Rising Stars: Meet Anna Finch of Marina del Rey

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Finch.

Hi Anna, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As Blue Crush Artist, I create immersive 3D textured paintings of aerial beachscapes, weaving nature directly into my paintings on glass, canvas, and wood. Using natural materials such as sand and mixed media, I create my own paint and then paint/texturally sculpt pieces that are not just visual representations of the ocean but tactile experiences.

Born to anthropologist parents, I was raised with a deep appreciation for culture, nature, and the interconnectedness of our world. As a half-Australian, half-Korean artist, my global upbringing shaped my passion for environmental conservation. I’ve witnessed some of the planet’s most breathtaking landscapes—the Great Barrier Reef, the Amazon Rainforest, and beyond—places that now face critical threats due to climate change and human impact. My art is a tribute to these natural wonders, a love letter to the fragile ecosystems I grew up admiring.

Beyond the canvas, I try to use my work to support environmental causes and regularly lead art workshops where I teach attendees how to incorporate natural textures into their work, creating stunning 3D odes to the sea while reconnecting with their inner child. Through these workshops, I aim to inspire creativity and a sense of personal responsibility and tie to the planet, proving that art and activism can go hand in hand.

In a world increasingly disconnected from nature, my mission is to bridge that gap—one textured wave at a time. Through my art, I invite viewers to not only see the ocean but to feel it, to remember its power, and to fight for its survival.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not exactly a smooth road—but I think that’s part of what’s made the journey with Blue Crush so meaningful. When I first started, I knew I wanted to create something that captured the feeling of being completely immersed in the ocean, but discovering the right medium to express that was a process of trial and error. Learning how to work with this specific kind of paint, which I create myself—how it moves, layers, dries, and reacts—was both exciting and frustrating at times. It took a lot of experimentation (and plenty of messy mistakes) to get to a place where I felt like I had a rhythm with it.

Then came the next chapter: building Blue Crush into something beyond the canvas. Launching my Paint + Brunch series and hosting creative events added a whole new layer—fun, yes, but also a crash course in logistics, planning, and community-building. I’ve had to wear a lot of hats, from artist to event planner to marketer, often all in one day. But even through the challenges, it’s been incredibly rewarding. Seeing people connect with the work, or lose themselves in the creative flow at an event—that’s what keeps me going.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work is all about capturing the raw, emotional beauty of the ocean and translating that into immersive art experiences. I specialize in layered, textural paintings that reflect the depth, movement, and mystery of the sea. I work with a unique medium that mimics the fluidity and unpredictability of water—something I discovered through a lot of experimentation and late nights in the studio. Every piece is deeply intuitive; I let the paint guide me, and no two works are ever the same.

What I’m most proud of is how Blue Crush has grown beyond the canvas. I’ve built a space where people can not only experience the art but also create it—through my Paint + Brunch series, creative workshops, and pop-up events. These gatherings are all about joy, connection, and giving people permission to play again. That’s really what sets Blue Crush apart. It’s not just about the art hanging on the wall—it’s about the feeling you get when you see it, or the freedom you feel when you’re making something yourself.

I think what makes my work different is the emotional depth I bring to it. There’s a real energy behind each piece—sometimes stormy, sometimes serene—and I think people feel that. It’s a little messy, a little wild, and totally rooted in nature. Just like the ocean.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I think luck has definitely played a role in my journey—but it’s always been intertwined with a lot of hard work, both physical and mental. Discovering the medium I work with felt like a lucky break in some ways. I wasn’t actively searching for it; I kind of stumbled into it during a season of creative exploration. But once I found it, I threw myself into learning everything about it—how to create it it, how to let it move the way it wants to, how to make it my own. That part wasn’t luck. That was labor. Long hours, heavy lifting, very messy studio.

In the past year, Blue Crush has grown in ways I never expected—more shows, sold-out events, a community that continues to build with so much love and energy. It’s been a whirlwind, honestly. And while there have been lucky moments—like the right person seeing a piece at the right time—I also know none of that would’ve happened without showing up consistently and pushing through all the doubt and exhaustion that comes with building something from scratch.

So has luck played a role in my work? Yes, absolutely. But I’ve learned that luck only gets you so far—you’ve got to be ready to meet it with effort and vision.

Pricing:

• Paint + Dine Events: $50-60 includes materials, instruction, discounted specials on food and drink
• $100-150: small original paintings on wood or canvas
• Commissions: enquire at [email protected]
• $350-500: medium originals
• $1000+: large originals

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bluecrushartist.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/bluecrushartist

Image Credits
B Wojnarowicz Photography
Michael McDonald Photography
Sebastian Paredes Photography