Weekend Paintsites, Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, July 20, 2013

Marilyn Perry was our volunteer leader with nine artists in attendance. The cloudless day provided brilliant sunlight with dark shadows in shaded areas. The site has many interesting views of the museum and surrounding gardens. We enjoyed a lunch and a showing of artists' work in a shady spot with beautiful guitar music provided by a musician sitting at a nearby table.

The Rosicrucian Research Library

Anna Jacke

"As always, the architecture at the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is outstanding.   The Research Library and the kneeling scribe were a challenge to paint but inspiring to look at.   A beautiful location."   Anna

Dick Zunkel

Marilyn Perry

There were many wonderful painting subjects at the Rosicrucian, but I selected this shrine because I could sit at a cafe table under a tree with dense foliage.  When I thought it couldn't get any better, a guitarist arrived and serenaded me with very gentle, peaceful music for at least an hour. 

Grace Tang

It was a beautiful morning to visit the Egyptian Museum. It brings you to an appreciation of one of the most influential civilizations throughout history. The architecture is so unique and I started with the Peace Garden....      Grace Tang

Anna Cook's "La Casa De Las Campanas" Mexican Garden, Thursday, July 18, 2013

Painting in a private garden is always special --- it's usually more relaxed, quieter and generally more comfortable than painting in public spaces.    And painting in a private garden lovingly designed and maintained by a talented artist, plants-woman, and gracious hostess (that's all one person) is even more special.   Off-the-charts special in fact.    So it's no wonder that a day in Anna's garden was so highly anticipated and so well attended.     With a wealth of subject matter, focusing and editing was a real challenge.   The good news, for those lacking self-discipline and anxious to have another go at it, is that we've been invited back.   But don't count on seeing the same things next time --- Anna's garden is constantly growing, evolving, changing --- it's a magical place!

Upcoming events:

• Ice Cream Social, Los Altos - Saturday, August 3rd (RSVP by July 20th)
• Redwood Grove, Los Altos - Thursday Paintsites - Thursday, August 1st

See SCVWS website or newsletter for details.

When we weren't painting, we were eating...

And when we weren't eating, we shared a critique ..

The following snapshots were taken during the critique --- please visit again when the completed and accurately scanned and attributed images are displayed:

 Here's some of the the finished paintings:

Dick Zunkel

What a great place to paint... so many subjects and interesting artifacts.  As a bonus, Anna gave us a tour of her home/gallery. The blue door was a favorite subjects of several artists. I rendered my version in a vignette and line drawing with water soluble calligraphy ink. Then I applied wet on wet color washes followed by dry brush accents.    Dick

Liz Siegel

I just loved this old blue door in the Mexican garden...watercolor pencils.     Liz 

Anna Jacke

Anna Jacke

I finished one painting in the backyard and began two others in the front courtyard before lunch, one of colorful statuary and the other of the front door.  I was painting on 300lb paper but found that it took longer to dry than expected and had to finish them at home.   There was so much to choose from.  Anna's house is always such a delight to explore and paint.  Thank you, Anna, for your hospitality and sharing your treasures with us.  Anna

Janice Santos

I don't often join the plein air group but I'm so glad I decided to for this outing.  Anna's garden is such a joy to experience and she is a wonderful hostess.  Wonderful memories of a delightful day.    Janice

Grace Tang

Anna's garden was incredibly entertaining. Every corner was a piece of art and I did not know where to begin!   I was totally carried away by the street scenes along the tall concrete walls of the backyard; the waterfalls, the HOT foods, marguerita place, the market place, the Cerveza cantina....every piece of art was so harmoniously put together; I felt like I have just been to Mexico!!!    Grace

Brad Santos

Lots of frogs who would be princes lined up for a kiss from a princess.  In the "Mixing Greens" workshop last year Jenny & Sylvia said we should have pthalo green on our palettes but never use it.    And I haven't ---  until today --- and even then it could have been brighter and more unnatural to capture the brilliant glazes on some of Anna's frogs.  Brad

Jeanne & Anna Cook

Lexington Reservoir County Park, Los Gatos, July 11, 2013

The "June Gloom" burned off just as we got there and set up on a shady hillside overlooking the lake.   Just beyond the opposite shore, traffic on Highway 17 kept up a distant but incessant rumble.  On the lake itself, a Los Gatos Rowing Club "8" in training went back and forth just below us --- an unexpected bonus which we found irresistible and many of us just had to put it into our paintings.

For additional information about Lexington Reservoir, see:
http://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/Maps%20Here/Pages/Lexington-Reservoir-County-Park.aspx
(Note: there is a $6 day use fee payable at the first facility once in the park.   There is no fee collection machine or Ranger at the Miller Point day use area where we painted.)

Upcoming Paint-Outs:

• Anna Cook's "Mexican Garden", Saratoga - Thursday, July 18
• Rosicrucian Museum, San Jose - Saturday, July 20
• SCVWS Ice Cream Social, Los Altos - Saturday, August 3 (Note: must RSVP by July 20)

See the SCVWS Website or Newsletter for details.

Our morning's efforts - photo by Yan Zunkel

The following images were taken during our critique session --- check back for the finished (accurately scanned or photographed) works, as they trickle in ... 

Marilyn

Bonnie

Elaine

Mary

And here are some of the "finished" paintings ........

Dick Zunkel

How many times have I driven by this site and never explored it? This is one of the many advantages of the Society's plein-air paint-outs, we find so many treasured subjects in our own back yard.    Dick

Grace Tang

Painting by the reservoir overlooking beautiful mountains and wineries, combined with regular laughter from the rowers and paddlers in their boats speeding by the reservoir was an exotic experience!   It brings you to the Land of Make Believe...Not only does the reservoir provide water to the silicon valley, it is stocked with a variety of sought after fishes.   It was a beautiful day to visit the reservoir and to paint with fellow artists.

Grace 

Brad Santos

 We watched two very different worlds --- the rowers on the lake and the vehicles on Hwy 17 --- passing in review from our serene hillside sanctuary.    Brad

 

Sylvia Waddell

I had fun creating several sketches of our artists' silhouettes as they painted. This one is Elaine, Dick, Yan and Broncha.