67 years behind a pencil, brush, and sketchbook.
33 of them spent in the Santa Barbara sun.
Hundreds of paintings and stories to show for it.
All ready to share with the world.

“My art was with me, I never stopped doing it."

“I want casualness"

“There’s been a lot of times I couldn’t do artwork. I had no money for art supplies. Those were bad times."

“I think as long as you’re doing something you’re pleased with, that you’re happy with… to me that is success."

Photos by Rachel Zehnder

The Artist

Portrait of Richard Toberen: Del Playa Dr, Isla Vista

The Tool

Photo of Richard's favorite pencil: the Staedtler Mars Lumograph

The Hand

Photo of Richard's left hand: the backbone of every curated piece

The Interview

Portrait of Richard Toberen from our interview.

The Critique

Portrait of Richard reviewing his work.
Richard Toberen
Meet The Artist

Richard Toberen is part self-taught, part art-schooled — and after three decades of sketching Isla Vista, he's still at it every day.

He landed here in 1979, took a cook's job at Carrillo Commons, camped at the lagoon for a month, then settled into a one-bedroom on Picasso Street. A few years later he picked up a B.F.A. in Illustration from Cal State Long Beach, but the real education was always in the sketchbook.

No easels — just a small book and a pen, capturing Isla Vista as it actually happens: street corners, houses, businesses, and the everyday people who make the place what it is.

Now he's offering custom commissions — if you want to take home a piece of Isla Vista with you, or share the memories you've made in this town with your roommates, head to the commissions page.

(More on Richard's story in the interview below.)