Westside Community Barn, Los Altos Hills. Thursday, August 13, 2015

This was a new site suggested by Alan; researched and coordinated by Marilyn; and one to which we definitely plan to return.    The best views of the barn were from the adjacent Byrne Preserve Open Space (which connects with Hidden Villa thru a wildlife corridor - a potential Hike & Sketch?).     And altho' there are wonderful views of the Coast Range, (usually a popular subject or at least significant background element), most of us tried our hand at painting the many beautiful, glossy horses in the barn, in the pasture, in the paddocks, or in the jumping arena.   Not surprisingly, the grazing animals were the easiest to paint as they didn't move too much; the ones in motion the most interesting to watch but the most challenging to paint.   And for a couple of experienced horsewomen in the group, a chance to recall happy memories.

For information about the Westside Community Barn, see:
http://www.losaltoshills.ca.gov/parks-and-recreation/westwind
For information about the adjacent Byrne Preserve, see:
http://www.lahopenspace.com/Hist_byrne.html

 Upcoming Paintsites:

• Saturday, August 15, 2015:  Sunnyvale Baylands Park, Sunnyvale.
• Thursday, August 20, 2015:  Warner Hutton House, Saratoga.   After lunch we'll take in the "Shades of Summer" exhibit (which runs thru August 29th) at the adjacent Saratoga Library.  
• Thursday, August 27, 2015:  Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve, Palo Alto.

For additional information and details, see the SCVWS website or the August Newsletter.

Note:  not all images were captured on site today - please visit again later when, hopefully, additional images will be posted.   Also, new images have been posted with Anna Cook's Mexican Garden post - please check them out.

Marilyn, Liz and John ventured into the Byrne Preserve to get the best view of the barn.  They got more than they bargained for:  friendly and curious horses.   Or maybe they were art critics.  Either way, they liked what they saw.    As will you.

John

John's unfinished painting of the Westwind Barn.

John and his new friend - until the friend found out John didn't have anything to eat - at which time they were no longer best friends. (photo by Liz)

Marilyn's painting of the Westwind Barn from a hillside in the Byrne Preserve.

Yan

Dick took on the barn from a different perspective.

Dick's painting of the barn.

Complex shapes made for a challenging sketch. Brush pen and black ink on Canson 140, washes with Yarka half pan watercolors.   Dick

Broncha

Broncha found an under-appreciated but interesting subject - a row of horse trailers. 

This painting by Iris of the Byrne Preserve was the only pure landscape any of us did. 

Galloping onward ....

Lisha and Helen paint horses in the big hillside pasture.

Lisha's painting of some of  the herd.

Helen's painting of other horses in the pasture.

Candy's first painting of horses in the pasture.

Iris

Some of the horses were sleek and racy looking - Iris painted two large, powerful looking horses.

Cathy and Candy positioned themselves next to the jumping arena for some "action" sketches and paintings.

Cathy's sketchbook.

Candy's second painting of a young student and her horse working out in the sand arena..

Melanie's painting of  'King Arthur' and a hungry stablemate.

Melanie's painting of 'King Arthur'.

Kathy

Kathy's friend kept poking his head out to check out what Kathy was doing -- the distraction became the subject.

All of the animals depicted by Brad were actually horses --- even those that maybe look like mules or ??

Caroline

Caroline's painting of a handsome little horse being groomed.

Marilyn sketching some horses.

The horses boarded at Westwind get alfalfa three times a day.  We didn't get any alfalfa but that's OK as we still had a nice lunch in the shade.... 

Iris, Lisha, Yan and Dick

The rest of us at lunch.