Los Altos Redwood Grove Preserve, Thursday, August 1, 2013

With our leaders in distant lands, the plein air group was left to our own devices.    We're all adults and normally we could have done just fine on our own - as it was we did OK; but we could have used their commanding presence in dealing with the swarm of 3 - 4 year old morning day-campers and the horde of 5 - 6 year old afternoon day-campers.   The latter group driving us from the shady benches we'd selected for our lunch break and critique session.   But we didn't surrender without putting up some resistance -- not until we'd held a hurried critique.

For more information about the Los Altos Redwood Grove Preserve, check  out:
 http://www.losaltoschamber.org/parks_recreation.html
 http://losaltos.patch.com/listings/redwood-grove

Hope you can join us at one of the upcoming Paint-Outs:

• Thursday, August 15 -- Tower Hall on the San Jose State University campus 
• Saturday, August 17 -- Cooper-Garrod Winery and Stables in Saratoga

Check the Watercolor Society website or the August Newsletter for details

Lunch under a native Black Walnut - before we were evicted

The critique

Here are a few hurriedly photographed paintings (note the interesting dappled shade on the paintings --- a happy accident?) --- please visit again to see the finished and carefully scanned / photographed work ...

Bonnie

Elaine

Linda

Here are some of the finished paintings & artist's comments:

Grace Tang

It was a unique experience visiting this " little sanctuary " of redwood trees transplanted from those native in Sta Cruz.    And it was a wonderful place to find peace while painting amongst the excitement and laughter of very young day campers, who were instructed to use their 'walking feet' when moving from one place to another....  To add some variety to the redwoods, I tried to revive the Adobe Creek that is meandering through the grove.  Grace
 

Deborah Olenev

I enjoyed the beautiful Redwood Grove and painting with other artists. I wanted to capture the majesty of the Redwood trees in my painting.     Deborah

 Liz Siegel

Beautiful day to paint poison oak..."Leaves of three, let them be."     Liz

Brad Santos

Why would anybody paint Sycamores when they're in a wonderful Redwood Grove?   Beats me --- I plead temporary insanity.    Brad