Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Martins Beach, Half Moon Bay. Thursday, August 25, 2016.

We cautioned Paintsiters over and over that it would be cold, windy and foggy for the paintout at Martins Beach and to dress accordingly.   Did they believe us?   Yes they did!  (Everybody brought lots of warm clothing.)   Then, on the drive over, we discussed how to mix 'greys' to best capture the anticipated fog.    We've been preparing for this paintout ever since it was scheduled and plenty hyped-up when the day finally arrived.    Then, when it turned out there was no fog (only a high overcast); there was no wind; the heavy clothes were never unpacked; were we the least bit disappointed?   No we weren't!

Our wonderful hosts, Judy & Steve Puthuff, who again opened their charming beachfront cottages for us, had one more amazing thing (never before seen or heard of at a Paintsite) to share with us:   Steve has a drone which he used to photograph us at work and then prepared a slide show for us to enjoy after lunch on their decks.
Steve and his drone.



Upcoming Paintsites:
  • Thursday, September 1, 2016:   Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge, Fremont 
  • Thursday, September 8, 2016:   Sawyer Camp Trail, San Mateo 
  • Thursday, September 15, 2016:   Murphy Ave. & Caltrain Station, Sunnyvale
  • Saturday, September 17, 2016:  Luna Park Chalk Art Festival,  San Jose
  • Thursday, September 22 - Friday, September 23, 2016:   Annual Santa Cruz Paintout.
    (Registration required for post-paintout receptions - see pg. 7 of the September 
    Newsletter for details and instructions.)
  • Thursday, September 29, 2016: Loma Prieta Winery, Los Gatos (Summit Rd.)  
Details can be found on the SCVWS website and in the September Newsletter.

Ongoing activities of interest involving Paintsites regulars:

  • Mary Raftery and Laurie Barna are in the Haggin Art Museum's 59th Annual Juried National Exhibition.   Located in Stockton, the Haggin is famous for its outstanding fine art collection.   The show runs thru September 11, 2016.
  • Karen Druker has been accepted into the The 8th Annual 50/50 Exhibition at the Sachez Art Center in Pacifica.  (1220-B Linda Mar Blvd.)    Gallery hours are Fri. - Sun. 1:oo - 5:0o PM.  The show runs until Sunday, September 18th.
  • Candy Yu is currently showing 18 watercolor pet portraits at the VCA Crocker Animal Hospital, 475 N. Jackson Ave., San Jose.  Most of her artwork is in the reception area and hallways and can viewed by the public.    The Hospital is open Mon. - Fri. 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM; Sat. & Sun. 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM.    The exhibit runs thru the end of October.

  • SCVWS  members Annie Haines, Mary Raftery, and Uma Kelkar were accepted into Fioli's "The Valley of Heart’s Delight: A Multiple–media Exhibit"  which runs thru October 23rd.   The exhibit is in the Visitor & Education Center.   Admission is normally required (but you may be able to talk them into letting you see just the show if you promise not to sneak into the house or grounds).     There is a 'Meet the Artist' event on Saturday & Sunday, September 3rd & 4th.  There is an admission fee.  See website for hours).   Uma will have some of her work displayed and will do some live sketching during this event.     There is also a 'Closing Reception' on Thursday, October 20th from 5:00 - 7:00 PM.    The 'Closing Reception' is free but reservations are required by October 14th and can be obtained at:  http://www.filoli.org/art-exhibits/  or 650-364-8300, x 508.     Note: October 20th is Filoli's final Artist Access Day for 2016.    For details, see:   http://www.filoli.org/art-exhibits/#artistaccess   
  • Jane Ferguson and Nancy Calhoun are currently presenting 'Line & Shape' (mixed water media & encaustic) at Viewpoints Gallery, 315 State St. in Los Altos (http://www.viewpointsgallery.com/Hours are Mon. - Sat. 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Sun. 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM.   The 'Meet the Artists' reception is Saturday, September 10th from 4:00 - 7:00 PM.    The show runs thru October 1st.   
Admittedly that's a lot of shows to visit it but it'll be well worth it! 

Judy's & Steve's Cottages: From the cottage decks one could either look up the coast (north) towards Shark Tooth Rock or down the coast (south) towards some near vertical cliffs where the surf is normally strongest (but not this day as the ocean was almost lake-like). 
A 'posed' shot of Carole, Helen, Lisha and Candy on the upper deck.

Candid shot from Steve's drone of the same artists - isn't this more interesting?   We may have to investigate the Watercolor Society investing in a drone so that the coordinators can monitor the artists.   And, if it had a loudspeaker, we could announce lunch was served.   The possibilities are endless.

Steve's drone photo of the lower deck looking north.   (That's Judy and Steve on the lower right -- does that make this the ultimate 'selfie'?)

Artists on the lower deck looking north.

There was time for 'beachcombing' before lunch ...
Marilyn (Thursday Paintsites co-coordinator).     (The blue umbrellas in the background are on Judy's & Steve's decks.)

Joy (left) and Katherine examine some of the treasures which Katherine collected --- priceless bits of shells and unidentified 'things', which Katherine refused to sell at any price.

Shark Tooth Rock:   Looking north toward our favorite subject:

Shark Tooth Rock at low-tide as photographed from Steve's drone.

Broncha's painting of Shark Tooth Rock from the lower deck.  (That's seaweed curving along the beach at the high-tide line -- it was a beautiful color.)

 Candy's sketch of Shark Tooth Rock from the upper deck.
Candy's painting of Shark Tooth Rock and the bluff just beyond.

Marilyn's sketches of the Rock.
Marilyn's painting of the Rock.

Carol's painting of the Rock.

From the upper deck, Helen's first painting of Shark Tooth Rock.

Helen's second painting of the Rock.

Joy's painting of Shark Tooth Rock and the bluffs and cliffs beyond.

Lisha's painting of the Shark Tooth Rock and beach level cottages.

Candy, painting next to Lisha, did this sepia sketch of cottages and Shark Tooth Rock.

Helen, painting next to Lisha and Candy, focused on just the cottages.
Liz on the upper deck.

Liz's painting of the Rock and the crab fleet out of Princeton.   Steve said they could see the lights on the boats when they were fishing at night.  We saw a number of dead crabs washed up on the beach.

From Steve's drone - left to right: the Rock, Mike and Lois.

Lois and Christine working at beach level.

Lois' journal entry format of Shark Tooth Rock.

Lois' second painting of Shark Tooth Rock.

Christine's painting from beach level allowed her to include some breaking surf.

Mike.
Mike's painting of the Rock.   He worked closer than the rest of us to the rock itself.

The bluffs beyond Shark Tooth Rock have been referred to --- Annie went around the first bluff, aligned with the Rock, to a quiet little cove where she painted smaller rocks and the surf rolling into the cove.

Annie's painting of the rocks on the far side of Shark Tooth Rock.
 Mostly the Ocean:   What better time to paint the surf than at the beach?
Carol's painting of smaller rocks with surf breaking on them.

Mike's painting of the surf and a crab boat on the horizon.

Mary in front of what used to be a 'general store' of sorts at Martins Beach.

Mary's painting of the open area between Shark Tooth Rock (on the left) and the small cove where Annie painted (to the right).
Looking south, towards the large cliffs where the waves normally break with greatest fury ... 
Tom & Rosalie recently moved to the Gold Country but were back in the area for a few days so Tom was happily able to paint with us.  He did this fine painting of the massive cliffs at the south end of the beach.

Marilyn's sketch of the southernmost cottages and the cliffs.

Broncha's painting of cottages and the first bluff to the south.

Katherine's painting of the towering cliffs south of Martins Beach.

Ji-eun's painting of the southern cliffs.   (That's Elaine in the lower right.)

Looking East:    Tom looked not north toward the rock, not south toward the cliffs, nor west toward the open ocean and the crab fleet -- rather, from the beach, he looked east towards the cottages on the bluff.
 
Tom's painting of Martins Beach cottages on the hillside.

Candy's painting of some of the nautical & marine things hanging on Judy's & Steve's fence.
 Lunch:


After lunch we had our critique and Steve showed the slide show he developed from the drone photos.  We saw some of the wonderful artwork in the cottages including two paintings by Wendy Mattson, Judy's & Steve's daughter who is a nationally recognized watercolor artist.   North Light Books published a book by Ms. Mattson, “Painting People in Watercolor (No Experience Required)" which, tho' not currently in print, may be found on Amazon.

Friday, August 19, 2016

Harris-Lass House Museum, Santa Clara. Thursday, August 18, 2016.

     It's a wonderful feeling to be enthusiastically welcome at a Paintsite --- which was exactly the case at the Harris-Lass House Museum when we were greeted by the Historic Preservation Society of Santa Clara (HPSSC) President Bob Byrd and "Art On The Lawn" Chair Joan Cabral, our hosts for the day.    HPSSC is a group of hard working and enthusiastic volunteers (sounds like the SCVWS leadership doesn't it?) who maintain the Museum for the city of Santa Clara.  It was also our good fortune that they are very interested in promoting the arts and supporting artists (that's us) in the community.
     Even better is when that welcome is at a particularly interesting site - which was again the case at Harris-Lass:   the Museum includes the  original 1865 farmhouse (which was extensively remodeled in the 1890s), a tank house, a summer kitchen, an old barn, a small orchard, several formal gardens (roses and dahlias currently in bloom), farm machinery, tools, a bicycle, ...   Lots to paint.   Too much for just one visit.  

Speaking of visits, the official Harris-Lass website http://www.harrislass.org/
has visiting hours, directions, etc. info.

 Upcoming Paintsites:
  • Thursday, August 25, 2016:   San Mateo County beach (registration 'closed')
  • Thursday, September 1, 2016:   Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge, Fremont
  • Thursday, September 8, 2016:   Sawyer Camp Trail, San Mateo
  • Thursday, September 15, 2016:   Murphy Ave. & Sunnyvale Caltrain Station
Details can be found on the SCVWS website and in the August & September Newsletters.

Ongoing activities of interest involving Paintsites regulars:

  • John Ediger will be gallery-sitting at the AZ Gallery (1213 Lincoln Ave., Suite #106, San Jose) on Sunday, August 28th, from 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM and on Tuesday, August 30th, from 11:00 - 4:00 PM.   Come by and say "Hello".
  • Mary Raftery and Laurie Barna are in the Haggin Art Museum's 59th Annual Juried National Exhibition.   Located in Stockton, the Haggin is famous for its outstanding fine art collection.   The show runs July 7  - September 11, 2016.  
  • The SCVWS Summer Palette exhibit continues its run (thru August 26th) at the Hobee's restaurant at  680 River Oaks Parkway in San Jose.     Hours of operation are:  Mon. - Fri. 7:00 AM - 2:30 PM; Sat. 8:00 AM - 2:30 PM; Sun. 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM.   (This Hobee's serves breakfast & lunch only.)
  • Karen Druker has been accepted into the The 8th Annual 50/50 Exhibition at the Sachez Art Center in Pacifica.  (1220-B Linda Mar Blvd.)    There will be a Preview Fundraiser on August 26th from 6:00 - 8:00 PM.   Tickets can be purchased thru the link on the Sanchez website:   http://www.sanchezartcenter.org/calendar.htm .    A  free Public Opening Reception follows from 8:00 - 9:30 PM.       Gallery hours are Fri. - Sun. 1:oo - 5:0o PM.  The show runs until Sunday, September 18th.
  • Candy Yu is currently showing 18 watercolor pet portraits at the VCA Crocker Animal Hospital, 475 N. Jackson Ave., San Jose.  Most of her artwork is in the reception area and hallways and can viewed by the public.    The Hospital is open Mon. - Fri. 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM; Sat. & Sun. 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM.    The exhibit runs thru the end of October.
'The Eureka!' moment experienced by plein air painters is when they've found that perfect subject: 
Thursday Paintsites Co-coordinator Marilyn experiences her Eureka! moment here (photo by Liz).    Scroll down to see the happy outcome.

 Painting the farmhouse:
 
Joy set-up in a rose arbor for her view of the rear of the house.


Joy's painting of the rear and screened porch side of the house.

Lisha set-up in the Heritage Orchard for a view of the front of the house.

The asymmetrical 1890's remodeling of the farmhouse can clearly be seen in Lisha's fine painting.

Lois

Lois' painting of the front entrance

Marilyn

Marilyn's Journal sketch of a corner of the front porch entrance.

Nora set-up at the far end of the front yard ....

 
... in order to paint the entire (asymmetric) front of the farmhouse. 
Candy's painting of the rear of the house.

 
Helen set-up in the shade of an old fig tree.
Helen's painting of the formal front entry garden.


 Painting the Tank House:
 
Carol


Carol's painting of the tank house from the far side of the formal rear garden.
Anna (left) and Elizabeth

Elizabeth's painting of the tank house.

Leslie's first painting was of the tank house.
Grace set-up near the rear entrance steps.


Grace's painting of the tank house and the roof mounted windmill which powered the pump.
John eschewed rusty farm implements to paint .... 


... a rusty old bicycle leaning against the tank house.
Lois' painting of a corner of the tank house.

Anna C. sketching the water tower.

 Painting the Old Barn:

 
Broncha


Broncha's painting of the old barn looking thru the large formal garden from the rear of the farmhouse. 

Katherine

Katherine's painting of the old barn.

New SCVWS member Shirley L's painting of the old barn from the side of the back garden opposite from where Katherine set-up.    A wonderful first Paintsites painting!
In the old barn, Annie (left) and Candy painted old tools and "stuff".

Annie's painting of some old barn treasures:  a saw and an antique tennis or badminton racquet.

Candy's Tombow sketch of miscellaneous old "things" hanging in the barn.
Leslie set-up outside the barn and found a subject which triggered wild flights of fancy:   the sawhorse transformed into a real horse and galloping off.
Leslie's painting of a saddle displayed in the barn.



Caroline's painting of the buggy in the barn.
Brad's sketch of a very rusty old tractor with some sort of spraying apparatus and wood tank on the back.

Kaaren

Kaaren's plein air still life (is such a thing possible?) of a display of old jars and bottles as seen thru a window of the summer kitchen.

Liz isn't looking heavenward for inspiration ... she's working on the "Mission Fig" entry in her "Fruit Tree Journal".
 
Liz's painting of succulent looking figs on the old fig tree in the front lawn of the Harris-Lass House.


Let's see, we painted the farmhouse, the old barn, the old water tower, a corner of the summer kitchen --- what's left to paint?
Melanie (seated) and Toni.
Why, the 'floating' dog house of course - painted by Melanie.   

Nancy M. back with the group after some time away.
Joe found a small formal garden opposite from where most of set-up to paint ....  


Joe's painting of the intimate side garden.

New SCVWS member Ina joined us for her first Paintsite paintout.

Lunch, our 'critique', and a video about the history of the Harris-Lass House:
  
Lunch in the "Boardroom / Classroom" in the old barn.   HPSSC President Bob Byrd gave us a brief overview and then we watched an interesting PBS documentary, "The Final Harvest", on the Harris-Lass House.     Followed by our 'critique' and, for those that wished to, a tour of the period-furnished farmhouse.