POTTER THE PAINTER: Three years ago, Santa Barbara native Chris Potter — a deep descendant of the old Potter Hotel family — quit his job to paint full-time and now is a fixture on the streets and hillsides of Santa Barbara, where he crafts plein air landscapes and urban scenes every day of the week, including the image featured on this week’s cover, called “Old San Marcos Greens.” He started backpacking with his easel on the first-ever “Death March” through the Los Padres in 2004. “It’s my way of experiencing the place,” said Potter, whose first backcountry piece was a portrait of the Madulce cabin. “I feel like I get the full picture when I get to sit down and paint.” Find his stuff every day at FastFrame (1333 State St.), on July 5 during 1st Thursday at prAna (1206 State St.), or online at chrispotterart.com, where he blogs daily.