Born among the gnarled cypress trees and windswept dunes of Fort Ord, Joaquin’s childhood began with a visceral connection to the area’s unique landscape. Relocating to Germany as a child, Joaquin was introduced to some of the world’s greatest art museums on road trips throughout Europe, inspiring him to paint and study art at a young age. Upon his return to the Peninsula, he discovered the works of the early Monterey and Carmel artists while in high school, which further inspired him to paint the area’s unparalleled landscape. Years later, his passion for the area has only grown and can be seen in his unique aesthetic – reminiscent of the early artists’ spiritual vision, yet completely his own.