Sunnyvale Heritage Orchard, Thursday, March 6, 2014

We missed seeing the orchard in full bloom by a week (the evergreen Bradford Pears were a worthy substitute) but still had a wonderful day painting.     Warmer days and a just a bit of rain the past few weeks were enough to change the wintry landscapes we've been painting for the past 3 or 4 months into one full of promise as bright, new, yellowy Spring greens take the place of winter's browns & greys. 

For more info about the Sunnyvale Heritage Orchard,
http://northerncaliforniagardens.sutromedia.com/sunnyvale-heritage-orchard.html

Upcoming events:

• Saturday, March 15, 2014:   Weekend Paintsites - Stanford University Main Quad
• Saturday, March 15, 2014:  Palo Alto Baylands Members Show Reception  1:00 - 3:00
• Thursday, March 20, 2014:  Thursday Paintsites - Hakone Gardens, Saratoga

For complete details check the Watercolor Society website or newsletter 

This is what hard working artists look like ...

Dick

Iris and her new easel

Jane & Anna

Yan, Sylvia, Helen & Candy

John
A wonderful day it was!!!! 

Jane

Marilyn

Candy

Here are the fruits of our labors.......

Dick Zunkel

This is a great paint-site with unlimited subjects ideal for watercolor artists. I chose the old Caterpillar and moved in close to force the perspective.     Dick

Anna Jacke

Caroline Garbarino

Dear Sylvia and Jenny, The Sunnyvale Heritage Orchard, with its farm equipment,
was very exciting to me.   My parents grew up in San Jose, picked fruit and worked in the canneries.   My dad's Garbarino Machine and Iron Works specialized in processing equipment for the "fruit basket of the nation."    Sometimes he got paid in boxes of fruit! Thanks for the time travel experience, Caroline

Brad Santos

Altho' Jenny & Sylvia say it's OK to have Pthalo Green on our palettes but we should never us it, I couldn't resist for the just unfurling leaves on the apricot trees --- they are such a bright, clean color --- less dramatic than the blossoms I suppose but an equally welcome harbinger of Spring.    Brad

Jenny Tero

I painted this from the street just outside the Orchard - what a challenge to leave the whites of the ornamental pear blossoms.  I solved it by painting in a very pale color first, so I would have some idea how to "negative" paint around them (cheating).



And here are some works still in progress, perhaps not yet quite 'ripe' ....

Iris

Marilyn

Candy

Helen

John

Jane

Then lunch...

And a critique session...