Saturday, August 24, 2019

Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, San Jose, Thursday, August 22, 2019

This is the fourth year in a row that we took advantage of seniors (50+) getting in free to Happy Hollow Zoo for Senior Safari to sketch the animals.  With this much practice, we should be getting the hang of sketching animals who are constantly on the move, but it is still quite the challenge.  Even if difficult, it is fun to try, and one learns a lot by spending time with an animal.  For example, it took a quite a while to notice how the giant anteater walks on his knuckles while tucking his long sharp claws into his palms.

The weather was delightful with sun and a pleasant temperature.  We seniors had the park to ourselves from 9-10 AM, then families with young children arrived at the regular opening time.  After a full morning of sketching and painting, some of our artists enjoyed a ride on the “Keep–Around Carousel”, featuring endangered species.

For information about Happy Hollow Zoo visit  https://happyhollow.org/

Here is a giant anteater video provided by the San Diego Zoo.  It is worth waiting through the beginning 15 second advertisement to see the close ups of the anteater’s very long tongue and long sharp claws.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0Lo2XnakbY

Upcoming Paintsites:  See the SCVWS website or the August and September Newsletters for details:
  • Thursday, August 29, Villa Montalvo, Saratoga
  • Thursday, Sept 5, Emerald Lake Country Club, Emerald Hills
  • Thursday, Sept 12, Rosicrucian Museum Park, San Jose
  • Thursday, Sept 19, Allied Arts Guild, Menlo Park
  • Saturday, Sept 21, Edenvale Gardens Regional Park / Hayes Mansion, San Jose
  • Thursday, Sept 26, Natural Bridges State Beach, Santa Cruz

Artists and their artwork: 

Many more animals were sketched and painted than are shown here.

Iris's magnificent scarlet macaw

Iris holding her painting

Lauren's scarlet macaw and
blue and gold macaw

Elaine

Elaine's page of red ruffed lemur sketches

Elaine says the goats in the petting area
were very interested in the senior with his walker.

Thursday paintsite co-coordinator Marilyn

Marilyn's sketch of the giant anteater

The "Keep-Around Carousel" was very popular, both for riding and for painting.

Brad on the shark and Ed on the black rhinoceros

Helen peeking around the giraffe's ears
and Jan C. riding on the swan

Brad's painting of "Keep-Around Carousel"

Iris and Helen

There are lots of people in Helen's "Keep-Around Carousel" painting

Jan C.

Jan C's painting of "Keep-Around Carousel"

Elaine's painting of "Keep-Around Carousel"

Toni
Toni's painting of a magnificent tree in front of
the "Keep-Around Carousel"

Toni's detail of tree


There are other interesting scenes to paint at Happy Hollow Zoo:

Broncha

Broncha's painting of the "Crooked House"

Sham and Indira found a comfortable bench on a hill
overlooking the picnic area

Sham's painting looking down on the umbrellas in the picnic area

Indira's painting looking down on the umbrellas in the picnic area

Lunch and sharing at the Jaguar Picnic Area

One group of artists

Another group of artists

Thank you Thursday paintsite co-coordinator emeritus Brad for leading the sharing of our artwork







Sunday, August 18, 2019

Weekend Paintsites August 17, 2019 Guadalupe Oak Grove Park, San Jose


The weather gods were kinder, gentler to our weekend painters with a long awaited sea breeze crossing the parched hills. Our artists took full advantage of the cooler weather and produced a gallery of fine paintings.


Next Weekend Paintsite: September 21, Hayes Mansion and Edenvale Park

Guadalupe Oak Grove Park Artists and Paintings

Guadalupe Oak Grove Park hillside

Mindy and Paige

Mindy's painting

Alison's painting



Elaine's round paintings... Stunning!

Evann with her paintings

Evann's first painting

Evann's second painting

Toni with her painting

Toni's painting of the oak field

Mary M's painting

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Vasona Lake CP, Los Gatos, Thursday, August 15, 2019

Vasona Lake County Park surrounds Vasona Reservoir which was formed by building a dam on Los Gatos Creek in 1935.  The Santa Clara Valley Water District usually keeps this reservoir, their smallest reservoir, nearly full, and it was at 95% for us.

This was the first time a paintsite had an 8 AM start time, but it was very appropriate due to the heat wave.  It was a lovely time to paint with a pleasant temperature, longer shadows, and sharp reflections on the lake.  School was already in session, so we did not get to enjoy the happy sounds of children, but we did see two American coots, each with a chick, in the Water Primrose right in front of us.

For more information about the park, visit: https://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/parkfinder/Pages/Vasona.aspx
For more photos from the paintsite, see Edward Rook's Flickr album:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/edwardrooks/albums/72157710335492207

Upcoming Paintsites:  See the SCVWS website or the August and September Newsletters for details:
  • Thursday, August 22, Senior Safari, Happy Hollow Zoo,  San Jose, 9 AM start time
  • Thursday, August 29, Villa Montalvo, Saratoga
  • Thursday, Sept 5, Emerald Lake Country Club, Emerald Hills
  • Thursday, Sept 12, Rosicrucian Museum Park, San Jose
  • Thursday, Sept 19, Allied Arts Guild, Menlo Park
  • Saturday, Sept 21, Edenvale Gardens Regional Park / Hayes Mansion, San Jose
  • Thursday, Sept 26, Natural Bridges State Beach, Santa Cruz

Artists and their artwork:

Vasona Lake with arch bridge and beautiful reflections

California ground squirrels keeping an eye on us from their
"high rise" vantage point.  Photo by Edward

American coot feeds her chick.  Photo by Edward

Lora

Lora's painting of  Vasona Lake and boat rental concession

Elaine

Elaine's painting of pedal boats and sail boats
at boat rental concession

Elaine's painting of arch bridge

Breezy is Elaine's painting buddy

Marilyn and Elaine are posing and
Breezy is getting a snack

Marilyn's painting of Vasona Lake and arch bridge

Edward

Edward's painting of Vasona Lake includes
the Santa Cruz Mountains in the distance 
and wildlife in the foreground

Brad

Brad painted the lake in high key to show
that it was a very warm day

Brad's gray-scale painting of the trees around the lake

Jan C. found a comfortable place to 
set up at a picnic table
Jan C's painting of Lake Vasona and the arch bridge
We miss long-time Thursday Paintsites artist Lisha
and we are sending her our love.


Edward is enjoying the water melon that Marilyn
brought to keep the artists cool and hydrated


Marilyn is showing Elaine's painting
We admired our paintings,
then went home at 11:30 before it got too hot.