Creative living

Suzie Harrison

Since the early 1900s people have found their way to Laguna Beach

seeking the life of an artist. It started with Norman St. Claire, who

came to town in 1903 to paint the surf and hillsides.

Now, most artists are forced to adopt the not-so-romantic view

that their income will have to be supplemented somehow, often through

a second job, an inheritance or the income of a spouse.

Fortunately, there are plenty of examples of people in town able

to support themselves solely through their creative abilities.

Following are the stories of three such artists who put their souls

and their sweat into their work and have achieved the life of the

artist.

INTERNATIONAL IMPRESSIONS

One well-known artist who has made a living off his work is Ken

Auster. The impressionist works in oil and started as a silk screener

in the late ‘60s. It all began when he bought a friend’s business

called California T-Shirts while earning his bachelor’s degree at Cal

State Long Beach.

“It was the first T-shirt company to put a design on the back of a

shirt that said California,” Auster said.

He was living as a surfer at the time and the surfing-related

imagery was successful in most major surf shops.

The work was part of his lifestyle and he became friends with the

surf set, traveling the world surfing with them.

“The art world has taken me to some unusual and interesting

places,” Auster said.

In the early ‘80s, Auster segued into painting and fine art.

“I threw in a little rock ‘n’ roll business in the early ‘80s,

doing the design for Van Halen’s ‘80, ’82 and ’84 world tours,”

Auster said. “So I got a taste of surfing and rock ‘n’ roll. As

different as they are, they have a lot in common, which is ego.”

For Auster the art began as a child, when he started doodling on

his homework during elementary school.

“Now I don’t work for anybody but myself, painting surfing images

from different parts of the world,” Auster said. “It’s almost an

exclusively ‘want to’ world for me. I keep my ‘have to’s’ to a

minimum.”

He said he thinks a large percentage of Laguna’s art community

makes its living as artists, but the key word is that everyone has a

different level of comfort.

“I’ve always said that I don’t want to make a living, but a

profit,” Auster said.

His life now consists of surfing and art and giving back to the

surf industry.

“I donate a lot of art to Surfrider Foundation for use of my

designs,” Auster said. “I’m always doing images of my travels in surf

-- wherever it takes me.”

A lot of his surfing friends take painting classes from him now.

“It’s come full circle, sitting in my classes are people I’ve

always respected in the surfing world,” Auster said. “I realize they

respect me in the art world the same way I’ve respected them. It’s a

good feeling.”

TIME TO SCULPT

Ralph Tarzian is another Laguna artist who is able to devote

himself full time to art. His small studio is nestled near the canyon

and filled with sculptures and castings the artist has assembled

throughout the years -- some completed, some not.

“It’s a real hideaway,” he said. “Only the goats and coyotes can

find it. The only problem is the room factor. I used to have next

door and this too.”

In the past he has worked in marble, but now Tarzian sculpts

primarily in bronze. He says carving marble is tough on the back. He

celebrated his 80th birthday last week.

His life in art began as a child with woodwork.

“I can remember when I was nine or 10 years old, my dad bought me

a jigsaw and I used to cut out bookends,” Tarzian said. “I took a lot

of art classes all the way through high school.”

The World War II veteran said he knew in high school that as soon

as he graduated he would join the army. That knowledge explains his

scholastic decline in his senior year, including a D in art.

The call of the army, however, wasn’t as strong as his call to

create. After serving three years, he went back to school and

received an art degree at Cal State Long Beach. He taught art for 35

years at Orange Coast College, starting their foundry and developing

their 3-D program.

Eighteen years ago it was time for him to stop teaching and devote

all his time to his sculptures.

“It’s pretty tough to make a living off it,” Tarzian said. “It’s

feast or famine -- one year you do great and another year you can

starve to death.”

Tarzian grinned as he explained the details of some of his work.

“With oil-based clay it doesn’t need to be covered,” he said. “You

could come back in five years and work on it if you wanted to, not

that you’d want to.”

His work used to show in about seven galleries, now he shows in

two -- Esther Wells in Laguna Beach and another on Balboa. He’s also

been an exhibitor in the festivals off and on for 30 years and keeps

busy with collectors.

“Last year was a good year but I’ve had years where I haven’t sold

one thing,” Tarzian said. “Sculpture is a hard sell. It’s about the

last thing that sells unless there is a collector.”

A few of his pieces can be seen around town -- one at Laguna

College of Art and Design, a sculpture called “Reclining Woman” and

his “Canyon Spirits” are at [seven-degrees].

He said it’s tough for the artist just starting, as the slow

economy creates slim commissions.

“I have half a dozen regular collectors and a lot of my [success]

is word of mouth,” Tarzian said.

He said that if someone really wants to make it, luck is integral.

“You have to have a lot of luck and have your work in the right

place at the right time,” Tarzian said. “I’m really lucky I can keep

busy since I retired.”

DUAL ROLE

Artist and art commissioner Mike Tauber estimated that around

4,000 people in Laguna Beach are involved in the arts, including

those who create the work and the people in support roles for arts

organizations. His role in the community has him painting sometimes

and other times facilitating art programs for others in the city.

Tauber’s artistic life started with his education at San Diego

State. Because he opted for the art route instead of business, his

parents opted not to support him financially.

“I worked as a freelance architectural illustrator through college

and designed thousands of kitchens as a draftsman, as a way to put me

through art school,” Tauber said.

He said it was hard work, but it taught him the drive necessary to

succeed as a full-time artist.

“You’ve got to be hungry,” Tauber said.

When he graduated with a degree in environmental design, he was

hired to read blueprints and give professional renditions of houses

and buildings.

“I did it by hand, the old fashioned way,” Tauber said. “Lucky for

me my degree trained me in painting, drawing, sculpting and practical

skills such as drafting.”

He said he is one of the few people who still applies what he

learned in college for his art. He creates murals, paintings,

conceptual art and environmental design.

“My work does have environmental scale and construction qualities,

a lot of draftsmanship and perspective,” Tauber said. “My mosaic

series’ are very architectural.”

In 1986, Tauber moved to Laguna to take an architectural drafting

position nearby. He was 26 at the time and didn’t like the L.A.

scene, where his last job was. Later he started teaching art at a

local private school.

“I picked Laguna Beach because there is nature and mountain

biking,” Tauber said. “I worked in L.A. a year and a half and needed

to start to segue into painting.”

All the while he continued painting on the side.

“I have painted all my life,” Tauber said. “I’ve always wanted to

turn to that. I’ve been doing it since I was a kid.”

He began selling his art and building his portfolio and built his

career from there, even spending a couple years in Brazil and

Australia doing commissioned pieces before coming back home to

Laguna.

He said one tough thing about being a professional artist is that

he has to work almost every day.

“When you’re not working, you’re doing paperwork,” Tauber said. “I

wish I had more time to do community service work because it’s more

enhancing to an artist’s career.”

The most important and rewarding aspect for Tauber is getting

involved in the arts organizations and communities of artists.

“One favorite thing to do is to work with other artists and help

them develop their work,” Tauber said.

He said he credits living in Laguna Beach for the camaraderie of

the artists and the sense of teamwork and compassion that they have

for one another.