Allied Arts Guild, Menlo Park. Thursday, June 9, 2016

The Allied Arts Guild was designed and built by artists, for artists, starting in 1929 and still attracts and enchants artists seeking some serene tranquility in frantic Silicon Valley.  (In addition to serving as an arts & crafts oasis, Allied Arts has a significant philanthropic association with the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital which makes visiting doubly satisfying.)   And even if one doesn't know the history of the place, every artist who visits or works in the gardens has that special feeling that here is a place just for him or her.

For additional information about the Allied Arts Guild see:
http://www.alliedartsguild.org/  
Upcoming Paintsites:

• Thursday, June 16, 2016:   Vasona County Park, Los Gatos
• Thursday, June 23, 2016:   Sierra Azul Nursery & Garden, Watsonville (new Paintsite)
• Thursday, June 30, 2016:   Duc Vien Buddhist Pagoda, San Jose

Check the SCVWS website and the  June Newsletter for details.

Other ongoing  local events of interest: 

• Registration extended to June 12, 2016  for the SCVWS "Summer Palette" show which runs from Sunday, June 26, until Friday, August 26, at the Hobee's Restaurant in north San Jose.   See the SCVWS website for registration details.
• Through Sunday, June 12, 2016:  18th Annual Botanical Art Exhibition at Filoli.   See the particulars at  http://www.filoli.org/art-exhibits/#botanicalart
• Month of June, 2016:   An exhibit of Paintsites regular Richard Bloechl's watercolors will be on display at the Campbell Library in downtown Campbell (77 Harrison Ave., adjacent to the Ainsley House).   Open Mon.-Tue. 1-9pm; Wed. 10am-9pm and Thu.-Sat. 10am-6pm.  (See Rich's website link in the right sidebar for images of his paintings.) 

The Court of Abundance:  There are many, many delightful scenes to paint at Allied Arts  but this is the favorite for the majority of artists.   And not just the first time one visits but over and over, in fact every time one visits.

Alan

Dan

Don

Don's unfinished painting of the Court of Abundance.

 

Elizabeth

Elizabeth's painting of the Court of Abundance and its impressive fountain.

Joy and Grace (seated).

 

Grace's Courtyard of Abundance painting focused on the large central fountain.

Jane S. (Thursday Paintsites co-coordinator)

Jane S.'s painting of the chimneys in the Court of Abundance.

 

Left to right:   Elizabeth, Candy and Jane P. paint in the Court of Abundance.

 

Candy's first painting in the Court of Abundance.

Candy's unfinished 2nd painting of the same subject.

Jane P.'s painting of the Court of Abundance highlights the central fountain.

John:  nothing to smile about here -- no rust in sight ...

 

but he's no one-trick-pony as he demonstrates with this fine painting.

Joy (left) and Sharon just back from a workshop in Italy.

 

Joy's painting in the Court of Abundance.

Liz

Liz's painting of the unique chimneys (or maybe it was once a bell tower used to summon artists and artisan craftsmen/women  to their midday lunch or, better yet, maybe cocktail hour?)

Helen's painting in the Court of Abundance captured the landscaper working unobtrusively and diligently as we did the same.

Iris' Court of Abundance chimneys.

And Lisha's.

Martha

Martha's sketch in the Court of Abundance.

Martha's completed painting.

 

Joe on the steps leading to the 2nd story of the Archway Building ...

Joe's painting of spiky plants and a large, old pottery jar in a corner of the Court of Abundance.

 

Kathy's 2nd painting of the same jar.

While above it all, the balcony of the Archway Building provided Leslie both a unique vantage point  (albeit a shaded and breezy one) from which to paint the Court of Abundance and also to keep an eye on everybody ---- she reported exemplary behavior by all.

 

Leslie's overview of the Court of Abundance.

A few of us escaped the pull of the Court of Abundance to find other things to paint.  In fact, even if there was no Court of Abundance, this would be a very special site with much to paint and to which we'd return time and again.

Broncha set-up in the little courtyard in front of  the Murray Barn ...

 

and painted a scene not often depicted as it's somewhat hidden -- but it's tough to ignore the huge stork once you've seen it.

Kathy W. also set up in the same area in order to paint the Barn.

Kathy's painting of the Murray Barn which predates the rest of the structures.

Ji-eun originally set-up in the Garden of Delight on the restaurant patio but had to relocate once patrons started arriving.

Brad also painted in the Garden of Delight.

Marilyn (Thursday Paintsites co-coordinator)

Marilyn's painting of the rose garden path.

Mary R. on the far side of the Archway Building from the Courtyard of Abundance.

Mary painted this iron-barred Archway Building window and flowering geraniums.

 

Jayne's journal entry for the main Entry Arch leading into the Court of Abundance.

 

Susan also painted the Entry Arch through which the Court of Abundance is accessed.

Lunch in the shade provided by an unusual conifer (later identified by Leslie as an Irish Yew) in the Court of Abundance.