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,.