Discover coastal fine art photography, hand-colored originals, and prints inspired by the beaches of Carlsbad, Encinitas, and beyond.
Finding the perfect gift isn't always easy, especially for someone who seems to have everything. But if there's one thing I've learned from years of photographing and painting the Southern California coastline, it's that people develop a special connection with the places they love.
Maybe it's the beach where they grew up, the surf break they visit every morning, or the stretch of coastline where they walk their dog. Or perhaps it's a familiar meeting spot, like the lifeguard tower in my photograph See Me At 23, where a simple “See me at 23!” can bring back a lifetime of beach memories. These places hold memories, and artwork can be a wonderful way to keep those memories close.
See Me At 23: One of my earlier lifeguard tower shots in Carlsbad
People have occasionally told me that my artwork captures the way memories look. I've always liked that description. Memories aren't necessarily exact reproductions of what we saw. They're often a little softer, either more or less colorful, and shaped by how we felt at the time. In a way, that's exactly what I'm trying to capture in my work.
As a Carlsbad-based artist, I've spent many years photographing the beaches, neighborhoods, and landmarks of North County San Diego. From La Jolla to Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad and Oceanside, my photography and hand-colored artwork celebrate the coastal communities that make this part of California so special.
With the holiday season approaching, I thought I'd share a few ideas for unique San Diego Christmas gifts, or simply something special for your own home.
A Little Piece of Cardiff-by-the-Sea
One of my most popular pieces, Cardiff Stairs, features the distinctive wooden stairways at San Elijo State Beach. I photographed them from a distance, using perspective to make the stairs appear especially steep as they descend toward the beach.
Cardiff Stairs: the wooden stairs at the San Elijo State Beach campground between towers 18 and 19
The woman carrying her surfboard up the stairs is Kimi Evans, who went on to become a familiar face to Southern California television viewers as a weather anchor for San Diego’s CW and ABC7 in Los Angeles. She's also an entrepreneur in the fitness world, with Pilates studios in the San Diego area.
It's a photograph that many people immediately recognize, particularly those who have spent time camping, surfing, walking, or simply getting a good workout on those wooden stairs. I've been doing quite a bit of stair climbing myself lately, especially on the wooden beach stairs in Carlsbad, and can personally attest that they're a great way to get your heart pumping!
Over the years, I've created this image in a variety of sizes, both as photographic prints and individually hand-colored artwork.
For someone who loves Cardiff-by-the-Sea, it's more than just a photograph. It's a reminder of a favorite place.
Explore Cardiff Stairs and my Encinitas coastal artwork.
Carlsbad: More Than Just a Beach Town
Carlsbad has been my home for many years, and its coastline has provided endless inspiration.
From the beaches at South Ponto and Terra Mar to the lifeguard towers and familiar landmarks around town, there are countless scenes that Carlsbad residents and visitors recognize instantly.
One of my increasingly popular pieces is People of Terra Mar, a panoramic view of the coastline that captures the little figures, beach activities, and expansive scenery that make this stretch of Carlsbad so distinctive. It's the kind of image where there's always something new to discover, even after you've looked at it many times.
People of Terra Mar, captured with my drone
While People of Terra Mar was photographed from above using my drone, Stormlight was captured with my regular Nikon camera from North Ponto Beach. And unlike the carefully planned drone photograph, this one came about rather spontaneously.
I was driving home one evening when I noticed the sky turning into something spectacular. I rushed home, grabbed my camera, and headed straight to the beach, hoping the light would still be there when I arrived. Fortunately, it was! The result was Stormlight, a dramatic coastal panorama that reminds me why I love photography so much. Sometimes the best photographs happen when you least expect them — as long as you're ready to drop everything and go!
Stormlight, captured with my Nikon standing at North Ponto
Another favorite, People of Ponto, has been one of my most successful photographs over the years. Its larger limited editions have sold out, and only a couple of smaller hand-colored editions remain available. It was shot from the same spot as Stormlight, but pointed in the opposite direction.
Whether it's a photograph of a favorite beach or a colorful interpretation of the town itself, locally inspired art makes a thoughtful gift for someone who calls Carlsbad home, or wishes they still did!
Browse my Carlsbad coastal photography and artwork.
Encinitas: Four Communities, Endless Inspiration
Encinitas has a character all its own. There's the surf culture of Swami's, the charming streets of Historic Encinitas, the dramatic bluffs of Leucadia, the beaches of Cardiff-by-the-Sea, and the more rural character of Olivenhain. Each community has its own personality, and all have provided me with plenty of photographic inspiration over the years.
In fact, I love this area so much that I created a coffee table book featuring photographs from all four communities. Every image in the book was individually hand-colored, combining black-and-white photography with traditional hand-tinting techniques originating from the 1800’s.
The front cover of my coffee table book featuring four communities in Encinitas, California.
The book also includes two step-by-step tutorials explaining how I hand-color my photographs, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the techniques I use to bring color to my images.
One of the tutorials in my coffee table book that teaches how to hand tint a photo with Marshall’s Photo Oils.
For anyone who loves Encinitas, whether they live here, grew up here, or simply enjoy visiting, the book makes a wonderful gift. And for those who prefer something on their wall, many of my Encinitas photographs are also available as fine art prints and original hand-colored pieces.
Explore my Encinitas photography, fine art prints, and coastal wall art.
Something Truly Unique: Hand-Colored Photography
One of the things that distinguishes my work from conventional photography is that I frequently color directly onto black-and-white photographic prints.
It's a technique with roots in the earliest days of photography, long before color film became commonplace.
Roy coloring “Cardiff 18” on canvas.
Depending on the image, I might use transparent photo oils to bring subtle colors into a landscape, airbrush an entirely new sky with acrylics, or combine several painting techniques on canvas.
I also offer photographic prints of many of my images, allowing people to enjoy the artwork in a variety of sizes and at different price points. These prints faithfully reproduce the original image, while my individually hand-colored pieces take the process one step further.
With a hand-colored photograph, the paint becomes part of the original artwork itself. Even when I start with the same black-and-white photograph, the colors, brushwork, and subtle variations make every finished piece unique.
It's a combination of photography and traditional hand-tinting that allows me to interpret a scene in a way that goes beyond what the camera originally recorded.
Coastal Art for Every Home — and Every Budget
Not every piece of art needs to be a large statement piece.
A small photographic print can brighten a desk, hallway, or bookshelf, while a larger panoramic photograph can become the centerpiece of a living room.
The finished hand colored black and white photo of the boat houses in Encinitas that I used for the tutorial in my coffee table book.
I offer many of my photographs in different sizes and formats, from affordable open-edition prints to limited editions and original hand-colored works. Framing options include rustic barnwood frames, which complement coastal imagery particularly well.
If you're choosing artwork as a gift, consider where the recipient might display it. A small print of a beloved beach can be just as meaningful as a large piece of wall art.
And if you're unsure about sizes, framing, or finishes, I'm always happy to discuss the possibilities.
Looking for Something a Little More Colorful?
If you're looking for something with a more playful, colorful take on coastal life, you might also enjoy the work of Paul Marsana, featuring bold pop art inspired by Southern California beaches, surfers, dogs, and everyday life.
Support a Local San Diego Artist This Holiday Season
When you purchase artwork directly from a local artist, you're doing more than buying something to hang on a wall. You're supporting the person who created it, the time spent developing the work, and the artistic community around you.
Aside from spending time with my wife and daughter, my favorite activity in the world is being out there taking photographs. My second favorite is coming home, loading them onto my computer, and going through everything I've just shot to discover which images really stand out.
There's something exciting about that process. Sometimes the photograph I thought would be the best turns out to be rather ordinary, while another image — one I barely noticed when taking it — turns out to be the real winner.
And occasionally, I discover something completely unexpected that becomes the starting point for a new piece of art.
I love hearing from people who recognize the places in my work and share their own stories about them. It's one of the most rewarding parts of being an artist, knowing that a photograph I took can bring back a memory for someone else.
So whether you're shopping for a surfer, a beach lover, someone who recently moved away from San Diego, or simply someone who appreciates original art, consider giving them a little piece of the Southern California coast.
After all, the best gifts often remind us of places and moments we never want to forget.
Explore my fine art photography and original artwork.
Roy Kerckhoffs is a Carlsbad, California-based fine art photographer and painter specializing in hand-colored photography, coastal landscapes, and original artwork inspired by Southern California and beyond.