.  Two of these Spirits are at EAA's Oshkosh AirVenture grounds in Oshkosh, one hanging in the EAA Aviation Museum and the other in the Ryan Aircraft Hangar at EAA's Pioneer Airport.  The third is suspended in Terminal 2 Baggage Claim at San Diego's Lindbergh International Airport. All hand drawn by Kimberleigh and paying attention to detail,  among other things the Gavins were sure this aircraft had the nine cylinder Wright R-790 Whirlwind engine vs. the seven cylinder Continental R-670 with which two of these flying replicas were fitted. One fun discovery along the way was a photograph found of the NYP taking off at San Diego's Dutch Flats. In the background was a hill where Paul's cousins grew up in a home that was already built at that time. In the distance looms a pine tree he's sure is the one that towered in their front yard. These shirts will soon be available on EAA's web site.  If you are interested in one of them email us at Gavin Arts and we will let you know when they are launched!  For more information on the Gavins and their work visit our Gavin Arts website.

90th Anniversary of Charles Lindbergh's New York to Paris Flight

90th Anniversary 
Charles Lindbergh's New York to Paris Flight

The 90th Anniversary of Charles Lindbergh's nonstop New York to Paris Flight is May 20 - 21, 2017.  In 1927 Lindbergh and the Spirit of St. Louis, also known as NYP and N-X-211 launched from Roosevelt Field on Long Island, New York with four sandwiches, two canteens of water and 451 gallons of gas.  They arrived over Paris at 10:00 at night and landed after 33 1/2  hours and 3600 miles.  While an amazing feat for Charles Lindbergh as an individual it was a team effort with those that believed in and financed the project along with the entire crew that designed and built the Spirit of St. Louis in such a short time frame that made this single flight the huge world renowned event successful. Kimberleigh & Paul Gavin wanted to commemorate this 90th Anniversary of Charles Lindbergh’s flight, the Spirit of St. Louis and all those involved in a single image for a t-shirt and poster.  But how?  What would capture and express this flight and this team most succinctly?  After some thought they knew.  It would be the Spirit of St. Louis circling the Eiffel Tower in the night sky just before landing, illuminated from below by the lights of Paris with New York’s Statue of Liberty on the distant global horizon and around the whole design would be a circular border containing words describing the qualities of Lindbergh and the entire team.  Also included is a fitting Lindbergh quote describing aviators and aviation. It’s a beautiful design and the underlit Spirit of St. Louis seems to fly off the page.  The Gavins coordinated this piece with EAA and they will soon be available on the EAA website.  Until then if you are interested or have any questions about this design please contact the Gavins at info@gavinarts.com. See more of Kimberleigh and Paul Gavin's designs and art work at thier Gavin Arts Site.

Kimberleigh Gavin's Official 2016 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh T-shirt Martin Mars Water Bomber drops water at AirVenture

Featured on Gavin Arts' Kimberleigh and Paul Gavin's Official 2016 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh T-shirt the Martin Mars Water Bomber dropped 7500 lbs of water on the AirVenture Runway. Beautiful and Impressive.    Then that evening we took a boat ride on Lake Winnebago up to the EAA Seaplane Base and the Martin Mars was gracefully floating on the water in the setting sun.  Again, beautiful and impressive.  The Gavin's Official 2016 EAA AirVenture T-shirt is available at the EAA Web site and at the AirVenture Grounds now through July 31st unless they sell out!  Hurry and get yours.  The Gavins will be signing the shirts at the EAA Wearhouse Merchandise Store  12:15-1:15 on Wednseday, the EAA Sky Shoppe on Thursday at 10:45-11:45 AM and the AirVenture Tent Friday 

at 2:00 PM. 

  

Official 2016 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh T-Shirts by Gavin Arts’ Kimberleigh & Paul Gavin

Official 2016 EAA Oshkosh AirVenture T-shirt
hand drawn by Kimberleigh Gavin features the
Martin Mars Water Bomber over EAA's
Historic Brown Arch 

The Official 2016 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Event T-Shirts by Gavin Arts' Kimberleigh and Paul Gavin features the Martin Mars Water Bomber.  

Now in their 4^th year doing the Official EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Event designs the Gavins’ 2016 EAA Oshkosh collection contains five new t-shirt designs:  The Official EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Event T-Shirt featuring the Martin Mars, the EAA “Landmarks” shirt, the “View of the World from Oshkosh”, Kimberleigh’s special edition “WASP” Women Airforce Service Pilotsshirt for women and her now iconic EAA “Retro” design. They also created the limited edition “Aluminum Overcast B-17G” and “Ford Trimotor” T-shirts. They are all available on the EAAWebsite.

See more of the Gavin’s work on their web site at www.gavinarts.com

Saint (St.) Junipero Serra Legacy canonization T-shirt design with all California Missions.

Kimberleigh Gavin's Legacy of Saint Serra Design

Kimberleigh Gavin’s “Legacy of Saint (St.) Serra” T-shirt design is now available on line, at Mission San Juan Capistrano and other Missions.  Created for Fr. Junipero Serra’s canonization, all California Missions' locations are marked along El Camino Real on a California map that is framed by pictures of each Mission in the order they were founded. Blessed Father (Fr.) Junipero Serra’s Mission Founding Legacy and his September 23, 2015 Canonization to Sainthood are very beautifully and historically portrayed and commemorated on Kimberleigh’s hand created 14-color screened-printed T-shirts and Hooded Sweatshirts.  

Celebrate the legacy in wearable art!  Get your St. Serra T-shirt today!  For more information and to order yours now click here. 

Front Logo

USMC CH-46 Sea Knight “Battle Phrog” T-shirt and Poster Released by Gavin Arts: “The Old Breed” Sea Knights soon fly into history

Back of Shirt Design: CH-46 Sea Knight: The Old Breed
Marine Corps Battle Phrog

This CH-46 Battle “Phrog” Sea Knight tribute T-Shirt and Poster design by Kimberleigh and Paul Gavin honors the helicopter and its pilots, crews, maintainers and the Marines and cargo they transported in their 51 years of service. 

The 46 is depicted literally “Flying Off into the Sunset” with “The Old Breed” as the title because the helicopter and all those involved with it share the proud tradition of those Marines who have gone before and flew, lived and died courageously and under indescribable conditions. 

The project was conceived by the CO of HMMT-164 and the Gavins worked with him and Vietnam era and current pilots and crews.  The aircraft will retire from US Marine Corps service in April 2015 when the last 46 squadron, the  HMMT-164 “Knightriders” transitions to MV-22 Ospreys. 

A friend of the artists put it simply and elegantly when he saw the design: 

“Good Knight CH-46, and rest in peace.  You saved a lot of men.”

These shirts are available directly through the squadron or they can be mailed if you order from the Gavin’s web site.   

Paintings of Pelicans and Trains in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano

Painting of "Reverence for Pelicans" Flying in the Surf

Coastal Commute:
Eastbound Pelicans

San Juan on the Old Santa Fe Trail

 Paul Gavin has painted pelicans and people as they commute up and down the Southern California coast through San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano.   Pelicans fly silently and gracefully as they find, follow and use the off shore and on shore wind currents along the coastal cliffs and out in the waves and surf.  People travel up and down the coast by train which are also animal like as large silvery snakes that swiftly and curvaceously slither along the glistening rails, rumbling as they hug the small shelf between the land and the sea.  While the birds are silent, the trains moan; lights flash and bells ring as they approach emitting a roar that is simultaneously mournful and menacing.   The pelican travelers are featured in "Coastal Commute: Eastbound Pelicans" and the human pilgrims in "San Juan on the Old Santa Fe Trail".   

                  

Paul Gavin's San Clemente Pier Painting Featured on Summer 2014 City of San Clemente Magazine

Morning Colors: San Clemente Pier Walk

Artist Paul Gavin's "Morning Colors: San Clemente Pier Walk" Oil on Canvas is featured on the 2014 City of San Clemente Recreation Magazine.  Along with regular morning pier activities this painting captures the three stripes down the pier phenomenon.  For only a few weeks in the winter the sun rising directly perpendicular to the pier creates long and wide shadows of the three piece railing all across the pier down its entire length.  The colors of both the shadows are and the pier are truly 'fleeting".  Not only do they change every day depending upon the moisture in the air and the dampness of the pier but they also vary by the minute throughout each sunrise with the changing angle of the sun. Not yet even on the web site the giclee's will be available soon.  The image measures 24" x 30" and the giclee's will be available soon.  Are you interested?  Email us for more information.

Ferndale Ranch and Thacher School Return with San Juan Capistrano Trails Horseback Rider

Sunshine the Paint and John on the SJC Trail
with San Clemente in the distance

Today I was momentarily transported to my days at The Thacher School and my grandparent's Santa Paula Ferndale Ranch when I met a horseback rider in the San Juan Capistrano Hill Trails. Taking another later morning walk in the sun I was again enjoying the sage and mustard scents in the warm wind when I heard a horse approaching from the rear.  Being on a hilly trail seeing only distant buildings it felt like the days of walking and riding horses in the Santa Paula and Ojai Canyons and mountains.

John and Sunshine continue their ride

I was lucky enough to spend my summers growing up at my grandparents Ferndale Ranch (now Thomas Aquinas College) in the Santa Paula River Canyon where I learned to ride for pleasure and to herd cattle on semi-annual roundups throughout multiple properties almost the entire length of the Santa Paula Canyon towards town.  My good fortune continue when I spent my junior and senior high school years at The Thacher School in Ojai where horses and many outdoor activities  still are major school programs.  The school is nestled at the base of the Los Padres National Forest from which creeks pass through campus and the sage covered hills rise up to mountains behind the campus inviting riders and walkers to enjoy the beauty and solitude of California Chaparral.  I competed in gymkhana and took daily trail rides on campus and into the Los Padres Hills throughout my junior year.

Seeing John and Sunshine the Paint was refreshing and reflective as my mind wandered back to beautiful places and impressionable times and special people and also served as a reminder that those moments and the naturally beautiful sights and smells and individuals are still here and available to enjoy on a daily basis.