Alviso Marina County Park Hike & Sketch, Thursday, October 30, 2014

Our first Hike & Sketch under new management, without Jenny & Sylvia leading the way, turned into more of a meander by an undisciplined rabble than a focused group of artists.    So it's a good thing we're such a flexible and accommodating group --- we adapted and still had a great time and found much to paint.    There were lots of "I didn't see that interesting old building.   Where was that?"     Which means when next we visit there will be lots of new subjects to paint (assuming the old buildings haven't completely collapsed.) 

(Note:   We did act in concert once was when an Amtrak train went by and we all lined up and waved in unison.    No telling what the passengers thought of the motley group standing on the levee.)

For more information about the Alviso Marina County Park, check out:
http://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/parkfinder/Pages/AlvisoMarina.aspx

Upcoming Paintsites events:

•  Thursday, November 6, 2014:  Los Altos History Museum, Los Altos
•  Thursday, November 20, 2014:  Clos LaChance Winery, San Martin

For complete details see the Watercolor Society website or the November Newsletter.

(Note: some earlier postings have been updated with finished paintings replacing the incomplete work initially posted.   Check out Ardenwood and the Rengstorff House in particular.)

Painting on the levee ...

Photo courtesy of Melanie

Photo courtesy of Melanie

Our well deserved lunch break after our long trek (maybe all of 3/4 mile!) on the levees and through the town .....

The artists .....

Candy

Cathy

Dick

Helen

Iris

Jenny

John

Leslie

Lisha

Marilyn

Melanie

Sylvia

Mitsi

Brad

And here's some of what we painted.     (Remember we're only allowed about 20 - 30 minutes per sketch/painting before we move on to the next stop.    Some images are quick sketches, some are 20 minute paintings!, and some are work finished later in the studio.)

 First stop - the levee:

Candy's painting of  levee

Cathy's painting of levee #1

Cathy's painting of levee #2

Iris' painting of artist on levee

Lisha's painting of another artist on levee looking west

Melanie's painting of levee looking towards the Park

Sylvia's sketch of the levee looking east (note RR tracks on right)

Brad's sketch of artists on the levee

Off the levee and back in the Park proper ...

The interesting, high-and-dry houseboat 'docked' in a lot next to the Park was a popular subject.    There's an air of mystery about it that draws people in ..... 

Dick's painting of the houseboat

Leslie's take on the same houseboat

Marilyn's drawing of the houseboat

Candy's painting of slough looking south

Mitsi's painting of  Alviso from the Park

The old bar (probably called a saloon in its heyday) adjacent to the RR Crossing was a popular subject.    Many of us made the RR Crossing and tracks very conspicuous (not just because of the interesting perspective but also because few things gets one's attention like a train hurtling by mere yards away from where you're painting ---  you tend to put it in your painting).    ...   

John's painting of the old bar

Helen's painting of old bar and the RR Crossing

Iris' sketch of same

Jenny's painting of the old bar

Leslie captured the scene too

as did Lisha

and as did Sylvia in one of her quick sketches

There were other subjects of interest in town as well ...

Jenny captured the spirit of this old building --- looks like it had spent too much time in the nearby bar

Sylvia captured the same scene

Brad's painting of ever popular Vahl's

Palo Alto Baylands, November 15, 2012

Mild temperatures; mostly blue skies with interesting and unusual (for the Bay Area) clouds; a very high tide which changed narrow channels into lakes and back again in just a few hours; shorebirds, waterfowl and raptors; colorful salt marshes; hardly any wind which made for strong reflections; and a talented group of plein air painters made for another successful paint-out.  Brad

For additional information about the Palo Alto Baylands, see:  http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/gov/depts/csd/parks/preserves/baylands.asp

Leslie Grimm

It was a cloudy morning but the sun came out occasionally to add some color.  The pigeons in the tree wouldn't stay put -- they kept surrounding me on the ground chirping hungrily whenever I got something out of my pack!  Leslie

Caroline Garbarino

Palo Alto Baylands, Behind the Duck Pond.  Caroline

Anna Jacke

I went to Baylands yesterday after lunch and again this morning to finish up my painting.   My mother-in-law is here visiting for the next 2 weeks so I am working around her needs.   She was in the car reading a book while I watched the storm clouds roll in.  Anna

 

Dick Zunkel

What a great place! Just to sit and watch the wildlife is worth the trip. To paint there is the ultimate enjoyment of the site.   Dick

Marilyn Perry

 The highest tide I had ever seen at Palo Alto Baylands was caused because the moon closest to earth (perigee) occurred just after new moon when earth and moon were aligned. Marilyn

 

Marilyn Perry

Black-necked Stilt.   Marilyn

Brad Santos

Normally we find our Fall colors in trees --- but at the Baylands, Fall color is underfoot, (even underwater at high tide), in the pickleweed.  Brad

Jenny Tero

This was the view from the small platform at the end of the Visitor Center's boardwalk - a very peaceful spot.  Jenny