My World of Tropical Inspiration
Give me a vast open horizon — whether over the ocean or in the sky — and I’m exactly where I belong.
Peace isn’t just a place on a map — it’s a perspective, a mindset. For years, I’ve traveled the tropics capturing the moments where the sky and sea create a perfect, unbroken harmony.
I bring these scenes of island ease back to my studio, distilling them into vibrant acrylic originals designed for those who value stepping back to reclaim clarity. Through these canvases, the everyday melts away, allowing you to anchor your spirit and live your "island state of mind" every day.
Take a Few Minutes to Step Into My World
Join me by the water and the easel for a brief look at the natural beauty and coastal landscapes that inspire my life and work.
The Artist & His Creative Journey
The Early Pull of the Ocean
I grew up in northern New Jersey and often spent summer vacations at the Jersey Shore with my family. I learned to swim in the ocean and ride the waves -- first on an inflatable raft, then, as I grew older, on a surfboard. That early pull toward water shaped something deep in me; a love of motion, light, and freedom.
Even then, I sensed that a change in latitude could bring a change in attitude -- a truth Jimmy Buffett would later put to music, and one I would come to live.
From the Waves to the Wind
Years later, I earned my pilot’s license and realized that the sky held the same promise as the ocean -- the exhilarating freedom of motion, where wind replaces waves and the horizon stretches endlessly in front of you. Whether moving across water or lifting through open sky, I was always chasing that feeling of openness and possibility.
Translating Paradise
Winter travels to the Caribbean and a move to Florida completed the circle. My life on the water and my life as an artist naturally merged. The warm natural beauty of a tropical island was no longer just a vacation -- it became creative fuel. The color, clarity, and rhythm of tropical shores transformed my focus as an artist.
For more than 30 years, and across two decades of Caribbean travel, I’ve translated that island light and atmosphere onto canvas. Collectors tell me my paintings bring color, calm, and the spirit of the islands into their homes -- a daily reminder that paradise isn’t just somewhere you visit… it’s something you carry with you.
Bring the Islands Home
Contact Alan at: Alan@alanzawacki.com
Professional Affiliations
Sarasota Arts and Cultural Alliance
Light Chasers Plein Air
Martin Arts
Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce
Exhibitions
Juried Group Exhibitions include:
The Other Persona - Art Center Sarasota
It's Who We Are -Art Center Sarasota
The Sum of It's Parts - Art Center Sarasota
Deep See - Art Center Sarasota
Dog Days - Art Uptown Gallery, Sarasota FL
Point of View - Art Center Sarasota
January in Paradise - Art Uptown Gallery, Sarasota, FL
Simply Original - Art Center Sarasota
New Works - Art Center Sarasota
The Bradenton Financial Building, Bradenton, FL
Merrill Lynch - Bradenton, FL
Fresh - Art Center Sarasota
Florida Flavor - Art Center Sarasota
Florida's Finest - Art Center Sarasota
Solo Exhibitions include:
Sarasota Orchestra Harmony Gallery - Sarasota, FL
Players Theater Gallery - Sarasota, FL
Dancing Crane Gallery - Bradenton, FL
Painting Paradise, One Beach at a Time
While many tropical paintings begin with reference photographs, mine begin with firsthand experience. For decades I've spent days and days on the beaches of Florida and the Caribbean — not simply to visit, but to observe, sketch, paint, and understand the changing light, colors, and atmosphere that make each place unique. Those experiences become the foundation for every original painting I create.
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Some of my favorite mornings have been spent painting beneath the shade of sea grape trees while watching the Caribbean light change across the water.
Many of my studio paintings begin as plein air studies like this one.
Painting on Location – Lido Beach, Sarasota, Florida
One of the greatest joys of being a landscape artist is stepping away from the studio and painting directly from nature. On this beautiful morning at Lido Beach, I was captivated by the brilliant white sand, the sculptural sea oats, and the ever-changing cloud formations drifting across the Gulf of Mexico.
Solomon Beach • St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Some places stay with you long after you've left.
Solomon Beach is one of those places. Reached by a quiet trail through the Virgin Islands National Park, it rewards visitors with crystal-clear turquoise water, gently leaning palms, and a sense of peaceful seclusion that is difficult to describe until you've experienced it yourself.
Bring Paradise Home
Every painting you see in my collection is rooted in years of firsthand observation, returning to the places that continue to inspire me and translating those experiences into artwork that brings a lasting sense of calm and escape into your home.