Scott Belding Perrin, known to his friends as the “Dusty Desert Drifter,” died Aug. 10 at the age of 63 while off-roading in the desert. He was well known for his art and prospecting.
Born Aug. 30, 1948, Perrin spent his childhood as a young surfer in Malibu. Perrin and his friends were a part of the original Malibu Surfing Association and surfed in many contests along the Southern California coast. He went on to race motorcycles in Baja and all over California, which started his love of the desert.
In his professional careers, Perrin worked as a real estate agent in Malibu and a golf industry representative for his family business, Belding Sports.
For the past 25 years, Perrin spent countless hours exploring the deserts of California and Arizona. He collected truckloads of material for his artwork, including forgotten antiques, gemstones, meteorites, rusty treasures and various items from yesteryear. Inspired by these found materials, Perrin created pieces of art that expressed his patina view of the world. His artifact mobiles and collages remain well-respected and are all collector’s items. As a painter Perrin illustrated the joy of his early life on the beach, which he depicted in whimsical surf scenes.
“Scott surrounded himself with his cherished treasures and he made his environment a tribute to his spirit and creative personality,” Perrin’s family wrote.
Perrin is survived by daughters Leigh Perrin, Bridget Gardner and Megan-Anne Perrin and his grandson Griffin Gardner.
A public blessing will take place at Perrin’s memorial cross in his beloved desert on Sat., August 25, 2012, at 7 p.m. on Tipton Road near Highway 111 in Whitewater, Calif.