‘Cliffs at Sunrise,’ a painting by Margaret Ricks, received top honors in the juried art show The California Missions Trail from Carpinteria to Guadalupe. (Margaret Ricks)

This spring, artists with the Southern California Artists Painting for the Environment (SCAPE) set their eyes on painting scenes from the California Missions Trail between Carpinteria and Guadalupe.

The historic trail represents a journey in time that begins with the footsteps of the Native Americans, traces historical expeditions, and continues today with pilgrims, hikers and bikers enjoying the California landscapes and Mission sites. The online exhibit includes the work of local artists using a variety of media to paint images from one end of Santa Barbara County to the other.

The plein air artists set up easels near the trail to capture images of the landscapes between the three missions in Santa Barbara County and occasionally of the missions themselves.

“We are thrilled to share images of original artwork using a digital platform,” said Karen Glancy, exhibit chair for SCAPE. “This is our first online exhibition in SCAPE’s 20 year history.”

The exhibit, juried by artist Marsha Burtt, recognized several artists with awards. Margaret Ricks received the Jurors Choice award; Joan Russell Price won 1st Place; Nina Warner won 2nd Place; and 3rd Place went to Libby Smith. Artists receiving honorable mention awards included Leigh Sparks, Kevin Gleason, Jerry Martin, and Karen Glancy.

From now until July 24, the artwork will be available for sale online, with half of the proceeds supporting nonprofit organizations including the California Missions Trail Alliance, Los Padres Forest Association, and SCAPE.

“This is a really exciting collaboration between artists and nonprofits,” said Mark Wilkinson, executive director of the Santa Barbara County Trails Council. “Each painting that is purchased and hung on a wall will not only inspire exploration and foster appreciation for the trail, but also help to fund future trail projects.”

The California Missions Trail Alliance promotes the iconic 800-mile hiking and cycling route that connects urban and rural communities, thus providing spiritual, recreational, and economic benefits to California residents.

Organizations supporting the alliance include Santa Barbara County Trails Council, California Missions Foundation, California Mission Walkers, Old Mission Santa Barbara, and Carpinteria Morning Rotary.

For more about the California Missions Trail Alliance, visit https://californiamissionstrail.org/ Learn more about Los Padres Forest Association at https://lpforest.org/. More about SCAPE is at https://scape.wildapricot.org/.