The whaling wall

Elia Powers

Scott Lambert has a feel for the ocean and an eye for what’s

underneath.

A lifelong surfer and recent recipient of Newport Beach’s

lifeguard of the year award, Lambert turned his artistic attention

toward the sea for his latest project.

On Thursday, he delivered a 5-by-7-foot mural of Pacific Ocean

marine mammals as a gift to Crystal Cove State Park.

The park has a special meaning to Lambert. It stretches across

Newport Beach and Laguna Beach, where he spends countless hours

riding the waves.

Lambert, a 17-year-old senior at University High in Irvine, needed

to complete a final project that affected his community in order to

earn the title of Eagle Scout, which fewer than 5% of Boy Scouts

become, Lambert said.

So he turned to Winter Bonnin, a naturalist and volunteer

coordinator at Crystal Cove, for advice. She had taken on several

Eagle Scout hopefuls over the past decade.

Bonnin showed Lambert past student projects, but he wasn’t

inspired.

Then he walked into the park’s Sector Office and saw a wall-length

mural, created in 2000 by a future Eagle Scout, that depicted a scene

of fish swimming underwater.

Lambert immediately found his answer.

“I knew that this would be an involved project,” Lambert said.

“I wanted to mix surf and art. I thought if I cared about the

subjects, it would be a more effective painting.”

Lambert wanted to be realistic with his project, so he studied the

mammals and visited Laguna Beach art galleries to see how other

artists depicted marine life.

He enlisted younger members of Boy Scout Troop 695 to help

complete the painting.

And after more than six weeks of work, he pulled his U-Haul truck

into the park just before sunset on Thursday and handed the painting

to Bonnin.

“This is by far the biggest project I’ve ever completed,” he said.

Lambert said he developed a passion for art during his first year

of high school.

He began taking a camera with him on surfing outings, getting

action and still shots while near the water.

He said he hopes to continue this hobby by studying graphic design

and art in college.

For now, he is happy to join his father, Bob, as an Eagle Scout.

After Bonnin signs off on the project, that will become a reality.

She plans to hang Lambert’s mural in the Sector Office for the

time being, though she admits its future location hasn’t been

determined.

Bonnin is planning to use the mural -- with its renderings that

include whales, seals, sea lions -- in her educational seminars,

which mostly target children ages 5 to 12.

“Having a picture of mammals is a great educational tool,” Bonnin

said.

“I can teach the kids all the different types of life and point to

them in the picture.

“It’s a wonderful gift, and it came from such a pleasant and

mature person.”