Seal Beach holiday window painter returns

Greg Sutton survived a stroke 10 years ago

Greg Sutton poses as he concludes his Bells with Holly Painting at Alamitos Antiques. Photo by Chris MacDonald

After a stroke 10 years ago, former Seal Beach painter Greg Sutton returns to paint holiday art on Alamitos Antiques on Main. “It’s really great to be back,” said the artist of more than 40 years, who had been unable to paint.

When he was 7, Greg Sutton’s parents searched frantically for him, only to discover he was outside painting candy canes on his sister’s bay window in Long Beach.

The talented artist has decorated windows at cleaners, hardware stores, dress shops, salons, bars, antique retailers, two US Post Offices and a lot more. He even has created logos, business shingles and helped announce sales and specials.

Trained in art at Millikan High School in Long Beach and several local colleges and in workshops led by legendary painters Milford Zornes and Henry Fukuhara,  Greg paints murals, signs and watercolors but he has a love and incredible eye for making ordinary windows come to life for the Christmas holidays as well as Valentines Day, St. Patrick’s Day, the Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, birthdays, graduations—you name it.

He also has painted Katella Deli in Los Alamitos and the General Motors Plant in Southgate, where his mom, Shirley, was a PBX Operator.

Alamitos Antiques co-owner Dave Davis said, “We’re glad to have him back. He hasn’t lost his touch.”

Greg’s mentor, Sunset Beach artist Bill Anderson, said for years, Greg “has had a history of celebrating holidays, especially Christmas with his beautiful large paintings on the windows of local businesses.”

“These are outstanding aesthetic visual images that attract a great deal of attention. He has had many years of experience doing a job he loves and it shows on the windows,” Anderson said.

You can contact Greg at: (480) 509-8524. His e-mail address is: artzeyone@gmail.com.