For the grand finale of the wonderful series of garden paintouts this Spring (the Cummins Iris Garden in Scotts Valley, the SJ Municipal Rose Garden, tree peonies at the Kirk-Farrington House, the replica 12th Century Samurai's Garden Estate, and Jane Kwant's lovely garden), Jenny & Sylvia arranged for us to visit some Queens of the Perennial Border - herbaceous peonies. They didn't disappoint. In addition to the beautiful blooms, there were extremely shaggy llamas eager to pose for us and a distant view of Calaveras Reservoir which Kaaren captured perfectly. How perfectly? She sold her painting on the spot!
 |
| Smiling Artists |
 |
| Kaaren |
 |
| Brad Santos |
Whoever came up with the name for this variety --- "Cherry Bomb" --- certainly knew what they were talking about! Brad
 |
Broncha Berger
|
The feeling of solitude and desolation on that long drive to the Peony garden in a foggy day was worthy at the end. We were able to enjoy the act of painting, the company, and one person even sold her painting. Broncha
 |
Anna Jacke
|
The gardens were filled with fragrant peony blooms in a variety of colors. But in the end, it was the llamas in the nearby fields that really caught my attention. The sounds they made while rolling the grass or spitting at visitors was worth the 17 mile drive from my home. I left the Peony Gardens with 4 completed paintings and a smile for the road. Anna
 |
| Sylvia Waddell |
What a wonderful spot! Despite the cold and drizzle it was a feast for the eyes, and once the sun came out at lunch time it was positively idyllic. I sketched the llamas first and only attempted the peonies once I was fortified by lunch! Sylvia
 |
| Mary Paquet |
What a fabulous place to paint -- gorgeous peonies and a view from atop the magnificent dry mountains to the East. I settled down amidst the peonies known as "Sorbet" and painted. After I got home, I darkened the background and altered some of the values on the flowers. I was amazed at the number of artists that made the trek to this very unique paintsite, complete with doe-eyed llamas grazing in the fields. Mary Paquet
 |
| Jenny Tero |
After lunch when the mist had cleared from the valley, the view of the Calavaras Reservoir brightened to reveal golden hills and lovely cloud formations in the sky. Congratulations to the intrepid artists, (about 15 !! ) who braved fog, cold, threat of rain, and a long drive into unknown territory on windy steep roads.
No comments:
Post a Comment