Paintsites Blog: Hakone Gardens, Saratoga. Thursday, May 5, 2016

Hakone Gardens is one of the places that we absolutely relish visiting so when Kay Duffy offered to arrange an informal Hakone Paintsites "class" for us, we jumped at the chance. It was a little on the cool side for early May and there was occasional mist bordering on drizzle but that didn't dampen our enthusiasm and, in fact, provided some interesting texture to some of the paintings (look closely at Candy's "Wisteria Pavilion" in particular). Somebody mentioned that it was "better than salt" --- try doing that in your studio.

Kay Duffy, our hostess, sponsor and leader for the day. (The painting of the Wisteria Pavilion on her easel was done earlier this Spring so, as much as you might wish to, you won't see any more wisteria paintings in this posting. Maybe next time.)

(Note: Kay teaches a watercolor class at Hakone Gardens every 2nd & 4th Monday from 9:30 - noon. See the SCVWS Newsletters or www.kayduffywatercolors.com for details.)

For more information about Hakone Gardens, visit their website:
http://www.hakone.com/main.html

Upcoming Paintsites:

Thursday, May 12, 2016: Jos. Grant County Park - Hike & Sketch or Sit & Paint, San Jose
Thursday, May 19, 2016: Sawyer Camp Trail (10:00 AM = regular time) and Filoli Artist Access. 3:30 - 6:30 PM. (Pre-registration required: there may still be open slots - check http://www.filoli.org/art-exhibits/#artistaccess to find out if it's still possible to join the group.)
Thursday, May 26, 2016: Anna Cook's Mexican Garden, Saratoga

Details can be found on the SCVWS website and in the May Newsletter. Keep checking your e-mail or the SCVWS website Home Page for cancellation notices. Also the Sunday e-notifications for specific driving and parking directions --- especially for the Sawyer Camp Trail paintout on the 19th as road work requires we take a circuitous route to get to the site.

Other upcoming local events of interest to plein air painters:

Through Friday, May 27, 2016: SCVWS Member Show "H2O Works" at the Presentation Center in Los Gatos. For details see the SCVWS Home page: http://www.scvws.org/ and the Presentation Center website: http://www.presentationcenter.org/
Sunday, May 22, 2016: Registration deadline for the Filoli "Valley of Hearts Delight" juried exhibit. See the "Prospectus" and "Call for Entries" at http://www.filoli.org/art-exhibits/#valleyofthehearts, and https://onlinejuriedshows.com/Default.aspx?OJSID=8624

Of interest to everybody is the upcoming Silicon Valley Open Studios. Many Paintsites regulars are participating this year. You know how good their plein air work is ... this is an opportunity to see some of their wonderful studio work. The SVOS catalog can be viewed online at: http://www.svos.org/

Hakone Gardens ...
The Koi Pond and Moon Bridge: Our favorite subject ...

Candy (note the orange jacket).

Candy's painting of the Moon Bridge.

Helen

Helen's painting of the Moon Bridge. (Remember the orange jacket? - that's Candy standing on the bridge.)

Iris

Iris' painting of the Moon Bridge.

Jane P.

Thursday Paintsites co-coordinator Jane S.

Jane S.' painting of the Moon Bridge and Candy, "The Woman in Orange".

Jayne

Jayne's journal entry painting of the Moon Bridge.

Kaaren

Kaaren's painting of the Moon Bridge and Jane S. in a Paintsites first - a "posed" model.

Rich

Rich's painting of the Moon Bridge and the twisted tree - but from the side opposite that of the preceding paintings.

Brad's unfinished painting of the Moon Bridge and the Moonviewing House.

There are more "greens" in this garden than Winsor & Newton could ever dream of --- which presents a challenge for artists but a delight for lovers of beauty. Brad.