Gamble Garden, Palo Alto, Thursday, August 21, 2014

A Paintsite we always look forward to visiting, Gamble Garden never disappoints.   And, for such a small garden, we never run out of subject matter.  The formal gardens, the propagation beds, and a personable scarecrow were favorite subjects this time.  And we did justice to all of them.


For more information about Gamble Garden, check their website:
http://www.gamblegarden.org/
(Note: artists are welcome but do not set up on the bricks or use the picnic tables or raised planters to set your paper on.   Also, take your dirty water with you and please don't clean your brushes in the restrooms.)  

Upcoming Paintsites:

• Thursday, September 4, 2014:  Syngenta Flowers (formerly known as Goldsmith Seeds), Gilroy
• Saturday, September 13, 2014:  Downtown Campbell 2nd Saturday Art Walk & live music
• Thursday, September 18, 2014:  Mt. View Main Library, Mt. View
• Thursday, September 25, 2014:  Santa Cruz Paintout - Day 1 *
• Friday, September 26, 2014:  Santa Cruz Paintout - Day 2  *

Check the Watercolor Society website or Newsletter for details.
* Reservations required for post-paintout pot-luck parties

Most of the following paintings are unfinished --- come back again when the finished paintings have been posted.

Nancy was busy recruiting new members .... (Actually the two adorable little girls are her granddaughters)

New member Anita ...

... and, would you believe it, her first ever plein air painting?

Scarecrow says "Leslie, I've got you pinned down.  Paint Me!"

And Leslie obliges ....

Leslie's painting of the not-so-scary Scarecrow

The patches on this whimsical scarecrow have been individually painted by young children, depicting fruits, trees, flowers, airplanes, birds, etc. Very fun!     Leslie

Anna working on her Scarecrow painting .....

Anna's painting of Mr/Ms (?) Scarecrow & friend

Bernie in the Woodland Garden behind the house

Bernie focused on the gorgeous hydrangeas in the foreground - visit again to see the finished painting

Carol in the shady Woodland Garden looking toward the sunny formal Wisteria Garden

Carol's very formal fountain in the Wisteria Garden

Martha in the Formal Herb Garden

Martha's wonderful thistle in the Formal Herb Garden

Yan working in the shadow of the Gabezo

New member Pat tackled the charming but complex little stone grotto fountain

Pat worked large --- be sure to visit again to see the finished painting

Liz contemplating her next brush stroke

Liz's perfect painting of three almost perfect sunflowers - perfect except for the bug eaten leaf.     Is that the culprit on the upper right blossom?

Gamble Gardens Trio

I said, "This day I will paint like Georgia O'Keeffe." Ah, but watercolor has a mind of its own. Dick

Melanie

The trees were indeed as dramatic against the blue sky as Melanie depicted.

Janice S.

Janice spied a shy pumpkin and its little sibling hiding under leaves and painted them

Caroline

Gamble Gardens always provides me with a wealth of ideas and inspirations.     My first idea was to paint a giant bunny (topiary) rampaging the gazebo and Palo Alto!     However, I thought I had better practice painting the gazebo first.    And I how can I
resist an orchid?    Thanks for another great vacation, Caroline

Another take on the gazebo - this one by Caroline

The "irresistible" orchids by Caroline

Brad's completed painting of the Formal Herb Garden

I'd painted this same mini-garden several years ago but, as gardens change from day-to-day, let alone year-to-year, only the "bones" were the same and it was a fresh and new subject for me.    Brad

Cupertino Memorial Park, Thursday, May 15, 2014

The last time we were at this site, in December 2011, it was very cold, there was snow on the mountains and we were certain there would soon be snow on us.    And there was no water in the ponds because of issues with the resident Canada Geese.     This time it was very hot (90+) and there was still no water in the ponds --- this time because of the drought.   Seems to always be something at this site and that something is always a great group of artists painting up a storm and enjoying the camaraderie.

For more information about Memorial Park, check-out: 
http://www.cupertino.org/index.aspx?page=591

Upcoming Paintouts:

• Saturday, May 17, 2014:   Chitactac-Adams Heritage Park, Morgan Hill/Gilroy
• Thursday, May 29, 2014:  Alum Rock Park, San Jose, Paint site and Hike & Sketch 
•  Saturday, May 31st, 10:00 - 12:00 noon:  Baylands Exhibit pick-up
  
  

For details, see the Watercolor Society website or May Newsletter


Interestingly enough, the same trees which sheltered us in December 2011 provided essential shade this time:

Staying cool, looking good

Sylvia

Sylvia's painting - with water in the pond!   (She sees things the rest of us don't.)

Leslie

Leslie's painting

I had hoped to paint the lake with its ducks but it was dry!   However the animals seemed to know what to do for recycling.        Leslie

Guo

Guo's second ever plein air painting!

Liz

Liz's painting

Cute little structure...    Liz 

Marilyn

Marilyn's painting

Lisha

Lisha's painting

Iris

Iris's painting

Jane

Jane and her painting of Marilyn

Who needs photographs of participating artists when we (well, some of us at least) can paint such terrific portraits of each other?

Jane's other painting

New member Cathy ...

and ... Alwyn - Cathy's mascot

Cathy's first ever plein air painting (with a little help from Alwyn)

Yan & Brad

Brad

Young people playing softball in the hot sun.   Old person in the cool shade painting young people playing in the hot sun.    Everybody's happy.    Brad

Dick

Dick Zunkel

We were mostly huddled under trees to escape the recent heat wave. Due to the drought, there was no water in the pond.  But, we are artists. We can paint clouds on cloudless days, we can paint the forest where there is only desert, and we can paint a pond where there is only concrete... and so we did.  Dick

Caroline Garbarino

Painting this quaint gazebo gave me a much-needed mind vacation.
Thanks again,   Caroline