Lighthouse Field State Beach, Santa Cruz. Thursday, December 18, 2014

After days of rain, the forecast called for a partly cloudy day with only a slight chance of rain for the much anticipated Annual December Santa Cruz Paintout & Dessert Potluck.    We were (to use the local lingo) "stoked" for a day of painting by the sea.    We didn't get the hoped for nice day (even the surfers were complaining about the rain) but we still had a great time painting and then sharing desserts.   And what's really wonderful about this group is that there was nary a complaint about the weather.

For additional info about the Lighthouse Field State Beach, check out:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=550
and:
http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=87

Upcoming Paintsites

•  Thursday, January 8, 2015:  Villa Montalvo, Saratoga
•  Thursday, January 22, 2015:  NEW - Sikh Gurdwara Temple, San Jose
•  Thursday, January 29, 2015:  NEW - Sunnyvale Baylands Park, Sunnyvale:  "easy" Hike & Sketch

 Special Event:

• Saturday, January 10, 2015:  SCVWS Annual Holiday Party, Saratoga.    RSVP on the SCVWS website by January 5, 2015

(Remember to bring your 2014 plein air work for display on the Paintsites Stage.  This is not restricted to work done at Paintsites events.)

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

Once again, special thanks to Marilyn Perry, our weather forecaster extraordinaire who's up late on Wednesdays and then up early on Paintsites Thursdays to make sure everybody gets the "go / no-go" word. 

And thanks to everybody who made the long drive and brought treats to share.

Some hot coffee helped Dick, Yan, Brad & John warm up. (photo by Liz)

John reconnoiters the lighthouse from all sides before heading back to our favored vantage point. (photo by Liz)

Before the rain came, Liz, Dick, Broncha (behind Dick), Yan, Helen, John, & Lisha set up and get to work. 

And then the rain came down -- and the umbrellas came out.

And so did the smiles.  Left to right: Liz, Broncha, Dick, Yan, Helen, Lisha (photo by Candy)

Both Marilyn and her painting are well protected from the rain.  (photo by Candy)

Brad wasn't as well prepared - but didn't mind.  (photo by Candy)

We caught a break for lunch & dessert, lots of dessert - enough to make passersby envious.

Then a quick group photo before heading home: Marilyn, Sylvia, Liz, Broncha, Helen, Lisha, Yan & Dick.

And of course every blog posting needs photos of pretty gals and their paintings - this is Candy

And this is Helen.

Here are some finished paintings.   Visit again to see additional paintings.

Sylvia's painting of  Lighthouse from the West

Sylvia's sketch of bluffs and high surf looking West

Dick's painting of Lighthouse

There's nothing like painting in the rain to get wet on wet effects. I painted mostly sky during our outing and finished the work in studio.     Dick

Liz's painting of the Lighthouse

No I didn't cut off the bottom of the picture...this is exactly as I painted it...kind of an unusual perspective.    Liz

Brad's painting of the Lighthouse

Marilyn's finished painting of the lighthouse

Annual Santa Cruz Paintout, Thursday, September 26 - Saturday, September 28, 2013

When we got to Santa Cruz for the Annual PaintOut, there was quite a buzz amongst the locals.   We thought it was for us but turns out it was for the many recent whale sightings close in-shore and just off the Capitola wharf.     Other than that, the 2013 Santa Cruz PaintOut was an absolute success!    The weather couldn't have been better, the variety of  subject matter couldn't have been more diverse, or the camaraderie more convivial.

Much thanks to Watercolor Society members Shirley Motmans and Jane Ferguson who hosted afternoon parties and critiques in their lovely Santa Cruz homes; to Karen Druker who organized the event and conducted the critiques; and to Sylvia Waddell, co-chair of the Paintsites group,  who coordinated with Karen and kept everybody on the same page.

Shirley & Jane

Karen

Sylvia

Day 1, Thursday, we met at Moran Lake Park which offered a choice of painting the lake proper or crossing E. Cliff Drive to Moran Beach and painting the beach & surf.    For more information about Moran Lake Park, see:  http://www.scparks.com/moranlake.html

After a morning's painting, it was lunch followed by an afternoon painting session.   Then, late afternoon, we broke up and headed to Shirley & Augie Motmans' spectacular bluff top home for a wine & cheese reception and "gentle" critique by Karen Druker.   

Shirley & Augie - our gracious hosts

"Gentle" Karen's critique was, but also insightful and entertainingly animated:

"Thumbs up" - the unanimous verdict

A yellow sky?   Yes! - What else could it be?

Thank you, I'm pretty happy with it too

This little gem speaks to me

 After the critique, some of us headed to The Crow's Nest for dinner.

Day 2, Friday, the group met in the West Harbor parking lot where boats (lots of boats, too many boats); a breakwater with fisherman and a lighthouse; paddleboarders, and the breaking surf all offered wonderful subjects.  See http://www.santacruzharbor.org/index.html  for information about the Harbor.

Again, after a long day's painting we met at Jane Ferguson's beautiful new home for yet more wine & cheese, fancy little pastries (which Jane baked that morning), and another "gentle" critique led by Karen.

It's not the size of the canvas that matters

Looks like a home run!

 After the critique, those who weren't exhausted by the already long day headed to the Pearl of the Ocean restaurant.

Day 3, Saturday, the group, which included a number of Santa Cruz Watercolor Society members, met at Lighthouse Point at the Surfing Museum on West Cliff Drive.     Check out
http://www.santacruzsurfingmuseum.org/  for info about this very popular and scenic location.

 Here are some snapshots taken during the Day 1 critique (photo quality is poor, the paintings actually much superior):

Jan

Judy

June

Kay

LaVonne

Pat

Shirley

???

Karen #1

Karen #2

Deborah

Janice

Brad

 And here are some from Day 2 (the photos are just as poor, the actual paintings just as fine):

Jan

Jane

Judy

Karen

Kaaren

Brad

Wilder Ranch State Park, Santa Cruz, December 6, 2012

What a difference a week makes!    Last week at the Joseph Grant County Park on Mt. Hamilton Rd. we encountered (and triumphed over) threatening weather and wildlife.    At the Wilder Ranch State Park north of Santa Cruz, (another well preserved 19th Century ranch), instead of "threats", the day was one of promise:  of fair weather (though a bit breezy on the bluff, the sheltered area where the old ranch buildings are located was ideal), friendly animals (barnyard cats), and the much anticipated holiday dessert spread.     We spent considerable time eating delicious brownies, candy, cookies, tarts, etc. when we could have been painting --- but nobody complained.    And again we triumphed!

For additional information about Wilder Ranch State Park, check-out:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=549

Jane Saltman

Adobe house  - Perhaps the original ranch home?   The faded and weathered roof tiles were very striking against the dark vegetation in the background.   Jane

Dick Zunkel

 

Jane Saltman

 One of ranch homes.   Jane

Anna Jacke

Photo by Sylvia Waddell

Dessert at Wilder Ranch State Park.   Clockwise, from left front, Brad, Jenny (Paint-Sites co-leader), Jenny, Anna, Liz, Mary, Jane, Yan, and Dick

Sylvia Waddell

This rusty baler was sitting all alone in a field and begged to be painted.  Sylvia

Jenny Tero

Brad Santos

Another imposing late-19th - early-20th century Victorian ranch house was on the menu for the Wilder  Ranch State Park Paint-out.   Also on the "menu" were our equally appealing holiday dessert treats - which we ate before we could paint them.    Brad