Weekend Paintsites, Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, July 20, 2013

Marilyn Perry was our volunteer leader with nine artists in attendance. The cloudless day provided brilliant sunlight with dark shadows in shaded areas. The site has many interesting views of the museum and surrounding gardens. We enjoyed a lunch and a showing of artists' work in a shady spot with beautiful guitar music provided by a musician sitting at a nearby table.

The Rosicrucian Research Library

Anna Jacke

"As always, the architecture at the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is outstanding.   The Research Library and the kneeling scribe were a challenge to paint but inspiring to look at.   A beautiful location."   Anna

Dick Zunkel

Marilyn Perry

There were many wonderful painting subjects at the Rosicrucian, but I selected this shrine because I could sit at a cafe table under a tree with dense foliage.  When I thought it couldn't get any better, a guitarist arrived and serenaded me with very gentle, peaceful music for at least an hour. 

Grace Tang

It was a beautiful morning to visit the Egyptian Museum. It brings you to an appreciation of one of the most influential civilizations throughout history. The architecture is so unique and I started with the Peace Garden....      Grace Tang

Anna Cook's "La Casa De Las Campanas" Mexican Garden, Thursday, July 18, 2013

Painting in a private garden is always special --- it's usually more relaxed, quieter and generally more comfortable than painting in public spaces.    And painting in a private garden lovingly designed and maintained by a talented artist, plants-woman, and gracious hostess (that's all one person) is even more special.   Off-the-charts special in fact.    So it's no wonder that a day in Anna's garden was so highly anticipated and so well attended.     With a wealth of subject matter, focusing and editing was a real challenge.   The good news, for those lacking self-discipline and anxious to have another go at it, is that we've been invited back.   But don't count on seeing the same things next time --- Anna's garden is constantly growing, evolving, changing --- it's a magical place!

Upcoming events:

• Ice Cream Social, Los Altos - Saturday, August 3rd (RSVP by July 20th)
• Redwood Grove, Los Altos - Thursday Paintsites - Thursday, August 1st

See SCVWS website or newsletter for details.

When we weren't painting, we were eating...

And when we weren't eating, we shared a critique ..

The following snapshots were taken during the critique --- please visit again when the completed and accurately scanned and attributed images are displayed:

 Here's some of the the finished paintings:

Dick Zunkel

What a great place to paint... so many subjects and interesting artifacts.  As a bonus, Anna gave us a tour of her home/gallery. The blue door was a favorite subjects of several artists. I rendered my version in a vignette and line drawing with water soluble calligraphy ink. Then I applied wet on wet color washes followed by dry brush accents.    Dick

Liz Siegel

I just loved this old blue door in the Mexican garden...watercolor pencils.     Liz 

Anna Jacke

Anna Jacke

I finished one painting in the backyard and began two others in the front courtyard before lunch, one of colorful statuary and the other of the front door.  I was painting on 300lb paper but found that it took longer to dry than expected and had to finish them at home.   There was so much to choose from.  Anna's house is always such a delight to explore and paint.  Thank you, Anna, for your hospitality and sharing your treasures with us.  Anna

Janice Santos

I don't often join the plein air group but I'm so glad I decided to for this outing.  Anna's garden is such a joy to experience and she is a wonderful hostess.  Wonderful memories of a delightful day.    Janice

Grace Tang

Anna's garden was incredibly entertaining. Every corner was a piece of art and I did not know where to begin!   I was totally carried away by the street scenes along the tall concrete walls of the backyard; the waterfalls, the HOT foods, marguerita place, the market place, the Cerveza cantina....every piece of art was so harmoniously put together; I felt like I have just been to Mexico!!!    Grace

Brad Santos

Lots of frogs who would be princes lined up for a kiss from a princess.  In the "Mixing Greens" workshop last year Jenny & Sylvia said we should have pthalo green on our palettes but never use it.    And I haven't ---  until today --- and even then it could have been brighter and more unnatural to capture the brilliant glazes on some of Anna's frogs.  Brad

Jeanne & Anna Cook

Lexington Reservoir County Park, Los Gatos, July 11, 2013

The "June Gloom" burned off just as we got there and set up on a shady hillside overlooking the lake.   Just beyond the opposite shore, traffic on Highway 17 kept up a distant but incessant rumble.  On the lake itself, a Los Gatos Rowing Club "8" in training went back and forth just below us --- an unexpected bonus which we found irresistible and many of us just had to put it into our paintings.

For additional information about Lexington Reservoir, see:
http://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/Maps%20Here/Pages/Lexington-Reservoir-County-Park.aspx
(Note: there is a $6 day use fee payable at the first facility once in the park.   There is no fee collection machine or Ranger at the Miller Point day use area where we painted.)

Upcoming Paint-Outs:

• Anna Cook's "Mexican Garden", Saratoga - Thursday, July 18
• Rosicrucian Museum, San Jose - Saturday, July 20
• SCVWS Ice Cream Social, Los Altos - Saturday, August 3 (Note: must RSVP by July 20)

See the SCVWS Website or Newsletter for details.

Our morning's efforts - photo by Yan Zunkel

The following images were taken during our critique session --- check back for the finished (accurately scanned or photographed) works, as they trickle in ... 

Marilyn

Bonnie

Elaine

Mary

And here are some of the "finished" paintings ........

Dick Zunkel

How many times have I driven by this site and never explored it? This is one of the many advantages of the Society's plein-air paint-outs, we find so many treasured subjects in our own back yard.    Dick

Grace Tang

Painting by the reservoir overlooking beautiful mountains and wineries, combined with regular laughter from the rowers and paddlers in their boats speeding by the reservoir was an exotic experience!   It brings you to the Land of Make Believe...Not only does the reservoir provide water to the silicon valley, it is stocked with a variety of sought after fishes.   It was a beautiful day to visit the reservoir and to paint with fellow artists.

Grace 

Brad Santos

 We watched two very different worlds --- the rowers on the lake and the vehicles on Hwy 17 --- passing in review from our serene hillside sanctuary.    Brad

 

Sylvia Waddell

I had fun creating several sketches of our artists' silhouettes as they painted. This one is Elaine, Dick, Yan and Broncha.

Bedwell Bayfront Park, Menlo Park, Thursday June 27th, 2013

Our leader, getting ready to head for cooler climes for the next few months, (I suspect already missing us), arranged for one last Paint-out before she packs her palette and brushes and boards her plane.   She chose the site well as it was a hot, hot day in the City but pleasantly breezy by the Bay.    Eucalyptus copses, rolling hills (maybe a former landfill but who cares), and unnaturally bright salt ponds gave us plenty to paint.   Brad

So pleased to see so many people at this paint site considering we only gave five day's notice.  Brad suggested this site last year when neither Sylvia nor Jenny were around, so it was time to find out what we had missed.  A lovely little park, with lots of  trails over the golden hills, and bay views all round.  Jenny

For more information about Bedwell Bayfront park, with easy access just off  Hwy 101, see:
http://www.menlopark.org/departments/com/parks/bayfront.htm

Upcoming Paintouts 
Thursday, July 11th - Lexington Reservoir in Los Gatos
Thursday, July 18th - Anna Cook's "Mexican Garden" in Saratoga
Saturday, July 20th - Rosicrucian Museum in San Jose
And don't forget the California Harvest reception on Saturday, July 6th, and the Ice Cream Social on August 3rd (RSVP by July 20th).    Check the Newsletter for details.

photo by Anna

photo by Bonnie

 Lunch group - crowding into the largest area of shade we could find.   Jenny

Bonnie Sandler

Sara Kahn

Dick Zunkel

Despite blocked auto access to the salt marsh and Poetry Monument, our creative artists narrowed their vision and rendered trees, hills, and salt from their available vantage.    Dick

Broncha Berger

I enjoyed this outing, as always.  I had to finish at home from a photograph though.  The sun was too strong on my paper, and I couldn’t see what I was doing.     Broncha

Jenny Tero

The salt flats were as white as snow under a baking hot sun, and we needed to climb up the hill a way to get a more panoramic view.    Jenny

Jenny Tero

View over to the west side of the park in the later afternoon.  Trying a different style!   Jenny
 

Anna Jacke

Bedwell had an interesting mix of colors, textures and surprises.  I expected to be painting along the Bay but ended up in the middle of a field with golden grass and a random patch of blooming artichokes.  Even though I was in direct sun, I enjoyed watching and painting the butterflies landing on the blooms. I had completed my first painting before lunch, but thought afterwards to add a butterfly.     Anna

Marilyn Perry

I thought it might be too hot, but the pleasant shade and breeze made me completely comfortable.     Marilyn

Sylvia Waddell

This is a great place to paint - lots to see. The salt pans were intriguing.

Chris Burnham

Stevens Creek Park and Reservoir, Cupertino, Saturday, June 15, 2013

A weekend painter contemplates Stevens Creek Reservoir

With Rajit cruelly called to duty by his company, on a late Spring Saturday no less, Dick took over and led another successful Weekend Paintout. 
For additional information about Stevens Creek Park, see:    
http://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/Ride%20Here/Pages/Stevens-Creek-County-Park.aspx

Please note that the next Weekend Paintout is scheduled for Saturday, July 20th, at the Rosicrucian Museum in San Jose --- check the Society website and July newsletter for additional details.

Uma Kelkar

Dick lead us painters and it was enjoyable with a good turn out and especially because I had my son come along and paint with me. The water was low in the reservoir and the uniform yet dense vegetation made painting the view extremely challenging. Just a bunch of trees I thought, but adding drama when you have only hues of greens to play with is not for the weak hearted. We all persisted unfazed of course. I toiled over my watercolor block for an hour and when that started looking gruesome, I gave it another shot in my book in 15 minutes. That's the painting posted here. Goes to prove, less is more.  -Uma Kelkar

Dick Zunkel

We had another great turnout for the weekend paint-out. Weather was on the chilly side, but bright sunlight prevailed.     Dick

San Juan Bautista Mission, June 20, 2013

In July, 1947, "outlaw" motorcyclists took over Hollister for three days.     Sixty-six years later, in June, 2013, a pack of relatively law-abiding plein air artists from the Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society took over San Juan Bautista, San Benito County's other incorporated town.   Befitting San Juan Bautista's Old West atmosphere, residents in hushed tones told each other "the artists are here today" and scurried for cover.   Nobody messed with us.   We had the run of the town:  The Mission, the old buildings around the Plaza, the quaint downtown were all fair game for our quick draw artists.   

For more information about San Juan Bautista, see:   http://www.san-juan-bautista.ca.us/

A "bonus" paintout will be held Thursday, June 27th at the Bedwell Bayfront Park, in Menlo Park.   This is listed on the SCVWS website but not the June Newsletter.   Check your e-mail for the Paintsite Announcement for additional details.  For more information about Bedwell Bayfront Park, check:    http://www.menlopark.org/departments/com/parks/bayfront.htm and     http://baytrail.abag.ca.gov/vtour/map2/access/Menlo/Menlo.htm#Bayfront

21st Century Watercolor Society "Wild Ones" in San Juan Bautista:

And here are snapshots taken during the critique of many of the paintings.   Some had not been completed, others were skewed or incorrectly cropped by the incompetent photographer; the dappled shade where we met for lunch played tricks on others.   Check later for the accurately scanned and credited versions.

Mary

Janice

Helen

Lisha

Alan

Elaine

Anna

Janice

Now for the finished, polished up, photoshopped versions:

Jenny Tero

Jenny Tero

Jenny Tero

It was a beautiful day, warm in the sun with a strong breeze. Deserted when we got there, but later swarming with visitors who were more interested in the roving cockeral than us.  The vibes were right and I made three reasonably successful paintings!     Jenny

Sylvia Waddell

A delightful day and such a lot of subject material to choose from. This is definitely a site we should revisit!     Sylvia    

Laurie Barna

 Thanks so much for arranging this paintsite location--beautiful, and with so much to choose from.  The weather was beautiful, and I so enjoyed using my new Soltek easel.  I think because I was so eager to paint, that I really got "off" on some of my building proportions, so am not truly happy with the painting.  For me, my struggle is always design/mood vs. "accuracy."     Laurie

Liz Siegel

Anna Jacke

Anna Jacke

I really liked the cemetery gate and spent most of my time focusing on different views.  I had been at the Mission last year with and had painted the bell tower and the mission building.  There is always a new angle to sketch and paint.  We had great weather and perfect temps for this adventure.  I also scanned the Plaza Hotel from my journal.  I had some challenges with the early morning light and shadows, but it's all good!     Anna

Mary Paquet

Mary Paquet

Here are the two pieces I did, the second after lunch.  The Mission at San Juan Bautista was the very first mission I visited upon coming to California.  It remains my favorite.  I've painted the mission a couple times, so I made a point of changing my viewpoint. We had a great day with many artists making the drive from San Jose.   Mary

 

Bonnie Sandler

Painting here was so relaxing!     It was so quiet and peaceful.   No traffic.   This composition is so standard.   I should have picked something more interesting.   The pepper trees are always a challenge for me.   They're partly transparent.  That's hard for me to do.  I had to eliminate a lot of other trees in the foreground that were obscuring this little cabin.   Bonnie

 

Brad Santos

 Located in the corner of the Plaza opposite the Mission, this little building used to be a restaurant.   At least I think it was as I remember having a nice lunch there (or perhaps someplace very similar) on a very hot day with my wife.   In either case it brought back pleasant memories.    Brad