Los Altos History Museum & Art Exhibit, Los Altos. Thursday, December 29, 2016.

After two December Paintsites were rained-out, Marilyn and Jane decided we needed a 'Pop Up' Paintsite to make up for the lost days.   We've visited the Los Altos History Museum and the J. Gilbert Smith House in the past and this year there was a special attraction drawing us back:  the  'Splash Painting' exhibit of unique ink and watercolor paintings (done over decades) by 100 year old Los Altos resident Hua Beiren.

We had a very busy day of it:    We painted until noon; Then we ate a leisurely lunch on benches in the sun; Then we viewed the Hua Beiren show; Then we got a tour of the J. Gilbert Smith House (the subject of most of our paintings) from an enthusiastic and knowledgeable History Museum docent; Then we trooped over to downtown Los Altos for coffee and a pastry at Le Boulanger; Then we visited Viewpoints Gallery and saw some SCVWS members fine artwork; Then (finally) it was time to head home --- what a great day with a talented, fun group!   (Note, there was no time for a Critique hence few photos of our artwork.   Images are slowly filtering in so check back for more later.)


Upcoming Paintsites: 

• Monday, January 2, 2017: Registration for Annual Member Show opens.    See website for details.
• Thursday, January 5, 2017:  Wildwood Park, Saratoga 
• Sunday, January 8, 2017:  Deadline to register for SCVWS Annual Holiday Party.  See website for details and instructions about registering on the Members Only webpage.
• Thursday, January 12, 2017:  Historic Santa Clara Site to be Determined.
• Saturday, January 14, 2017:  SCVWS Annual Holiday Party - 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM.  See link on the SCVWS website home page for details
• Thursday, January 19, 2017:  Guadalupe Oak Grove Park, San Jose
• Thursday, January 26, 2017:  Santa Cruz Arboretum, UCSC.

Details can be found on the SCVWS website and in the January Newsletter.

Ongoing activities of interest involving Paintsites regulars:

• The 'Vino Locale Show' continues its run thru February 6, 2017.   The restaurant is located at 431 Kipling St., Palo Alto.   Hours are:  Lunch:  Tue. - Sun.:  11:30 AM - 2:30 PM.   Dinner:  daily:  5:00 - 9:00 PM.    Do yourself a favor:  Go eat, drink, and buy a fine watercolor.   (Unfortunately, it's too late for a Christmas gift so get one for yourself.)    The  Vino Locale website is: http://www.vinolocale.com/about-us/
  

•  John Ediger will be gallery-sitting at the Az Gallery (1213 Lincoln Ave., San Jose) on Thursday, January 19, 2017 from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM.    Drop in and say 'hello'.

• Cathy Belleville is exhibiting 18 of her Palo Alto Baylands paintings at the Sequoias of Portola Valley (340 Willowbrook Dr. just off 501 Portola Rd.) from January 3rd - 30th.    An Opening Reception will be held on Sunday, January 8th from 2:30 - 4:30 PM.    Please RSVP to Cathy at cwbelleville@earthlink.net  if you'd like to attend.

Cathy B.

Cathy B.'s painting of the sunny side of the J. Gilbert Smith House.

SCVWS Thursday Paintsites co-coordinators (from left) Brad, Marilyn, and Jane S. (photo by Salinda)

Brad's painting of the J. Gilbert Smith House

Debbie (left) and Marcelle

Iris (left) and Lisha looking relaxed.  (Photo by Salinda)

Iris looking serious!

Lisha focused on her painting.

Jane P.

Thursday Paintsites co-coordinator Jane S.

Jayne S. back with us after her serious ankle injury.

Jayne's journal entry painting of the J. Gilbert Smith House arbor.

Katherine (left) and Annie

Lorraine packing up after finishing her painting,

Lorraine's painting of an outbuilding.

Thursday Paintsites co-coordinator Marilyn.

Marilyn's painting of one of the handsome lampposts in the History Museum courtyard.

Mike G.

Salinda

 

Well deserved coffee break at Le Boulanger:  from left - Brad, Mike G. and Annie.  (photo by Salinda)

Stanford University Quad. Thursday, December 22, 2016

After an unprecedented two December rainouts we felt we deserved a good day for painting and did we ever get it:  Early in the week daytime temperatures were on the cold side and the Friday after the paintout Winter came back with a vengeance.  But on Thursday it was almost balmy: clear  and sunny - in fact almost a perfect day for painting plein air.   And with one of the shortest days of the year the sun never got overhead so we had nice crisp shadows all day long.

Paintsites regulars Dick and Salinda had to miss the paintout as Dick is recovering from surgery.    But nothing that will stop him from working on his cartoon blog - check it out.

Upcoming Paintsites:

• Thursday, December 29, 2016:    Bonus Paintout in Los Altos to make up for two December rainouts!    Watch for e-notification for details
• Thursday, January 5, 2017:  Wildwood Park, Saratoga 
• Sunday, January 8, 2017:  Deadline to register for SCVWS Annual Holiday Party.  See website for details and instructions about registering on the Members Only webpage.
• Thursday, January 12, 2017:  Historic Santa Clara Site to be Determined.
• Saturday, January 14, 2017:  SCVWS Annual Holiday Party - 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM.  See link on the SCVWS website home page for details
• Thursday, January 19, 2017:  Guadalupe Oak Grove Park, San Jose
• Thursday, January 26, 2017:  Santa Cruz Arboretum, UCSC.

Details can be found on the SCVWS website and in the January Newsletter.

Ongoing activities of interest involving Paintsites regulars:

• The 'Vino Locale Show' continues its run thru February 6, 2017.   The restaurant is located at 431 Kipling St., Palo Alto.   Hours are:  Lunch:  Tue. - Sun.:  11:30 AM - 2:30 PM.   Dinner:  daily:  5:00 - 9:00 PM.    Do yourself a favor:  Go eat, drink, buy some fine artwork -- give your favorite artist a painting he/she will treasure.   The  Vino Locale website is: http://www.vinolocale.com/about-us/
  

• Candy Yu's show at the Foothill Presbyterian Church, 5301 McKee Rd., San Jose runs thru the end of December.   This is a busy time of year for churches so call (408) 258-8133, before visiting to make sure the exhibit will be accessible.

•  John Ediger will be gallery-sitting at the Az Gallery (1213 Lincoln Ave., San Jose) on Thursday, January 19, 2017 from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM.    Drop in and say 'hello'.

• Cathy Belleville is exhibiting 18 of her Palo Alto Baylands paintings at the Sequoias of Portola Valley (340 Willowbrook Dr. just off 501 Portola Rd.) from January 3rd - 30th.    An Opening Reception will be held on Sunday, January 8th from 2:30 - 4:30 PM.    Please RSVP to Cathy at cwbelleville@earthlink.net  if you'd like to attend.
 

As many times as we've painted at Stanford, the imposing Hoover Tower was seldom a popular subject.   Not so this time, however, as we all took a swing at the Big Building On Campus.

Jane P.'s painting of Hoover Tower from the Quad.

Jane S.'s close-up peek at Hoover Tower thru the trees.

... and John's ...

... and Marilyn's.

Brad set-up at the opposite end of the Quad from Hoover Tower.

Columns, roof beams, arches, windows and doors in the sandstone wall, and shadows all contributed to a study in perspective.

Marilyn's unfinished sketch of White Fountain.   The last time we visited Stanford water restrictions kept the fountain dry --- this time there was a riot of spurting, colliding, cascading jets of water.    Marilyn hopes to finish this and capture it all.

Lunch in the Quad: left to right - Marilyn, Jane S., Jane P., and John.  (Note the wonderful long, sharp shadows that we got to play with!)

"Morning Glow in the Mountains" by Tom Ayers

On his way back from a workshop in Zion, John visited Rosalie & Tom Ayers at their new home in Roseville.    Tom sent this card for John to share with the Paintsites group.

 

Thomas Fogarty Winery, Skyline Blvd., Woodside. Thursday, December 1, 2016

No doubt about it - winter's here.   At the last paintout some of us were caught off-guard by the chilly morning at Hidden Villa.    Today we were prepared!   So while temperatures in the Valley were in the 50's, they were in the 40's on Skyline Blvd.   But in the sun, bundled up as we were, it was quite pleasant  --- altho' this time of year the shadows are long and move swiftly so that a sunny spot could change into a cold, shady one in the blink of an eye.  And consider this, the clearest days typically follow the coldest nights!    And we certainly did have a clear day with views over the entire Peninsula from San Francisco to San Jose and the mountains beyond. 

Thanks to Chris Edwards who made our initial contact with Thomas Fogarty Winery and special thanks to Events Director Trisha, our hostess, for facilitating our visit.

The official website for the Thomas Fogarty Winery is:
http://www.fogartywinery.com/

Upcoming Paintsites:

• Thursday, December 8, 2016:  Downtown Los Altos followed by festive potluck at member's home.  Check the SCVWS website Members Only / Paintsites Details page for additional information, including how to register, about this Paintsite.    The registration deadline is Tuesday, December 6th.
• Thursday, December 15, 2016:  Historic Santa Clara site TBD. 
• Thursday, December 22, 2016:  Stanford University Quad, Palo Alto.

Details can be found on the SCVWS website and in the December Newsletter.

Ongoing activities of interest involving Paintsites regulars:

• The 'Vino Locale Show' continues its run thru February 6, 2017.   The restaurant is located at 431 Kipling St., Palo Alto.   Hours are:  Lunch:  Tue. - Sun.:  11:30 AM - 2:30 PM.   Dinner:  daily:  5:00 - 9:00 PM.    Do yourself a favor:  Go eat, drink, buy some fine artwork.   The  Vino Locale website is: http://www.vinolocale.com/about-us/
  

• Candy Yu's show at the Foothill Presbyterian Church, 5301 McKee Rd., San Jose runs thru the end of December.   This is a busy time of year for churches so call (408) 258-8133, before visiting to make sure the exhibit will be accessible.

Jane S. made quite a statement when she pulled up in this '35 Ford pickup. (photo by Liz)

The view from the top:
From where most of painted, looking down-slope from North (S.F.) to Southeast (the South Bay), we had a choice of emphasizing the vineyards with their mostly dormant vines at our feet (30 ft. away) or the distant vistas (30 miles away) or somehow giving both equal billing.   Different approaches produced equally impressive results.

Betty, Joe and Kaaren painting on the deck of the Special Events building .... (photo by Liz)

 

Kaaren

Kaaren's painting looking East towards the Bay and East Bay Hills with a vineyard in the foreground.

Joe

In this painting Joe hints at a vineyard, the Bay, one of the trans-Bay bridges and the East Bay Hills.

Joe's second painting looking Northeast with Mt. Diablo in the distance.

 A sunny spot from which to paint:

From the left: Liz, Jane P., Ji-eun, and Lisha

Betty

Betty's painting looking towards the Southeast over a vineyard.

Salinda

In Salinda's painting the vineyard in the foreground is emphasized.

Jenny

Jenny's Vines & Vista #1

Jenny's Vines & Vista #2

Lisha

Lisha's painting went from loose to looser as it recedes.

Ji-eun set up near Lisha ...

... and her painting has the same feeling of the receding distance.

Jane S.

... as does Jane S.'s

 
The old Tanks:
There were two large wooden tanks (perhaps for water?) adjacent to the lovely informal garden near the Events Center.   The view East from the tanks across the Bay was special but some of us chose to paint the tanks themselves --- equally special.

Debbie's

Jenny's

Brad's

Just the vines and nothing but the vines (well, almost nothing but the vines) ...

 

Jane P.

Jane P.'s painting of some old vines still with their brilliant fall foliage

Liz

Liz found a gnarly old vine to paint

Dick's focus is on the vines, but we get a feeling for the vista as well.

Lunch in a protected, sunny spot in the Events parking lot followed by a critique and, another successful day's painting wrapped up, heaters on high, the drive home,.