Mike SciaccaToreen West got into the groove...

Mike Sciacca

Toreen West got into the groove of the piped-in music heard

throughout the grounds of the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort &

Spa as she found her own groove in the art form she knows best --

painting.

The professional artist and Huntington Beach resident gave a live,

public performance Saturday at the Lighthouse Courtyard in the

resort’s retail shopping village.

West was busy at work, interpreting to canvas, the image of a

little surfer boy she was studying from a photograph.

Her work session was open to any and all who walked the grounds.

The painting will be finished and ready to hang in the resort’s

theGallery in time for the start of the U.S. Open of Surfing at the

end of the month, she said.

West, who has called Huntington Beach home for the past 11 years,

is the gallery’s top-selling artist and the first artist to perform

live at the Hyatt, said Toni Felix, director of theGallery.

“theGallery provides a fresh outlook to help promote many

talented, local artists and their works of art,” said Felix, also a

Huntington Beach resident. “With a live performance such as Toreen’s,

those who see these artists in action are able to put a face to an

artist’s name and see the technique that the artist uses.

“Huntington Beach hasn’t had a huge background in the arts and by

displaying the works of local artists and a few other artists, as

well, we hope to stir more art awareness in our community.”

The Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa opened its doors

on Jan. 19. The gallery, Felix said, opened on March 9 and is the

first art gallery to be owned and operated by the Hyatt chain.

Currently, theGallery’s fine art collection houses anywhere

between 80 and 100 pieces, Felix said.

“theGallery offers such a diversity of medium that there’s

something here for everyone,” she said. “My focus is to bring in the

original paintings of local artists, like Toreen West, as well as

provide a diversity of artistic works that appeal to locals and those

who travel to visit Huntington Beach.”

West previously had had her work shown in galleries in Orange

County, Los Angeles and Florida.

The award-winning artist, who hails from a family line of

“artists, musicians, jewelers and computer nerds,” she said, has

appeared in one-woman and group shows.

Her work has been featured in theGallery since it opened in March.

“There’s the possibility of my doing a one-woman show at the Hyatt

in the near future and that’s something I’d love to do,” said West,

who called her self an “impressionist” painter.

“I love color and I’m one who loves to paint life. Most of my

paintings have to do with children and animals, especially horses.

I’m a big animal lover. I keep two horses at the Equestrian Center

and I love Dog Beach as well as all the parks Huntington Beach has to

offer.”

Felix said theGallery has plans to hold one to two art receptions

monthly.

West, in fact, will again perform live at the Lighthouse Courtyard

between 4 and 7 p.m. on Saturday.

On July 26, a program titled, “Art of Surfing,” will feature the

work of L.L. McAdams, Kevin Short and Bill Drysdale.

On Aug. 2, featured artist Robb Havassy will unveil his first surf

art-related calendar featuring 50 pieces of his original works of

art.

“Art enthusiasts and collectors both locally and from around the

world are invited to view a diverse collection of original and

limited works of art that are interpreted in all of the traditional

and contemporary styles and mediums,” Felix said. “One of my main

goals is to bring in original paintings of the local artists.”

* MIKE SCIACCA covers sports and features. He can be reached at

(714) 965-7171 or by e-mail at michael.sciacca@latimes.com.