Clos LaChance Winery, San Martin - Thursday, November 20, 2014

Friends, Artists, Vineyards, Hills, Clouds - what more could a plein air artist ask for? (Photo by Mary P.)

All you really need to know about the Paintsites regulars is that there were more of us painting on Clos LaChance's Grand Terrace overlooking the vineyards than there were (supposedly hardy) golfers on the adjacent CordeValle golf course.   This on a cool, grey, drizzly, and eventually rainy day.    Which makes one wonder, if golfers are often considered unhinged to play in inclement weather, what must we be?     But just to prove that we're not insane, we did appreciate the indoor plumbing and readily accepted an invitation by the Tasting Room staff to have lunch in their tasting room.  (We did debate whether plein air painting required alfresco dining as well - but common sense prevailed.)  

For more information about the spectacularly beautiful Clos LaChance Winery, our wonderful Paintsite host, check out their website at:   http://clos.com/

Upcoming Paintsites:

• Thursday, December 4, 2014:  Historic S. Murphy Ave., Sunnyvale
• Thursday,  December 18, 2014:  Lighthouse Field State Beach, Santa Cruz - Paintsites Holiday Pot-Luck

Special Event:

• Saturday, January 10, 2015:  SCVWS Annual Holiday Party, Saratoga.    RSVP buy January 5, 2015

For complete details see the Watercolor Society website or the December Newsletter.

Special thanks to Marilyn Perry who monitored the weather and handled the "go / no-go"  website and e-mail notifications.

Here we are painting "wet-into-wet-onto-wet" --- whether we wanted to or not:

Jenny, Candy, John, Mitsi, Marilyn & Marion on the Grand Terrace.   The umbrellas helped but by the time they were up it was too late for some paintings - many had distinctive raindrop splatters - a mark of honor on this day.

Jane --- the rain stopped just long enough for her to put down her umbrella.

Lisha, Helen & Iris.   Wasn't there a 1960s movie called "The Umbrellas of Clos LaChance"?

Liz & Melanie found a bit more substantial cover.   But not much more --- no one got too comfortable at this Paintsite.

Sylvia surveys the vineyards. (Photo by Jane S.)

Yan & Dick share an umbrella and a view. (Photo by Jane S.)

Mary and Broncha relied on some trees for shelter.

Cathy & Sylvia share another umbrella.

Left to right: John, Marilyn, Sylvia, Jenny, Yan, Dick, Iris, Candy, Jane, Lisha, Broncha, Helen, Mary, Liz, Cathy, & Marion in the Tasting Room / Banquet Hall where we had a dry lunch and critique.

Our paintings are on the table  --- the oil on the wall is by another artist.   (Some detailed images follow - hopefully we'll post more later.   Check back soon.)

Broncha captured the Autumn colors of the vines and the distant hillside.

Cathy's angry sky  -- no wonder Alwyn stayed in his cozy backpack.

Cathy's view of the vineyards and hills.

John's study in grey of a soggy artist

John's painting of the Grand Terrace and distant vineyards and hills.

Mary's painting #1.

 "Fall Rains in the Vineyards" I had laid down the first washes when rain began to fall. I took refuge under a winery umbrella and continued to paint. Rather than attempt to fix the painting, I decided to embrace the pointillist effect as atmosphere. Mary P.

Mary's painting #2.

"Artists at Work"
I wandered around in the rain and captured this scene of hardy plein air painters at

work with brushes in one hand and umbrellas in another.   Notice how they nicely

wore jackets in the three primary colors.   Mary Paquet 

Marilyn's painting of distant hills and vineyards

Liz went for something small - but beautiful

I was over whelmed with the landscape...too beautiful for words so I painted two grape

 leaves which happened to conveniently fall off the vine.   Liz