Maryknoll Seminary (Residence), Los Altos. Thursday, February 19, 2015

Anybody who has ever traveled I-280 has seen the handsome, somewhat exotic and mysterious tower just over a ridge to the west.   And they've undoubtedly wondered what the building is.  The twenty-eight Paintsites artists who visited do know what it is:  a place of serene beauty and warm, welcoming residents -- retired Maryknoll missionaries.    And, as interesting and beautiful as the buildings are, the history of the Maryknoll Order is equally so.   For additional information about the Maryknoll Order a good place to start is:   http://www.maryknollsociety.org/index.php/about-us

For more information about the Maryknoll Seminary (Residence) in Los Altos, see: http://www.eldalamberon.com/maryknoll2.html   This is an older article but summarizes the history quite well.

Upcoming Paintsites:

• Thursday, March 5, 2015: Wildwood Park, Saratoga
• Thursday, March 12, 2015:  Sunnyvale Heritage Orchard, Sunnyvale - apricot trees in bloom.
• Thursday, March 19, 2015:  Kirk-Farrington House, San Jose - hopefully the huge collection of tree peonies will be in full bloom.   If you haven't seen them before, they're spectacular.

 For complete details, see the SCVWS website or March Newsletter.

(Note:  Additional finished paintings from the Winchester Mystery House paintsite have recently been posted --- check that and other past postings every so often for recent additions.)

Not every artist got his or her picture taken.   Here's just a few of us ....
 

Betty

Dick

Doug

Jane

Laurie

Melanie

Susan

Sylvia

Kaaren

You've seen us.  Now see what we did ....  
(Unfortunately, with so many artists choosing to paint the Chapel and the Campanile, I couldn't remember who did which --- so many are uncaptioned.   The ones I think (hope) I remember correctly, I captioned with the artist's name.    But they're all good so enjoy them equally.)

Melanie's painting of the Campanile

Bonnie's painting of the Campanile, Chapel and rose border

 

Liz's completed painting of the Chapel and Campanile

The Chinese Tower (the structure seen from I-280)

Dan's painting of the Chapel and Campanile

Helen's painting of the Chapel and Campanile

Iris' painting of the Chapel and Campanile

Marilyn's finished painting of the Chapel & Campanile

Sylvia's painting of the Campanile

Leslie's painting of the Chapel, Campanile and admin building

 In the afternoon I thought I should at least try to draw the building, despite my poor drawing skills.  I sketched it in ink on site and added color in my studio.  It came out pretty well!      Leslie

Dick's painting

"The morning fog lifted just in time for my raw sienna sky base layer to dry so I could paint in patches of blue with clouds. It was a spectacular site with so many subjects!"   Dick

Rich's painting of the Chapel and Campanile from the opposite side

John's painting

Melanie's completed painting of the Chinese Tower (the structure seen from I-280)

New member Joe's painting of large fountain with the Chapel in the background.            Good work and welcome to Paintsites!

Leslie's painting of a red swing and shrine

Our work done, we found a great place to have lunch and a "critique" ....

 

Carmelite Monastery, Santa Clara, Thursday, February 6, 2014

Big, big storm last night and this morning.   Biggest in years.  Maybe biggest of the century.   (Well, maybe not.)    Still --- if you'd expected to find intrepid Watercolor Society plein air painters Lisha, Iris, Helen, Liz, and Sylvia hunkered down in their nice warm studios you'd have been be wrong.    No better place to be when the heavens open than the grounds of the serene Carmelite Monastery in Santa Clara.    And that's where they were!

For more information about the beautiful Carmelite Monastery see:
http://www.mary-queen-of-carmel-assoc.org/santaclara/
  
Upcoming Paintouts:

• Saturday, February 15, 2014:  Casa Grande Almaden Quicksilver Museum, New Almaden
• Thursday, February 20, 2014:   Friends Meeting House, San Jose
• Friday, February 28, 2014:  Registration Deadline for Palo Alto Baylands Members Show
• Saturday, March 15, 2014:  Reception for Palo Alto Baylands Members Show

For details, see the SCVWS February Newsletter.

Iris and Lisha taking a break

 

Iris

Lisha

Helen focusing on the west wall of the chapel and the campanile

Brad

Sylvia

It was bliss to be painting outdoors, and the rain held off for us. I have painted the Monastery building itself on past visits, so this time I focused on the view past the olive trees to one of the many statues in the garden.

Liz Siegel

A very gray day at the Monastery.   Liz