Bernal Gulnac Joyce Ranch September 20, 2012

Another beautiful day, weather perfect, and we were transported back to a by-gone era at his rural ranch in Santa Teresa.

Brad Santos

The morning started out like it was going to be the first paint-out of the Winter --- cold & grey --- instead of the last of the Summer --- but then Jenny got there and the sun came out so we had a grand day!    The hills had lost their golden glow but were still a dramatic backdrop for the old barns and farm equipment.     In the afternoon the angle of the sun was such that, from accessible areas from which to paint, both visible sides of the barns were equally in shadow which made discriminating between values somewhat difficult.   A bolder artist than I would have done something about that but I was content to paint what I saw.

Caroline Garbarino

I was fascinated by the barn. It's built split-level on a slope. Apparantly in by-gone days, land was not leveled as it is now. The colorful chaparal and hillside was inviting.

Anna Jacke

A beautifully restored barn at the Bernal Gulnac Joyce Ranch finally caught my attention after I toured the dusty grounds for more than a half hour for a  place to set up my easel.  The lighting was perfect on the barn, but my painting needed something else to give it some life -- a lone horse grazing on dry brush.

Dick Zunkel

The view from the front of the home would perhaps have made a better composition.  However, the terrain was better suited for photography than painting the house plein air.  The front porch with rocking chair reminded me of living with my aunt and uncle on an Iowa farm so many years ago.  I intentionally let the water soluble ink bleed into the paper to give the scene a look that is a little more rustic than the actual beautifully restored house.



Jenny Tero

 The best view of this wonderful old house would have out in the middle of the road on a step ladder, but in plein air painting you have to compromise!  In thinking about our upcoming session on grays I made a point of being more adventurous with the gray shadows - that explains the slightly blotchy look.

Santa Clara Mission Competition

Thanks to everyone who participated in this event.   What a wonderful collection of paintings we were able to give to Core Affordable Housing.

Brad Santos

Grace Rankin

Alan Geller

Jenny Tero (3rd place)

Chris Edwards

Anna Jacke

Kaaren Marquez (2nd place)

Rita Louis

Jennifer Kretshmer

Dick Zunkel  (1st place)

Diane Daily

Joyce Koeplin

Sarah Wajihuddin

Savannah Chanelle Winery, September 6, 2012

A peaceful, sunny day on the mountain amongst loaded grape vines with views of the valley shrouded in mist.  Twenty artists enjoyed painting around the house, garden and the tasting room, and we were provided with some large umbrellas on the picnic tables for some welcome shade. 

Lesle Grimm

Sunny Chen

Joanne Pommers

"The Savannah-Chanelle Winery is great paintsite with many possibilities. Well worth a return visit!"

Sylvia Waddell
What a beautiful site with lots to paint. Great to see so many of our artists  in among the vines!

Brad Santos 
The small summer storms that came through the Bay Area the first week of September produced some wonderful (and rare) cloud formations for our paint-out.     I wandered out into the vineyard to find a spot from which to paint both vines and clouds.    It wasn't until I came back for lunch that someone mentioned that the area was teeming with rattlesnakes.   But the view was so wonderful I probably would have ventured out anyway.

Jenny Tero
The house wasn't really falling over!  I appreciated the bottle of Pinot Noir I received in exchange for the painting.

Marilyn Perry

The assistant winemaker told us that these 102 year old Zinfandel vines are "head pruned" which makes picking the grapes much harder, like hunting for Easter eggs.  Vines this old produce only about 1/3 as many tons per acre as young vines.  But the grapes are exceptionally good so the wine commands a high price.

Santa Clara Water HQ, August 30, 2012

An extra paintsite on the schedule.  Beautiful day, lovely painting weather in the shade of the trees, and lots of challenges with the reflections:

Caroline Garbarino

Brad Santos 
Altho' it wasn't programmed as a Hike-and-Sketch, our paint-out at the Water District --  what with the trek some of has to make from distant parking lots to the site -- turned into just that.     But it was worth the hike as we found some wonderful spots from which to paint a verdant little island in the main perc pond, the reflections of the trees on the island as well as the distant shore and the vivid blue-green water itself  --- so many colors!

Lauri Barna
It was a peaceful morning at the SCV Water District Headquarters, although I can never quite get used to the "unreal" color of that water in the percolation ponds



Jenny Tero



Gamble Gardens, August 16, 2012

Location:  Gardens were perfect - flowers (zinnias, sunflowers & dahlias) in full bloom;  vegetables (watch for Kaaren's & Linda's 'Peppers' and Dick's & Caroline's 'Pumpkin' paintings) bright and ripening.

Weather:   perfect too -  sunny but not hot (in the shade we wore lite sweaters).    Brad

Caroline Garbarino

Dick Zunkel

Anne Jacke

Laurie Barna

Marilyn Perry

Linda Arima

Brad Santos
.Janice and I have learned to live (more or less) with uninvited raccoons, squirrels, skunks, opossums & gophers in our garden.      But never yet had to deal with a rabbit.    So, if ever we do, I hope it's as well behaved and as handsome as the big fellow in the Gamble Gardens that patiently posed for me.

 

La Petit Trianon, De Anza Campus, Thursday August 2, 2012

The De Anza campus is an interesting mix of contemporary and historic buildings. La Petit Trianon was built in the 1890's as a neoclassic style mansion for Charles Baldwin, today it is home to the California History Center. The sunken garden was part of the original estate design and showcases a 1991 concrete water sculpture by Salvatore Pecoraro.

Laurie Barna

Both Brad and I realized after we were done painting that because the Flint Center and the fountain sculpture were the same color and value, the two got "confused" to the viewer!  So, I darkened both the background Flint Center and the trees to the left to make the sculpture come "forward." Laurie

Anna Jacke

DeAnza College offered a diverse field of view;  Ionic columns and urns near Le Petit Trianon, abstract sculptures and fountains near the Flint Center, lots to consider in painting the landscape.  I enjoyed painting the many shapes that caught my eye. Anna

Caroline Garborino

When I lived across the street from DeAnza College in the '90s, Le Petit Trianon stood alone, a bit of the old world crowning the neo-Spanish quad. I tried to capture the building as I remembered it. The lovely model is Sylvia. Thanks for the memories... Caroline

Leslie Grimm

I loved the interesting shapes in this fountain and decided to have some fun spicing up the colors.  It came out looking more like a flat abstract then a 3-D fountain, but it was certainly colorful! Leslie

Brad Santos

Huddled in the shade of a retaining wall across from Flint Center, a number of us found the fountain / sculpture in the center of the Sunken Garden an interesting subject. A similar color and value as the Flint Center, the fountain initially got 'lost' in the much larger structure. With Laurie and Sylvia offering excellent, specific advice during the critique session after lunch, I was able to pretty much get the results I was after --- the fountain stands out as the center of interest and I was even able to satisfy one of my objectives for the day and work a few figures (look close) into the painting. Brad

Sylvia Waddell

This lovely urn spoke to me as soon as I arrived at the site. The poor neglected relic of a former golden age seemed to whisper "boy, do I have tales to tell!"

Pete's Harbor, Redwood City, Thursday July 19th

SCVWS plein air group at Pete's Harbor (photo courtesy of Anna Jacke)

Another great day with lots of camraderie.  Enjoy everyone's work and comments below.

Leslie Grimm

I was intrigued by the unusual rudder on this big, dilapidated wooden boat.  I had intended to paint the wood with a dry brush technique but oops! I had brought hot press paper! Oh well!  Leslie

Dick Zunkel

I have been working more with water soluble ink.  It is so solid and black when painted dry but unpredictable when painted over with washes.  The more I use it, the more I like it and will "push the envelope" in the future.  Pete's Harbor is a great place to paint, though urban sprawl has encroached on this beautiful spot for the past 20 years.  Someday it will disappear altogether. Dick

Uma Kelkar

Windy, windy, windy. To the point of feeling grimy in an hour. Study book and charcoal pencil.

This is my final Thursday paintout with the SCVWS for as long as I can foresee. This has been my greatest maternity leave wherein I have nurtured a baby and myself through painting in a group. Who knew that painting could turn into a spectator sport? This Thursday’s spot was especially conducive to heckling and chatter as many artists huddled in a close knit spot at the harbor. The harbor; another hidden jewel in the bay area that I have come to know of thanks to Sylvia & Jenny who arrange the Thursday paint sites.

The group of artists though demographically very different from me – age, race, profession wise, has been a set of warm, welcoming people. The common thread that does run through the membership is the confidence each one has in his or her being – let he or she be at any point of his or her painting journey, they were sure they wanted to be there, were not shy of their painting skills and were generous with encouragement and advise. Folks, I enjoyed the painting sessions because of you. Cheers and let’s keep in touch(umakelkar.wordpress.com or my email address)! Uma

Anna Jacke

Our gathering at Pete's Landing was wonderful.  I enjoyed the scenery and the challenge of narrowing down my focus.  The changing light and expanse of blue sky and water made for some really "cool" paintings.  After lunch, I stayed on and challenged myself to draw and paint a refitted fishing boat to capture the essence of Pete's Landing.   Anna

Caroline Garborino

Pete's Harbor was a wonderful getaway, with welcome breezes on a very hot day. Here's my interpretation. Thanks again, Caroline

Brad Santos

Both Sue Newberry and I had the same thought --- to juxtapose the beautiful waterfront condos in the background with a somewhat funky live-aboard boat.    While Sue focused on a houseboat, I tried my hand at a trimaran which reminded me of one a high school friend built in Alviso and sailed to the Caribbean where he lived aboard for many years.   Given the choice, it'd be tough to decide which lifestyle to choose. Brad

Sylvia Waddell

It was another fun day out with great company. You guys (and gals!) are the best! This watercolor canvas was my second attempt. The first painting I was so unhappy with I just washed it off! This one wasn't quite how I wanted it either, but I was able to work from it and do a painting in my studio that I was much happier with. See my personal blog (Pleinairmuse) on the right for that one. Sylvia