Santa Clara Mission Cemetery, Thursday, April 3, 2014

The weather forecast was for an appropriately gloomy, funereal day at the mid-19th Century Santa Clara Mission Cemetery.   But the reality turned out much the opposite: mostly sunny (made for great shadows & contrasts); magnificent old oaks & conifers (made for great backgrounds); ornate monuments (made for great subject matter); and a bunch of bright, bright bluebirds (which made everybody happy, which I believe is what they're supposed to do.)

For images of the Mission Cemetery see:   
https://www.google.com/search?q=santa+clara+mission+cemetery+images&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=ru4-U7G9EsTQyAHc4IBI&ved=0CCoQsAQ&biw=1494&bih=630

(Hopefully no one reading this will anytime soon need the services offered on the official Cemetery website but here it is:  http://www.santaclaramissioncemetery.org/ )

Upcoming Paintouts:

• Thursday, April 17, 2014:  AeroDynamic Aviation, San Jose
• Saturday, April 19, 2014: Los Gatos Creek County Park, Campbell
• Thursday, May 1, 2014: Dun Vien Buddhist Pagoda, San Jose 
• Thursday, May 15, 2014:  Memorial Park, Cupertino 

Check the Watercolor Society website or April Newsletter for details

Here are some of our finished paintings:

John Ediger

Caroline Garbarino

This woman's tragedy moved my heart -- on her wedding day, she fell down the stairs and died.     I hope I've done her memory justice.   Most of my family are residents of this cemetery, and I sure wished they were painting there with me.   My great aunt, Clotilda Rosa Garbarino, has works in the De Young Museum collection.    Thank you again, Caroline   

Caroline Garbarino

I really "wrestled with the angel" to give him a boy's physique.   This angel watches over the Dawson family.   Thanks again, Caroline

Liz Siegel

Brad Santos

This Gothic monument was an interesting technical challenge to draw.  My after lunch painting of  the simple headstone for "Baby Wm. Abel Donovan, Died 1889, Aged 11 Months" was more emotionally involving.   Brad


 Here we are at work in the 'old' section of the cemetery:

Caroline

Helen

Jenny

Marilyn

Sylvia

Jane

Leslie

Liz

Melanie

Elaine

John

Savage, no-holds-barred critique ... (not really)

Sketches and works-in-progress snapshots taken during the critique - check back later for the finished paintings: