Count your blessings mural by Matthew Allen Art in Costa Mesa

"Contemporary California Aesthetic" Southern California artist Matthew Allen is a former Surfer Magazine Art Director who has also moonlighted as a clothing designer and photographer. Much of his fine art and photography revolves around beach and surf culture. Matthew works in a variety of mediums including pen and ink, pencil, linocut prints, and watercolors. His latest work takes discarded marine canvas and sails and repurposes them into pieces of art. Matthew began making art in high school after suffering a seizure while surfing in Hawaii. Ordered out of the water for over a year he used the downtime to foster his creative gifts. Matthew's work is inspired by quiet moments at sea, the joy of surfing, the tools of the trade and the characters who enjoy the pastime. When he's not making art or traveling the world showing his art, Matthew can be found in the water surfing, tooling around on his guitar, working with foster kids or doting on his niece and nephews.