Chateau CharMarron Peony Gardens, May 16, 2013

For the grand finale of the wonderful series of garden paintouts this Spring (the Cummins Iris Garden in Scotts Valley, the SJ Municipal Rose Garden, tree peonies at the Kirk-Farrington House, the replica 12th Century Samurai's Garden Estate, and Jane Kwant's lovely garden), Jenny & Sylvia arranged for us to visit some Queens of the Perennial Border - herbaceous peonies.     They didn't disappoint.   In addition to the beautiful blooms, there were extremely shaggy llamas eager to pose for us and a distant view of Calaveras Reservoir which Kaaren captured perfectly.   How perfectly?  She sold her painting on the spot!  

For information about Chateau CharMarron Peony Gardens and about peonies in general, see:   http://www.4peonies.com/

Smiling Artists

Kaaren

Brad Santos

Whoever came up with the name for this variety --- "Cherry Bomb" --- certainly knew what they were talking about!    Brad

Broncha Berger

The feeling of solitude and desolation on that long drive to the Peony garden in a foggy day was worthy at the end.  We were able to enjoy the act of painting, the company, and one person even sold her painting.  Broncha

Anna Jacke

The gardens were filled with fragrant peony blooms in a variety of colors. But in the end, it was the llamas in the nearby fields that really caught my attention.  The sounds they made while rolling the grass or spitting at visitors was worth the 17 mile drive from my home.  I left the Peony Gardens with 4 completed paintings and a smile for the road. Anna

Sylvia Waddell

What a wonderful spot! Despite the cold and drizzle it was a feast for the eyes, and once the sun came out at lunch time it was positively idyllic. I sketched the llamas first and only attempted the peonies once I was fortified by lunch! Sylvia

Mary Paquet

What a fabulous place to paint -- gorgeous peonies and a view from atop the magnificent dry mountains to the East. I settled down amidst the peonies known as "Sorbet" and painted. After I got home, I darkened the background and altered some of the values on the flowers. I was amazed at the number of artists that made the trek to this very unique paintsite, complete with doe-eyed llamas grazing in the fields. Mary Paquet

Jenny Tero

After lunch when the mist had cleared from the valley, the view of the Calavaras Reservoir brightened to reveal golden hills and lovely cloud formations in the sky. Congratulations to the intrepid artists, (about 15 !! ) who braved fog, cold, threat of rain, and a long drive into unknown territory on windy steep roads. 

Fremont Older Open Space Preserve Hike & Sketch, January 31, 2013

We absolutely could not have had a more perfect day for the first Hike & Sketch of 2013!  The Paintouts over the past three months have presented us with some challenging weather (to say nothing of fierce wildlife) --- but no such challenges this time.      The last Fremont Older Hike & Sketch several years ago was sparsely attended as only Jenny & Sylvia braved the elements to produce some wonderful atmospheric, "rainy day" paintings.   And although one might not recognize it was the same location, the dozen artists participating this time produced some equally fine paintings --- again proving just what a talented plein air artist can produce in only 20 minutes!

For more information about the Fremont Older Open Space Preserve, check:  http://www.openspace.org/preserves/pr_fremont.asp

 

Jenny Tero

A beautiful sunny, warm day, just right for hiking – who would believe it was January. The view was lovely – such rich dark shadows in the trees, and layer after layer of receding hills beyond.   Jenny

Jenny Tero

This is a glimpse of the Ranger's House on the tarmac road back to the parking lot - I believe it was the original home of Fremont Older.  I left the middle distance trees in pen and ink, because I hoped they added to the sense of the house peaking out from the foliage.   Jenny

Leslie Grimm

There were several luxury homes visible from the trail that overlooked the cities below.  This one caught my eye.  I hadn't tried to sketch a city seen from a distance before, but hopefully this suggests it!     Leslie
  

Brad Santos

 I got a little carried away with the old stone retaining walls and steps leading to the Ranger's House when I meant to focus on the beautiful Madrone (Manzanita?) -- in full bloom, its twisted, peeling red limbs positively glowed where the light fell on it.    Brad

Fremont Older 2013- Sylvia Waddell

The vistas from Fremont Older are a joy, and this was a perfect day to paint them. Last time Jenny and I were hiking here it rained. See painting below. Sylvia

From Hunters Point, May 2010 - Sylvia Waddell

                

Caroline Garbarino

This paintout let me see a new side of Fremont Older Open Space.

You "take me places where I've never been before!"   One observer of my painting

thought that aliens were about to land.   (They must have waited until after I left...)

Thanks again for the tea party,   Caroline