Cavallin Art
Cavallin Art is where my past meets my present—a space to explore movement, emotion, and memory through paint. I grew up in Southern California, shaped by the ocean and the bold contrasts of coastal life. That early energy carried me through a career path that spanned the structured world of finance, time as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army, and life across multiple countries. But it wasn’t until September 2024 that I picked up a paintbrush for the first time.
What started as an experiment quickly became an obsession. Painting has become a way for me to process, uncover, and express emotions that words can’t quite capture. I work primarily in acrylic, often layering textures, scraping back through paint, and letting colors collide with a mix of intention and spontaneity. My work blends structure and chaos, instinct and technique, control and release.
I have developed two ongoing series—Scraping By and Gold Drip—each exploring different ways to reveal depth and movement on the canvas. While my process is constantly evolving, my goal remains the same: to create work that feels raw, immersive, and alive.
This site is a window into that journey. Thank you for visiting Cavallin Art. Whether you’re here to explore, connect, or simply experience the work, I hope these paintings resonate in some way.
Ed Cavallin
Favorites:
Through Static Windows
Through Static Windows is a deeply personal exploration of loss and the lingering impact of losing two beloved family members to suicide. This piece reflects the silence, longing, and emotional weight that accompany such profound and heartbreaking loss.
The painting portrays a dark, somber room, enveloped in deep blues and blacks to evoke melancholy and introspection. Two windows dominate the composition, but instead of offering a view to the outside world, they display only static—white noise symbolizing the void left by their absence. The static mirrors the disruption and unanswered questions that follow such tragedies, representing the silence of conversations that will never happen and the ache of moments forever unshared.
At its heart, this work is a meditation on grief, memory, and resilience. It acknowledges the depth of pain while also speaking to the quiet strength found in remembrance. While shaped by sorrow, Through Static Windows carries a sense of hope—an invitation to honor those we’ve lost and to find meaning in their memory, even amidst the unrelenting static of absence.
This is one of the most intimate and emotional works I’ve created. I hope it resonates with others who have experienced the complex, layered grief of losing loved ones to suicide. It is both a tribute to their memory and a reflection of the love and resilience that carry us forward.
Scraping By with Orange
First Installment of the Scraping By Series
“Scraping By with Orange” marks the beginning of a new series that explores the concept of “scraping by” in both its literal and metaphorical senses. The phrase can evoke resilience and survival—getting by despite challenges—or it can reflect the physical act of scraping layers away to uncover what’s beneath. Both meanings resonate deeply with me and this process.
Painting allows me to scrape away layers of emotions, helping me navigate and process difficult feelings. With this piece, I embraced the tactile act of moving paint across the canvas to reveal hidden textures and unexpected colors. The vibrant orange, accented with rich blues and metallic tones, symbolizes energy, hope, and moments of clarity breaking through chaos.
The act of scraping feels freeing, as though I am not only creating but also unearthing something that was always there, waiting to be revealed. This process mirrors my personal journey—acknowledging what’s beneath the surface and working through it to bring something new and beautiful into the world.
Scraping By with Yellow
Second Installment of the Scraping By Series
Scraping By with Yellow continues my exploration of the “Scraping By” series, where I use layers of paint and texture to uncover what lies beneath, both on the canvas and within myself. This series is about revealing emotions, memories, and moments that are often hidden beneath the surface, much like the act of scraping back layers of paint.
Yellow dominates this piece, a color that embodies hope, energy, and resilience. Yet, when combined with contrasting purples and shadows, it creates a duality—one of optimism tinged with challenge. The texture and movement in the paint reflect the physical and emotional labor of working through struggles to find meaning and light.
For me, painting is a deeply personal process of peeling back layers—of color, emotion, and thought. The tactile act of scraping paint feels cathartic, as if I’m working through life’s complexities to find clarity beneath. This piece is a reflection of that process, one that is both demanding and rewarding.
Gold Drip
First Installment in the Gold Drip Series
Gold Drip is a piece that came together almost by accident. I started with no specific plan, letting the paint flow freely and seeing where it would take me. The black splashes create a sense of energy and movement, while the gold accents add just enough warmth and balance to the composition.
This piece was about letting go of control and experimenting with the unpredictability of the medium. It’s simple but striking, and for me, it captures the feeling of freedom in creating something without overthinking it.
Crimson Gold Drip
Second Installment in the Gold Drip Series
“Crimson Gold Drip” builds on the themes and energy of its predecessor, Gold Drip, while carving out its own space with a deeper intensity and fiery palette. The bold crimson base amplifies the passion and dynamism of the composition, while the flowing streams of gold, black, and white create a striking contrast that feels both connected and distinct.
This piece expands on the exploration of chaos and control seen in Gold Drip, but with a heightened sense of emotion and complexity. The crimson background evokes strength and passion, grounding the gold drips with a fiery warmth. The white accents offer moments of clarity and balance, while black elements add depth and mystery. Together, these layers create a dialogue between power, elegance, and vulnerability.
“Crimson Gold Drip” is both a continuation and evolution—a companion to Gold Drip that stands boldly on its own. It invites viewers to reflect on the layered emotions within the work while celebrating the beauty of spontaneity and imperfection.
Black Gold Drip
Third Installment in the Gold Drip Series
“Black Gold Drip” marks the third chapter in my Gold Drip series, a collection dedicated to exploring the dynamic interplay between fluidity, structure, and contrast. In this piece, the bold black background acts as a stage for cascading gold and white drips, their movements both deliberate and chaotic, creating a sense of controlled spontaneity.
This installment builds on the themes of its predecessors, but with a sharper, more striking contrast that draws the eye into the intricate web of golden loops and white streaks. Each layer tells a story of balance—between light and shadow, precision and freedom, elegance and raw energy.
As with the entire Gold Drip series, “Black Gold Drip” reflects my ongoing journey as an artist—one of experimentation, discovery, and finding harmony in contrast. It invites viewers to step closer, to trace the patterns and movements, and to lose themselves in its bold simplicity.
Phthalocyanine Gold Drip
Fourth Installment of the Gold Drip Series
Phthalocyanine Gold Drip continues the evolution of my Gold Drip series, a collection that explores energy, motion, and balance through dynamic contrasts of color and form. In this piece, the deep, immersive tones of phthalocyanine blue serve as the perfect backdrop, evoking the depth of the night sky or the vastness of the ocean.
Layers of flowing gold and crisp white streak across the canvas like meteors in motion or waves catching fleeting light, creating a sense of both spontaneity and controlled rhythm. The gold ties back to the series’ origins, while the luminous blue grounds the composition, bringing a sense of calm to the underlying chaos.
With this fourth installment, I sought to push the boundaries of movement and contrast while allowing the canvas to breathe and tell its own story. Phthalocyanine Gold Drip is both vibrant and contemplative, a reflection of progression, energy, and the ever-deepening exploration of this series.
Emerald Gold Drip
Fifth Installment of the Gold Drip Series
Emerald Gold Drip continues the evolution of my Gold Drip series, a collection that explores energy, motion, and balance through dynamic contrasts of color and form. In this triptych, the deep, jewel-toned emerald green serves as the foundation, evoking the richness of precious stones and the tranquility of untouched waters.
Layers of flowing gold, black, and crisp white sweep across the canvas, creating a harmonious dance of spontaneity and control. The gold adds bursts of warmth and light, contrasting against the grounded green, while the white and black drips introduce rhythm and energy, unifying the panels into a cohesive whole.
With this fifth installment, I sought to expand the boundaries of the series by incorporating a triptych format, allowing movement and continuity to flow seamlessly across multiple canvases. Emerald Gold Drip is a testament to the series’ progression, inviting viewers to experience both the depth and vitality captured within its layers.
Colliding Hook
For me, Colliding Hook captures a moment of defiance and transformation. It represents a counterattack—a response to a misjudged right cross that failed to connect. In this piece, I wanted to juxtapose the raw ugliness of violence with the undeniable beauty of landing a punch, that perfect, unanticipated strike. On a deeper level, it feels like a metaphor for my own journey in life. I’ve often felt misjudged, but time and time again, I’ve surprised others—and sometimes even myself—with an unexpected “hook.”
This piece is alive with energy, chaos, and precision all at once. It’s about resilience and strength, about finding beauty in moments of surprise and power when the odds seem stacked against you. Through the bold clash of colors and movement, Colliding Hook expresses the thrill of rising to meet a challenge, not just in a physical sense, but in all the ways we fight back against doubt and limitation.
Seaside Autumn
Seaside Autumn captures the fleeting beauty of transition—the delicate balance between the warmth of autumn and the cool, rhythmic pull of the ocean. Inspired by the interplay of seasonal change and coastal serenity, this piece is an exploration of texture, movement, and mood.
The rich golds and browns evoke the falling leaves of autumn, while the vibrant blues bring to mind the waves of the sea, each stroke layered to create depth and emotion. The textures ripple across the canvas like wind brushing over water or leaves scattering in the breeze. The gold canvas beneath adds a shimmering undertone, offering subtle glimpses of light and reflection, much like sunlight dancing on the surface of the sea.
This work is about finding beauty in the in-between moments—where one season gives way to the next, where land meets water, and where the past blends with the present. It invites viewers to immerse themselves in its flow, to feel the serenity of the seaside and the warmth of autumn in every stroke.
Flawed Foundation
This piece was born out of frustration and disappointment—an attempt to find beauty and meaning in a vision that didn’t unfold as planned. Beneath the vibrant, energetic layers lies an earlier work that fell short of expectations. Instead of forcing it into something it wasn’t, I embraced the concept of letting go, acknowledging the sunk costs, and channeling my creative energy into something entirely new.
The bold splashes of color layered over the textured foundation symbolize transformation and renewal. Each dynamic stroke reflects the freedom found in releasing old expectations, while the underlying textures serve as a quiet acknowledgment of the imperfect beginnings.
Flawed Foundation celebrates the power of reinvention—the flawed, the unfinished, and the discarded, proving that even from disappointment, something beautiful and deeply meaningful can take shape.
Breaking the Grid
Breaking the Grid explores the tension between order and chaos, structure and freedom. The underlying grid represents stability and predictability, a framework of rules that shapes and confines. Over this rigid structure, I poured bold, fluid strokes of vibrant color—gold, red, and blue—symbolizing creativity, emotion, and the unpredictable forces that disrupt and redefine boundaries.
This piece was a deliberate experiment in contrasts. The colors flow freely over the grid, dripping and pooling in unexpected ways, challenging the precision of the lines beneath them. The softened blue tones add depth and a sense of calm, while the bold red and gold bring energy and dynamism, creating a balanced yet vibrant interplay.
For me, Breaking the Grid reflects the beauty of embracing imperfection and letting go of rigid expectations. It’s a visual metaphor for how creativity and spontaneity can transform even the most structured of frameworks into something fluid and alive. I hope viewers feel a sense of freedom and possibility, seeing not just the boundaries but the ways they can be transcended.
The Gold Beneath
This piece holds a lot of meaning for me. Over the past year, life has been a whirlwind of change—moving to a new country, starting a new job, and navigating the transitions that come with closing one chapter and stepping into another.
The tree, with its sturdy trunk and sprawling roots, represents resilience and the experiences that have shaped me. The roots, embedded in the earth, reflect the lessons and connections that have carried me to this point. The ground, painted in silver and gold, symbolizes the richness of life—its struggles, its joys, and the fertile soil of possibility that keeps us growing.
The branches stretching upward are a metaphor for the process of renewal—awakening after a long period of reflection and finding strength in the unknown. For me, this painting is not just about change but about grounding myself in the foundation of everything that came before.
Big Tree
In Big Tree, the rough texture of the burlap canvas and the unrefined, folk art style come together to evoke the raw simplicity of childhood memories. This piece pays homage to the fleeting magic of a time and place that no longer exists—a canyon in 1980s Mira Mesa, untouched by suburban sprawl.
The lone tree, affectionately called “Big Tree” by neighborhood kids, stands tall as a symbol of adventure and discovery. Its weathered trunk and sprawling branches were a meeting point, a landmark, and a portal to endless possibilities. The rocky ground, the sunlit sky, and the distant houses—part of an inevitable future—serve as a quiet reflection on change and loss.
Through its textured, deliberately unpolished strokes, Big Tree captures not only a physical landscape but also the emotions tied to it: the thrill of bike rides with friends, the sting of rock wars, and the cautious wonder of dodging rattlesnakes. The abstract elements suggest the fragmented nature of memory, where clarity and blur coexist.
This piece invites viewers to reflect on their own touchstones of childhood—a place, a moment, or an object that defined their early years. It’s a meditation on how we carry those moments forward, even as the landscapes of our lives are reshaped by time.
Recollections of 15th St
This piece captures the memories of endless days spent at 15th St in Del Mar, where life felt simple and the ocean was my sanctuary. Each stroke of the wave reflects the rhythm of the tides, the exhilaration of nose riding, and the fleeting moments of pure focus and freedom. It reminds me of a time when my only concerns were the surf conditions and how many waves I could catch before the sun disappeared into the horizon. Through this painting, I reconnect with that sense of clarity and joy—a recollection of simpler times and boundless energy.
Dreams of Tourmaline
Dreams of Tourmaline captures the essence of the ocean, a powerful wave rolling in under a sky that hints at dusk, evoking a sense of calm yet unstoppable energy. The interplay between deep blues and hints of red and yellow in the sky creates a balance of cool and warm tones, as if nature itself is breathing. Embedded within the wave is a subtle shape, a memory—a longboard gliding along the water—symbolizing a connection to the past and a love for surfing at Tourmaline. The wave seems to hold a heartbeat of its own, pulling us into its movement and reminding us of the ocean’s vast, timeless beauty.
This painting is not just an image of the sea but a window into memory and nostalgia, where I reflect on cherished moments and the enduring call of the waves.
Evening at the clam
Inspired by the rugged cliffs and vibrant waters of La Jolla Cove, Evening at the Clam transports us to the iconic location known for its cliff-diving spot, “The Clam.” The painting captures the tranquil yet powerful beauty of the ocean at dusk, as the last light of the day fades into deepening blues. Layers of textured putty bring the cliffs to life, adding depth and dimension, while the brushwork in the waves conveys a sense of movement, as if the sea is breathing. Above, hints of color linger on the horizon, marking the quiet transition from day to night.
This piece is a tribute to the spirit of adventure and the serene allure of the California coast, blending memories of thrill and calm reflection. It invites us to feel the pull of the ocean and the grounding presence of the cliffs—a moment frozen in time where nature’s power and beauty converge.
Once Upon a Time in Warsaw
This piece is a tribute to the contrasts and contradictions that define Warsaw—a city where history and modernity, resilience and renewal, coexist. Having spent several months in Warsaw before moving to Finland, I’ve come to know the city well. I still visit often, drawn to its fascinating complexities.
Warsaw is nothing if not interesting. Graffiti-covered Soviet-era brutalist architecture stands alongside sleek modern skyscrapers that would fit seamlessly into any western skyline. It is a city of destruction and rebirth, young and old, new and ramshackled. At the heart of it all is the iconic Palace of Culture and Science, a structure that embodies both pride and controversy. Its imposing silhouette rises against a backdrop of vibrant colors, reflecting the city’s dynamic evolution and enduring spirit.
The textured strokes in this painting capture the tension between old and new, the weight of history and the light of progress. The warm hues of the sky juxtapose with the cool, muted tones of the palace, mirroring the dualities of a city shaped by its past yet boldly looking toward its future.
“Once Upon a Time in Warsaw” is not just a visual tribute but also a reflection of my admiration for the Polish people. This work invites viewers to reflect on the layered identity of a place that has endured so much yet continues to thrive. It is both a celebration of resilience and a meditation on the stories that cities tell through their architecture and atmosphere.