Saturday, March 28, 2020

Week 2, March 22 to 28, 2020, Painting at a Safe Distance

We SCVWS paintsite artists are keeping our painting skills limber and our minds free from worry during this stressful time by doing what we enjoy while we are sheltering in place. This week some of us painted en plein air in our own gardens while others painted from our own personal photographs.

We will continue to publish the weekly blog during the "Shelter in Place" requirements while Thursday and Weekend paintsites are cancelled.  We invite paintsite artists to paint or sketch on your own time during the week, pick one painting from that week and submit it by Saturday of that week. Here are some guidelines:

  • submit a photo of your artwork for the blog to paintsites@scvws.org
  • include your name and any comments e.g. location, date or what inspired you
  • photos which are cropped and ready to upload are preferred
  • painting/sketching subjects might include objects or views in your garden, views from your window, house plants, or something inspired by personal photographs

For information about upcoming paintsites (when possible) and SCVWS activities (including online activities), see the SCVWS website or the April newsletter for details.

Take care, stay well, and for any concerns or questions regarding the cancellations or blog posts, please contact us at paintsites@scvws.org

Artwork


Jane S's painting of apple blossoms: ”My espaliered Pink Lady apple tree is bursting with beautiful clusters of pink and white flowers. I want to paint them all.”

Lorraine's painting of forsythia and ceanothus: "This is in my yard.  The forsythia blooming against the backdrop of the darkstar ceanothus is so striking this season.  There's no way my painting can do justice to the amazing colors.  Not what I usually do, but it was fun even though I got very cold."

Kathy K's painting of forsythia and ceanothus:  "Thank you for this opportunity to paint as a group while we are sheltering in place. The poppies are blooming in my yard. My mother loved California poppies so I made this watercolor sketch as a remembrance of her."

Lauren's painting of azaelas in her backyard


Alison's painting of Spring crocus from her front yard
Sham's paintings of "begonias that continue to grow in spite of some recent neglect"

Indira's painting of mushrooms.  "The mushrooms are a picture I took on a morning walk. The street was deserted but this little cluster brought me so much joy.
Annie writes: "Gouache painting of a potted pothos with my mom’s handmade macrame hanger."

Mary R's painting of the view from Nola's Iris Garden
Dick's painting of "Lighthouse, Cape Elizabeth, Maine from a personal photo taken in 2019

Susan J's painting of the fountain in her yard: "It was a beautiful sunny day in the midst of all of the cloudy, rainy days we have been having and I found the sound of the water so inviting to enjoy."

Elaine's painting "from an image taken in my neighborhood from one of our many dog walks."

Helen's painting from Rose Garden area: "It's sunny day.  Can't wait to get out. Fall in love with the house around rose garden. Drive there again.  Finish a painting with sun hug. Fresh air and  sunny.  Hope good days come soon. :)"

Matt's painting of mugs: "Here’s a little painting I did in Argentina.  Mugs made by my friends’ daughter."

Salinda's painting of Petaluma chickens from a recent personal photo

Marilyn's painting of house finch: "This brightly colored house finch and his mate are still enjoying the privet berries in my backyard and giving me lots of pleasure watching them.




Saturday, March 21, 2020

Week 1, March 14 to 21, 2020 - Painting at a Safe Distance

As we mentioned in our last Thursday blog post, we are continuing to post during the 'Shelter in Place' requirements ( http://scvwspaintsites.blogspot.com/2020/03/los-altos-heritage-orchard-los-altos.html ). Please note that we have changed our temporary blog suggestions on what and where to paint to respect the more recent 'Shelter in Place' requirements:
  • submit a photo of your artwork for the blog to paintsites@scvws.org 
  • include your name and any comments e.g. location, date or what inspired you
  • photos which are cropped and ready to upload are preferred
  • painting/sketching subjects might include objects or views in your garden, views from your window, house plants, or a scene inspired by personal photographs 
We hope everyone had a  good week and is keeping busy. Here are some paintings shared by Paintsite members painting while sheltering in place.
Stay well.

Artwork


Marilyn's journal sketch: "My privet bush gave me much pleasure this spring.  Instead of a flock of cedar waxwings or robins eating all of the berries in a day or two, this year they left the berries for the hermit thrush, mockingbird and house finches who have been feasting for a couple of weeks.  I had never gotten a close view of a hermit thrush before and this thrush posed for me on several occasions in the grass by the patio door before it ate its meal of berries."

Tanvi's watercolor of St. Nicolas Church in Los Altos

 Since it was such a nice sunny day on Friday Helen took a walk
at the San Jose Rose Garden and painted this view of a nearby house

Indira's watercolor of spring blossoms
Sham's watercolor of a view at Yosemite
Toni's painting of her front garden: "In 2013 when we moved here this
was all just green lawn. We pulled it it up and replaced it with bushes,
trees, and annuals."

Jane's watercolor of Tanvi painting  at Shoup Park

  

Brad's Painting from his back yard: "First day of Spring but last morning of Winter -- so it was still cold.  This is the view from our back patio over a neighbor's garage at the mighty hundred year old Sycamores on Brace St. (still bare) and equally mighty, and almost as old, Black Walnuts (just leafing out) in front of our house.  Normally we sit at that patio for afternoon Happy Hour so painting in the AM with the Sycamores back-lit made them look much different."


Dick's Painting of Yuvas Reservoir. He noted: "This morning I read conflicting advice from two California politicians. One said hunker down in your house like moles in a tunnel. The other said to get out there and exercise. We chose the latter. [Here] are paintings by Salinda and me, plein air at Uvas Reservoir. We were far from others.
Salinda's painting of the Uvas Reservoir

Uvas Reservoir: "The light was changing constantly as we were painting."



Sunday, March 15, 2020

Los Altos Heritage Orchard, Los Altos, Thursday, March 12, 2020

Every year we are faced with the dilemma of scheduling Paintsites to catch the peak spring blossoms and with the ups and downs in the weather it’s pretty hard to get it spot on. Apricots are one of the earlier fruit trees to blossom and this year they were very early. Luckily, we were able to move our date up so painters just barely caught the last of the Los Altos Heritage Orchard blossoms; it’s as if the blossoms held out just for us. Not only did the History Museum staff and volunteers gracefully accommodate our change of plans but, they announced our Thursday Paintsite as a community event inviting Los Altos residents to observe our artists in action while strolling through the orchard. Many thanks to Museum staff members Jane Packard and Elizabeth Ward for bringing this about. 
For more information on the Los Altos Heritage Orchard please refer to the following links:
To see the Los Altos Town Crier's feature on our day at the orchard go to page 7 of the following link:
https://www.losaltosonline.com/images/a_digital_edition/2020/LATC_03_18_20.pdf

Upcoming Paintsites
Please Note: In an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) we are cancelling the Thursday Paintsites for the next four weeks. Cancelled Thursdays include March 18 (Santa Clara Central Park), March 26 (Kirk-Farrington House), April 2 and April 9. Please check the Paintsites blog, SCVWS website, and monthly newsletters regularly for scheduling updates.

In the spirit of keeping your painting skills limber during this temporary measure we invite you to paint or sketch on your own time during the week. We will continue to publish the weekly blog; all you have to do is pick one painting from that week and then submit it by the Saturday of that same week. Here are some guidelines:
  • submit a photo of your artwork for the blog to paintsites@scvws.org 
  • include your name and any comments e.g. location, date or what inspired you
  • photos which are cropped and ready to upload are preferred
  • painting/sketching subjects might include objects or views in your garden, views from your window, house plants, or something inspired by personal photographs 
Take care, and for any concerns or questions regarding the cancelations or blog posts please contact us at paintsites@scvws.org

Other News
The Paintsite Paintings Online Show registration opened February 18 and closes Tuesday, April 14, 2020. The exhibit will be published online April 27, 2020. See SCVWS.org or the March and April Newsletter for details.

SCVWS Member’s Show is at the Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos until April 19, 2020. However, the JCC campus has been shut down for 2 weeks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Please check apjcc.org/campus-shutdown for details on the closure. To see the winners and read the comments by the Juror, Iretta Hunter, please click on the following link:  http://www.scvws.org/gallery.php?cat=73

May Silicon Valley Open Studio listings for Paintsites members including Edward Rooks, Annie Haines, Elaine Goldstone, Kathy Kleinsteiber and John Ediger: SVOS.org

Tanvi Buch is exhibiting her watercolors at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts at 500 Castro Street, Mountain View, from February 11 - April 6, 2020. Hours are: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 12 noon-1 pm; and one hour prior to all performances. All paintings are for sale.

Artists and their Artwork:

Susan BG's watercolor of artists painting at the Los Altos Heritage Orchard

Susan 

SCVWS Paintsite artists painting in the apricot orchard

Apricot blossoms, LA Heritage Orchard

Alison's watercolor of an apricot tree in bloom and falling petals 

Alison

Brad's watercolor sketch of an older, gnarly apricot almost in leaf

Brad and Wendy

Wendy's watercolor of an ornamental crabapple 
Caroline's painting of iris from the Museum's perennial garden

Caroline

Dick's watercolor of the museum's newly restored water tower

Dick painting in the museum courtyard

Elaine G's sketches of artists painting in the orchard

Elaine 

Wanda painting by the blossoming magnolia 

Wanda's watercolor/pastel painting of the magnolia flowers

Janice's watercolor sketch of the apricot orchard

Lauren's watercolor of the orchard
Jane's watercolor sketch of the orchard

Mindy's watercolor of the library painted from the orchard

Mindy

Nancy chose a shady spot to paint the orchard

Salinda's watercolor painted in the museum's beautiful perennial garden

Salinda

Susan J
Tanvi's watercolor of apricot blossoms

Tanvi