For Santa Cruz artist and scientific illustrator Amadeo Bachar, everything begins — and ultimately returns — to the sea
He was born in Waddell Valley, just north of town, when his dad welded for Big Creek Lumber as well as served as caretaker for Rancho Del Oso with his mom. “I grew up surrounded by Monterey pines, streams, tide pools,” he recalls. “It was the best kind of classroom — nature was right there, always changing, always teaching.”
After moving around Northern California, he came back to Santa Cruz in 1993 to attend Cabrillo College and later transferred to UC Santa Cruz, where he studied marine biology and scientific illustration. The pairing felt natural. “I was interested in science as well as how to represent it accurately with artistic flair,” he says. “Art and science have never felt separate to me — one helps you understand the other.”
That belief would shape a career built on precision, storytelling, and a lifelong respect for the ocean.
A Career Drawn From Nature
By the mid-2000s, Bachar was teaching scientific illustration at UCSC guiding students to merge careful observation with creative expression. At the same time, he was freelancing for some of the most respected names in natural-history publishing — National Geographic, Scientific American, NOAA, USGS, and the Smithsonian.
His detailed renderings of marine life became a recognizable signature: anatomical accuracy wrapped in artistry. “It’s illustration, but it’s also interpretation,” he says. “You’re translating what’s in front of you into something that communicates not just how it looks, but how it lives.”
In 2006, that approach found a statewide audience when the California Department of Fish and Game contracted him to illustrate more than 120 fish species for the state’s Fishing Passport and sport-fishing regulations. “Each fish had to be exact — the proportions, the coloration, the subtle differences,” he explains. “The fish, anglers and wardens depended on that.”
That library of fish illustrations became the seed of a new creative direction and business model.
From Field Guides to Fine Art
“After finishing that job, I had all these fish illustrations of the most popular fish in California,” he says. “I realized they could live beyond the textbook.”
He began developing limited-edition “plates” of individual fish, echoing the formal style of 19th-century scientific prints. Then he started experimenting — layering the fish over antique nautical charts from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
“When I couldn’t find the right charts, I drew my own,” he says. “I love the line work of those old maps — the soundings, the coastline contours, the hand-lettering. There’s a sense of exploration in them.”
The resulting compositions struck a chord with anglers, scientists, and collectors alike. Each piece combined historical cartography, biological accuracy, and a distinctly California sense of place.
Alongside his fine art, Bachar has developed a custom apparel line in collaboration with Salty Crew, the globally recognized ocean lifestyle brand. The partnership grew out of a shared respect for fishing culture and marine life, blending his scientific illustration style with Salty Crew’s rugged, coastal aesthetic.
Art, Ecology, and the Culture of Fishing
His pieces often resonate deeply with people who fish. “Anglers have their own kind of storytelling and they know their fish” he says. “The art becomes a way to capture a memory — not just the fish, but the place and the feeling of catching it.”
Today, he travels around the country to fishing trade shows, selling framed art, stickers, and apparel. His online storefront offers his whole line and he frequently creates custom pieces celebrating personal catches.
Every part of the business reflects his commitment to sustainability: frames made from reclaimed redwood, 100% plastic-free shipping, and partnerships with brands that support stewardship. “If you spend your life studying marine ecosystems,” he says, “it only makes sense to run your business in a way that echoes patterns in nature.
509 G Swift Street: A New Creative Home
In 2025, Bachar opened his newest venture — a working studio and public showroom at 509 G Swift Street on Santa Cruz’s Westside. Nicknamed “The Kelp Room”, the space serves as both a workspace and a gathering place.
Entering, you are greeted with a kelp forest floor mural that makes you feel like you’re walking on the surface of the water. On the walls, you can find stunning canvas fish prints from 10” surf perch to 110” bluefin tuna hanging next to apparel collections with Salty Crew and local brand Kalletka. Above in the mezzanine a large skylight filters light on his workspace. A cluttered assortment brushes, chart fragments, and test prints provide texture among a large drafting table and easels.
“I wanted a space that reflects the process,” he says. “It’s where I create and share the work — and where people can see it come to life.”
The studio also doubles as a venue for community events. Film screenings and documentary nights bring filmmakers and audiences together for intimate discussions. “It’s amazing to see people connect through these stories,” he says. “That’s the kind of conversation I want this place to foster.”
Workshops and Mentorship
Education remains important to his mission. The Swift Street studio hosts regular workshops in watercolor and gouache for adults and kids alike. The lessons draw from the precision of scientific illustration but are open to all skill levels.
“For adults, we run everything from casual paint-and-sip nights to more in-depth classes for artists building their skills,” he says. “For kids, it’s fun and hands-on — a little art, a little natural history, and a lot of curiosity.”
The workshops encourage observation as a way to spark connection. “When you draw something closely, you start noticing details you’d never seen before,” he says. “That’s when art turns into understanding.”
Beyond teaching, he hopes the studio will serve as a mentorship hub — a place where emerging artists can ask questions, collaborate, and learn. “I want people to feel they can walk in with an idea or a problem and find support,” he says. “That’s what builds a creative community.”
“At its core, everything I do is about connection,” he says. “Between science and art. Between fish and fisherman. Between people and the ocean that sustains us all.”
And in a town where a huge part of the cultural wiring is defined by its love for both the sea and creativity, that connection feels right at home.
Find more on Amadeo’s website abachar.com and follow his Instagram @abachar for all the latest updates and events.
