Monday, November 19, 2012

Weekend Site Memorial Park Nov. 17 2012

We held the second weekend plein air paintsite at the Memorial Park in Cupertino, on November 17th.  In spite of the rain we managed to get in a good day of painting. It started with rain in the morning but as the day went on it became sunny and quite mild, and we had a great time painting various aspects of Memorial Park together. Rajit Chandra




Uma Kelkar and Sylvia Waddell at the Memorial Park paintsite on Nov. 17, 2012






Uma Kelkar



Uma Kelkar
This was the second sketch - I had 4 hours of time that I had been given, kid free! I was not in a mood to paint, but the gift of time was for me to lose and that couldn't be justified with my lack of desire to go on and paint. I am so glad that I did not give in to my mood swing!
I find the drawing lacking and the straight trunk of the tree on the left unnatural - however, the mood is captured well and that satisfies me.
Study book #2, paper = 90lb Canson all media paper
Squirrel mop. Uma
 

Rajit Chandra
 I started to paint. Then suddenly the sky opened and poured rain, leaving me drenched. Luckily I was able to recover much of the washed out areas and finish the painting. Rajit

Sylvia Waddell
I started out just drawing as I wasn't convinced that the rain would stop - but it did! I was inspired by the dramatic memorial sculpture against the fall trees. We had a lovely discussion about art at lunch and it was so much fun. Thanks Rajit for giving us this opportunity to paint on the weekends. Sylvia





Thursday, November 15, 2012

Palo Alto Baylands, November 15, 2012

Mild temperatures; mostly blue skies with interesting and unusual (for the Bay Area) clouds; a very high tide which changed narrow channels into lakes and back again in just a few hours; shorebirds, waterfowl and raptors; colorful salt marshes; hardly any wind which made for strong reflections; and a talented group of plein air painters made for another successful paint-out.  Brad

For additional information about the Palo Alto Baylands, see:  http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/gov/depts/csd/parks/preserves/baylands.asp

Leslie Grimm
It was a cloudy morning but the sun came out occasionally to add some color.  The pigeons in the tree wouldn't stay put -- they kept surrounding me on the ground chirping hungrily whenever I got something out of my pack!  Leslie

Caroline Garbarino
Palo Alto Baylands, Behind the Duck Pond.  Caroline

Anna Jacke
I went to Baylands yesterday after lunch and again this morning to finish up my painting.   My mother-in-law is here visiting for the next 2 weeks so I am working around her needs.   She was in the car reading a book while I watched the storm clouds roll in.  Anna
 
Dick Zunkel
What a great place! Just to sit and watch the wildlife is worth the trip. To paint there is the ultimate enjoyment of the site.   Dick

Marilyn Perry

 The highest tide I had ever seen at Palo Alto Baylands was caused because the moon closest to earth (perigee) occurred just after new moon when earth and moon were aligned. Marilyn
 

Marilyn Perry
Black-necked Stilt.   Marilyn

Brad Santos

Normally we find our Fall colors in trees --- but at the Baylands, Fall color is underfoot, (even underwater at high tide), in the pickleweed.  Brad
Jenny Tero
This was the view from the small platform at the end of the Visitor Center's boardwalk - a very peaceful spot.  Jenny

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Presidio Santa Clara - SCVWS Member paintings on display

Artists (L-R) Jenny Tero, Jennifer Kretschmer, Brad Santos, Terri Hill(front) Joyce Koeplin, Anna Jacke & Rajit Chandra
On November 8th 2012 members of SCVWS attended the grand opening for Presidio Santa Clara - a beautiful new affordable housing complex on El Camino Real. Terri Hill has two paintings hanging in the main reception area and fifteen other members have their paintings of Santa Clara Mission displayed throughout the building. The paintings of the Mission were a result of collaboration with Core Affordable Housing who wanted to feature local artists and the historic Mission. SCVWS held a special paintout at the Mission and the resulting paintings were framed and hung by the company. In exchange for our efforts Core Affordable Housing gave SCVWS a generous donation.
Artists whose work is featured in the new building: Rajit Chandra, Diane Daily, Chris Edwards, Alan Geller,Terri Hill, Anna Jacke, Joyce Koeplin, Jennifer Kretshmer, Iris Lian, Rita Louis, Kaaren Marquez, Grace Rankin, Brad Santos, Jenny Tero, Sarah Wajihuddin, and Dick Zunkel.  Art from the Mission paintout can be seen on the September page of this blog.  
Check out more photos on Anna Jacke's picasa page:
https://picasaweb.google.com/103544451950043435050/PRESIDIOSANTACLARAGRANDOPENINGANDRIBBONCUTTINGCEREMONY?authuser=0&feat=directlink


Dick Zunkel, Brad Santos, Anna Jacke and some of the Mission paintings on permanent display



Thursday, November 1, 2012

Harris - Lass Historical Museum, Santa Clara, November 1, 2012

Another great turnout on another dreary day.   But with so much of interest to paint: the mansion and its collection of mid-19th to early-20th Century furniture and household items, a barn, water tower, farm implements, and lovely gardens; there wasn't time to notice, let alone complain about, the weather.   Brad

For more information about the Harris - Lass Historical Museum see: http://www.harrislass.org/ 


Leslie Grimm




This stove was probably state-of-the-art 100 years ago!  All those ovens and burners!  And it's in great condition today. Leslie

Dick Zunkel
Wanna paint loose?  Try painting in a light rain. Painting in a light rain makes for an interesting piece.  This rendering was with water soluble calligraphy ink with watercolor wash on Canson 140.  Dick

Keiko O'Leary
 ... a little sketch of the Harris-Lass house ... Keiko
  
 
Brad Santos


Farming must have been hard work a century and a half ago but at least at the end of the workday the Harris and Lass families had a beautiful place to come home to.  Brad

Sylvia Waddell

This old farmhouse is a treasure trove and every little corner has something interesting to intrigue the eye. Sylvia

Marilyn Perry

Jenny Tero


I sat in the barn to avoid the rain and had a perfect view of the back of the Harris Lass House. This was my first version, with only a light wash attempted - the paint just would not dry.  I finished it off at home.  The second one was done in pen and dipping ink, a little less formal, but I preferred this "fussy" one.   Jenny