Sean Kirkpatrick creates his rich and funky pastel and oil paintings in a tiny converted garage at the back of his property near Santa Barbara High School, which doubles as a recording studio for his two-man band, Swell.

When I arrive, the room is occupied not by his drum kit, but by his drawing boards and paintings‹primarily California landscapes with deep, swirling skies. His use of pastels brings softness to the otherwise bold and daring compositions, a few of which will be featured on the jacket of Swell¹s next album.

Sean explains that most of his paintings of urban scenes are currently in San Francisco, where he spends a good deal of his time, going there for the ³culture,² coming back for the ³natural beauty and the surf.² Many of his landscapes depict places he¹s discovered somewhere on the commute between the two cities, including parts of Hollister Ranch, Gaviota, and San Ardo, California.

Kirkpatrick will open his studio to the public this weekend along with 25 other South Coast and Solvang-based artists in a free, open-studio event sponsored by Santa Barbara Studio Artists. Surrealists and impressionists, sculptors and plein air painters will offer a privileged glimpse inside their ateliers.

The Santa Barbara Studio Artists (SBSA) Holiday Open Studio runs Sat., Nov. 16, and Sun., Nov. 17, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., both days. Free brochures, including a map of all studios involved and a brief description of each artist¹s work, can be picked up at the Contemporary Arts Forum, Chaucer¹s Bookstore, Borders Bookstore, and other locations. For more information, contact Santa Barbara Studio Artists at 898-4471..