Winchester Mystery House San Jose, CA February 5, 2015

So fortunate were 18 plein air artists on the day before a much needed rainstorm approached the Bay Area. Early morning fog lifted to illuminate the most elaborate victorian style home in America in full sunlight. Our watercolor artists took full advantage of the opportunity, some staying until late in the day.

Ann

Rich's plein air sketches

Rich's studio painting from plein air sketches above

I painted this quarter sheet version at home last Friday the 13th!  More inline with my interpreted feeling of the setting.    Rich

Bobbi

Bobbi's painting

Caroline

Caroline's painting of Demeter

While I was drawing the statue of Demeter, a tourist said "I'll do this the easy way!" and snapped a picture with his cell phone.  I said proudly, "I can do in six hours what you can do in 30 seconds!"    We both laughed heartily. Caroline

A matter of scale

Yan and Dick

Dick's pen and ink with watercolor wash

Don

Leslie

Elaine and Sylvia

Iris

John's sketch

Jenny

John, Marilyn and Liz

Lisha

Lisha's painting

Liz

Liz's finished painting

Helen's painting

Mary P. and Don

Mary P.'s painting

Melanie's painting with Sarah's ghost in the arch

Pat

Pat's sketch

Row of artists

Sylvia's "Door to Nowhere

John's painting

Marilyn's painting

Lunch in the garden

Critique

Saturday August 16, 2014 Gilroy Gardens Gilroy, CA

What a perfect day for fun and painting at Gilroy Gardens. Twelve plein air artists arrived in the cool morning air to check in with the Gardens staff at the HR building. We entered the park and ventured in all directions to find the perfect spot. Many got caught up in the excitement of the park and enjoyed the facilities during the paint-out.  Special thanks to Marianne and the Garden staff for hosting us on a special day.

Candy

Candy

Alison

Iris

Helen

Dick

Brad

For this painting I took a "safe" approach and painted something recognizable.    Lovely and serene (the vegetation, rocks and water features -- not the painting), and challenging enough but not at all exciting.    My second effort was pretty daring - for me at least - submerged and partially submerged, lichen covered rocks, short water drops, swiftly running water with swirling string algae, and a few identifiable plants growing out of crevasses in the rocks.    Next time we go back, I'll give that same subject another shot.    Brad