Santana Row Rooftops, San Jose, Thursday, May 27, 2021

“Olly, olly oxen free" is a catchphrase or truce term used in children's games such as hide and seek, capture the flag, and kick the can to indicate that players who are hiding can come out into the open without losing the game. 

Adventurous Thursday painters played a game of Hide and Seek at Santana Row, as it  turns out the navigation apps were not up for the game! Alison, Claudia, Caroline, Helen, Lora, Linda, Lisha, Kris, Valerie and Bobbi met at the parking garage and painted from the various level or at ground level~ Alison

A big thank you to those who participated in the Paintsites Survey! A total of 37 members participated. We were very encouraged by all the comments along with offers from members to volunteer in the running of Paintsites. If you would like to view the survey results, please contact paintsites@scvws.org. If you volunteered to help or more specifically, to give a plein air demo please contact paintsites@scvws.org 

Upcoming Paint Sites

• Thursday, JUNE 3 - Rengstorff House, Shoreline Park, MV 
• Thursday, JUNE 17 - Frederick’s Lavender Field, Almaden Valley, SJ 
• Thursday, JULY 8 - Edenvale Park ( View of Hayes Mansion), San jose
• Thursday, JULY 22 - Rewood Grove, Los Altos

Please note: Our coordinators will be traveling at various times in the coming months. Paint sites will still be scheduled but they will be reduced to two locations per month from June to October 2021. Also, the Paintsites Blog will be published once a month during the same time period. Please submit one painting per month. For more on blog submission guidelines, specific paint sites, on our pandemic safety requirements and  click here. For information on SCVWS activities go to SCVWS.org

Paintsites Member's Artwork and Photos from this Week 

Alison's watercolor of the construction crane painted from the
parking lot rooftop

"Spirits' View of Winchester Boulevard" by Caroline 

"Santana Row Boutique" by Claudia L

Lora's sketch of a cafe chapel facade at Santana Row.
The red umbrellas were calling me ~ Lora
 

View from the rooftop of the Santana Row parking gararge

Vasona County Park, Los Gatos, Thursday May 20, 2021

Paintsite survivor edition episode 2

Painters braved blustery cool winds and ran afoul of aggressive birds at Vasona County Park. Undaunted our contestants produced beautiful paintings of the bridge, water and boats. ~ Alison

Big turnout with several newish members plus Rich who I hadn't seen for quite awhile.   The most exciting moment was when a fisherman (not an artist - we're too sure-footed) slipped on the boat dock and went into the lake.    Rich sprinted down to help him out but his assistance wasn't required and the chagrined fisherman squished his way back to his car and left. ~ Brad

A big thank you to those who participated in the Paintsites Survey! A total of 37 members participated. We were very encouraged by all the comments along with offers from members to volunteer in the running of Paintsites. If you would like to view the survey results, please contact paintsites@scvws.org. If you volunteered to help or more specifically, to give a plein air demo please contact paintsites@scvws.org 

Upcoming Paint Sites

Please note: Our coordinators will be traveling at various times in the coming months. Paint sites will still be scheduled but they will be reduced to two locations per month from June to October 2021.

• Thursday, MAY 27 - Santana Row Rooftops, San Jose
• Thursday, JUNE 3 - Rengstorff House, Shoreline Park, MV
• Thursday, JUNE 17 - Frederick’s Lavender Field, Almaden Valley, SJ

For more on specific paint sites go to Paintsites Detail and more on SCVWS activities go to SCVWS.org

Scroll down for details on our pandemic safety requirements, blog submission guidelines and links to member websites.

Paintsites Member's Artwork and Photos from this Week 

"I'd originally planned to paint the boats but, with the brisk breeze, there was
no action on the water.  So, while I've labored over the bridge
 a number of times at past paintouts, this time I decided to focus
on the background landscape and make the bridge almost an after-thought.
Next time I'll give the bridge another try." ~ Brad

Vasona Lake by Dale

Painting by Claudia

Boat dock by Dale

Vasona Lake

Viewing paintings

View of Vasona by Karen F.

Boat launch

Clemson

Claudia Brad and Helen

Karen and aggressive goose

Duck on patrol

Dale on the docks

Vasona by Helen

"It was really nice meeting some new artists—
Clemson/Klemson and Monique
 (who helped me “rescue” my paint palette chart when
a gust of wind blew it into the water!)."
by Laura 

Kris's painting of the bridge at Vasona Lake
 

Rich's Painting of the boats docked on Vasona Lake

Alison's watercolor of the Vasona paddle boats and bridge

Clemson's watercolor of Vasona Lake 

"Japanese Friendship Garden" plein air
0.5mm Micron pen x watercolor by Dick

 

 

Holbrook-Palmer Park, Atherton, Thursday, May 13, 2021

A record turnout on this pleasantly sunny Thursday —  artists Annie, Brad, Caroline, Claudia, Helen, Janice, Jane, Karen, Lora, Lorraine, Shirley, Tanvi, Wendy and Wanda set up and painted  peacefully throughout the 22 acre grounds of Holbrook-Palmer Park, Atherton’s only community park. No pesky squirrels this Thursday!  

Previously known as the Holbrook Estate it has been declared a Heritage Site, notably for two buildings — the Water Tower and the Carriage House. For more information on Holbrook Palmer Park please refer to the following links:

https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/16000663.htm

http://scvwspaintsites.blogspot.com/2018/06/holbrook-palmer-park-atherton-thursday.html

A big thank you to those who participated in the Paintsites Survey! A total of 37 members participated. We were very encouraged by all the comments along with offers from members to volunteer in the running of Paintsites. If you would like to view the survey results, please contact paintsites@scvws.org. If you volunteered to help or more specifically, to give a plein air demo please contact paintsites@scvws.org 

Upcoming Paint Sites

Please note: Our coordinators will be traveling at various times in the coming months. Paint sites will still be scheduled but they will be reduced to two locations per month from June to October 2021.

• Thursday, MAY 13 - Holbrook Palmer Park, Atherton
• Thursday, MAY 20 - Vasona Park, Los Gatos
• Thursday, MAY 27 - Santana Row Rooftops, San Jose
• Thursday, JUNE 3 - Rengstorff House, Shoreline Park, MV
• Thursday, JUNE 17 - Frederick’s Lavender Field, Almaden Valley, SJ

For more on specific paint sites go to Paintsites Detail and more on SCVWS activities go to SCVWS.org

Scroll down for details on our pandemic safety requirements, blog submission guidelines and links to member websites.

Paintsites Member's Artwork and Photos from this Week 

"Old Fashion Roses" by Annie

Brad's watercolor of the carriage house

After a week of too hot weather, painting in Atherton, even in the sun, was just about perfect:  paper didn't dry instantaneously and neither did the pigments in the half-pans -- so just getting paint on the paper wasn't a struggle ~ Brad

Brad multitasking -- lounging and sketching

Caroline merged  two sketches -- Merrill Carriage House and a Gamble Garden Iris  

Claudia's watercolor of the historic water tower

Helen's watercolor of the Merrill carriage house

Wendy's sketchbook entry of Norway maple leaves

"Painting Roses" by Jane S.

Janice sketching the roses 

Lora with  'Prometea', a sculpture by Bryan Tedrick

Wanda and Claudia

Lora's view of the water tower

Shirley 

The water tower at Holbrook Palmer was built in the Second Empire architectural style to match the style of the original Holbrook residence which burnt down in 1958.

Other Paintings by SCVWS Members from this Week

"Salinda in the Iris Field" by Dick, painted plein air in pen & ink and watercolor

"Fill'er Up" by Kris,  from SJ History Park

Paintsites Guidelines

Please check the Paintsites website for details including directions and possible cancellations. To keep our members and guests as safe as possible during the COVID-19 era, we must change how we do things. Some of the paint sites have visitor limits. When this occurs we will post the information in paint site details on the SCVWS website. Participants are encouraged to wear masks and observe the 6 ft. distancing rule. 

How to Submit  to Paintsites Blog 

• Pick one painting from your week’s work (painted at a paint site or elsewhere).
• Take a digital photo of your artwork. Cropped photos are preferred.
• Submit it by Saturday of that week to paintsites@scvws.org.
• Include your name, the date and comments about the site or unique media notes.
• Submissions after Saturday midnight will appear in the following week's blog.

Check out our web site Paintsites Homepage. We updated it to include links to presentations on plein air painting by SCVWS members Dick Zunkel, Uma Kelkar and Edward Rooks. All three links were used as references during the SCVWS Zoom Q&A session on February 28, 2021. 

Alum Rock Park, San Jose, Thursday May 6, 2021

 Alum Rock Park Survivor Edition

During this episode of SCVWS survivor ( the Unnamed Bridges of Alum Rock Park) Lora, Claudia, Laurie, Monique and Alison had an wildlife adventure at Alum Rock Park. We persevered despite rattlesnake warning signs, aggressive squirrels and Stellars Jays, busy bees and poor cellphone service! The weather cooperated  and the breezy weather yielded crystal clear skies. ~ Alison

Scroll down and enjoy this week’s  photos and artwork posts, details on our plein air safety requirements and upcoming events.   

New: Check out our web site Paintsites Homepage. We updated it to include links to presentations on plein air painting by SCVWS members Dick Zunkel, Uma Kelkar and Edward Rooks. All three links were used as references during the SCVWS Zoom Q&A session on February 28, 2021. 

Paint Site Guidelines

Please check the Paintsites website for details including directions and possible cancellations. To keep our members and guests as safe as possible during the COVID-19 era, we must change how we do things. Some of the paint sites have visitor limits. When this occurs we will post the information in paint site details on the SCVWS website. Participants must wear masks and observe the 6 ft. distancing rule. We no longer take photos of paintings on site. Please take your own photo, crop if needed, and submit  to paintsites@scvws.org 

Blog Submission Guidelines

If you choose not to attend the organized SCVWS plein air events, we invite Paintsites' artists sketching/painting on their own to pick one painting from that week and submit it by Saturday of that week. Here are some guidelines:

• Submit a digital photo of your artwork to paintsites@scvws.org. Cropped photos are preferred.
• Include your name, the date and comments about the site or unique media notes.
• Be creative! Some of your best subjects are in or around your home. You may want to paint from personal photos of your travels.
• Submissions after Saturday midnight will appear in the following week's blog.
• One painting per member per week, please.

Upcoming Paint sites:

• Thursday, MAY 13 - Holbrook Palmer Park, Atherton
• Thursday, MAY 20 - Vasona Park, Los Gatos
• Thursday, MAY 27 - Santana Row Rooftops, San Jose

For more on the these sites go to Paintsites Detail

Paintsites Member's Artwork and Photos from this Week 

"The stone bridges were beautiful." by Lora

Mineral water fountain by Claudia

"Backlit bridge provided interesting shadows and reflected light."
by Alison

Laurie

Mineral water fountain

One of the old stone bridges

A "friendly" squirrel?

"“Alison said it best: “welcome to the ‘Survivor’ edition of SCVWS plein air painting!
  Difficult to locate the site (despite good directions
from Alison and all the park’s signage being covered up with foliage!).
This park’s “welcome” included “Rattlesnake Territory”
placards posted every 10 feet along the main asphalt path,
aggressive ground squirrels and Stellar Jays! 
A weapon might come in handy…” by Laurie

Other Paintings by SCVWS Members from this Week

House at the Municipal Rose Garden in San Jose by Helen

South Court Iris, Palo Alto by Caroline

Manzanita by Annie