Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve, Morgan Hill, March 8, 2018

There was a threat of rain but thankfully it never materialized. Instead, we were treated with sun and magnificent cloud formations. Only 20 miles from downtown San Jose, this 348 acre open space preserve has one 4 mile loop trail  that traverses through rare serpentine rock outcroppings, grasslands and oak forests. There was a choice to paint/sketch near the parking lot or hike and sketch on the 4 mile Arrowhead Loop Trail. Hikers had spectacular views in all directions, and a chance to see a host of fauna and flora including coast live, blue and valley oaks, California bays, buckeyes, an early peek at wildflowers,  yellow-billed magpies,  red-tailed hawks and meadowlarks just to name a few. Those who chose to stay near the parking area had excellent views of ranch buildings, grazing horses and the surrounding hills.

For more information on the Coyote Valley Open Space see:

https://www.openspaceauthority.org/visitors/preserves/coyotevalley.html

Upcoming paintsites: See the SCVWS website or the March and April newsletters for details.

• Thursday, March 15, 2018: Gamble Garden, Palo Alto
• Thursday, March 22, 2018: To be determined
• Thursday, March 29, 2018: Hidden Villa, Los Altos Hills
• Saturday, March 31, 2018: Weekend Paintsite: Hidden Villa, Los Altos Hills
• Thursday, April 5, 2018: Villa Montalvo, Saratoga
• Thursday, April 12, 2018: Paintsite and Sketch: Coyote Hills Regional Park, Fremont
• Thursday, April 19, 2018: Campbell Heritage Theatre, Campbell
• Thursday, April 26,  2018: Cummins Iris Garden, Scotts Valley

As part of the Silicon Valley Open Studios "Talk Art"series of community TV programs, Paintsites regular John Ediger discusses his background, a few of his paintings, and demos his paintings, and demos his painting techniques for depicting the rusty objects for which he is noted.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17wJwy4cdoc

Annie, Jane, Liz and Marilyn. 
First leg of the loop trail- scenic overlook, 140' elevation.

Marilyn painting from the scenic overlook.

Annie at the scenic overlook, first stop for sketch and hike.

Annie's sketch from the overlook. 

Jane and Liz at the overlook.

Liz's sketch of the oak savannah.

Leslie overlooking the Coyote Valley.

Leslie's pen and ink from the overlook.

Leslie's sketch of the monster tree stump.

Leslie's pen and ink of the storage shed near the secret orchard.

Leslie's sketch of Jane near the picnic area.

Salinda's painting of Coyote Valley from the scenic overlook.

Liz, Annie and Salinda sketching near a secluded orchard.
 This spot was approximately 800' above sea level
 and was considered the second leg of the hike. 

Salinda's view of the storage shed near the orchard.

Annie's sketch of the orchard and chicken coop.

Jane's view of the orchard and hills.  

Not another hill!

Annie, Salinda and Liz at the picnic area, an offshoot of the main trail.

Annie's sketch of the serpentine rocks scattered on the hillside. 

Toni sketching the newly leafing oak.

Toni's painting of the oak capturing afternoon shadows.

Dick's painting of a hillside studded with serpentine rock.

Helen's sketch of the cattle ranch.

Helen's second sketch of the ranch.

Kaaren's view of the ranch

A different view of the ranch by Tanvi.

Marilyn's painting of the patchwork fields of the Coyote Valley painted from the overlook.