McClellan Ranch Park, Cupertino, Thursday, August 29, 2013

You mix a perfect day for plein air painting; an interesting paintsite with a burbling creek, fields, redwoods, giant sycamores, oaks, old ranch buildings, farm animals, bee hives, a huge sundial, flower & vegetable gardens, lots of lizards, ...; and a wonderful group of talented plein air painters --- and this is what your get....

For additional information about the McClellan Ranch Park, see:
http://www.cupertino.org/index.aspx?page=1006

September will be a big, big paintout month - join us for one or more of these upcoming events: 

• Thursday, September 5, 2013 - Ardenwood Historic Farm, Fremont
• Thursday,  September 19, 2013 - Gamble Gardens, Palo Alto
• Saturday, September 21, 2013 - Santa Clara Railroad Depot & Museum, Santa Clara
• Thursday, September 26, 2013 - Moran Lake, Santa Cruz
• Friday & Saturday, September 27 - 28, 2013 - Annual Santa Cruz Paintout, Santa Cruz

Check the SCVWS website or September Newsletter for additional details

Some serious critiquing going on here ...

And, after the critique we're all still smiling  --- a good thing!

 (Photo by Yan Zunkel)

Here are some snapshots taken during the critique session - check back for the finished paintings....

Deborah

Iris

Linda

Leslie

 

Here are some of the finished paintings:

Dick Zunkel

The quality of work produced today was remarkable.   Bright sun and cool breezes made for a perfect painting day.     Dick

Marilyn Perry

There is so much variety to paint here, but I knew ahead of time that I wanted to paint Stevens Creek, the little creek that gives its name to that big street with so many car dealerships.  While I was painting, I was serenaded by the calls of the chickadees.    Marilyn

Grace Tang

It was very educational to visit an 18 Acre Natural Preserve Park where a densely wooded creek is running through.    The Stevens Creek, originating from the Sta Cruz mountains, flows through the Stevens Creek Reservoir; runs north through

Cupertino, Los Altos, Sunnyvale and Mountain View before emptying into the San Francisco Bay! I did not know about the creek until Marilyn talked about the nature walk class she joined not long ago.  Grace

Liz Siegel

 Beautiful day to try and capture the trees along Stevens Creek.    Liz

Brad Santos

A great place to paint:  in the shade, close enough to the creek to hear it, and lots to see.   My intention was to focus on the Tank House but I soon got carried away with all of the trees, shrubs, and meadow grasses.    Brad

Weekend Paintsite Cooper-Garrod Winery and Stables August 17, 2013

Twelve weekenders enjoyed an day with mixed sunshine and clouds at Cooper-Garrod Winery and Stables. Some arrived early and left early while others completed paintings and stayed for lunch. The variety of subjects made for a great painting day.

Photo by Yan Zheng

Shao Wie Liu

Shao Wie Liu

I was hoping to go outdoor painting with a group for as long as I had been working in the video game industry, 20+years. My job is creating 3D environments and props for video games and put 2D picture ( called texture) and effects on them. The 2D texture and effects combined are called Materials. So I am a 3D material artist that does require 2D painting skills. I often doodle watercolor at lunch break. I am very happy to find a wonderful group of people/artists to go plein air painting! I had a great time at my first outing!
Thanks!  Shaowei Liu 

Brad Santos

An unusual August sky, unusual background sounds for a paintout (horses clop, clopping around us), and lots of interesting vegetation, in addition to the always fascinating vines, made for a good days painting.    Brad

Jan Lanoue

Dick Zunkel

Marilyn Perry

I have very pleasant memories of bringing my Cub Scouts horseback riding here years ago when my son was a Cub Scout and I was a Den Mother.  I don't remember any grape vines then, but I remember that the horses were very cooperative, and we had a great time.

Grace Tang

Had an awesome time watching the horses taking their morning walk with their attendants. The horses did show their personalities as being social or shy, curious or courageous, just like us, as they walked by me on the roadside. " Frankie" would not walk by me until I stood up and took off my white hat and greeted him.... 

Grace Tang 

Tower Hall, San Jose State University, Thursday, August 15, 2013

It's not well known but when Tower Hall was built after the Great 1906 Earthquake, the architects, over a few beers, decided to have a little fun with the future generations of art students & artists they knew would be drawn to their creation:   "You know, it might be fun to add buttresses and other Gothic elements and some Moorish features to our basic Spanish theme.   Then we'll cover it all with ivy to really confuse people.   They won't have a clue as to what they're looking at."    So they did, and it does, and some of us don't.

For more information about Tower Hall, check out: 
http://www.sjsu.edu/fdo/departments/pdc/projects/towerhall/

Upcoming paintouts:
Thursday, August 29 - TBD - check your e-mail for updates

Lunch on the lawn

Dick Zunkel

This is another site I had walked by many times when my daughter was a student here, but never studied the building. The paintout caused me to look at the tower and adjoining building with the artists eye and appreciate it's intricate detail. Rather than attempt to render the entire structure, I chose to sit close and paint a "worms eye view."     Dick

Brad Santos

Lots going on architecturally on the tower.   We found the gargoyle perches but, disappointingly, no gargoyles.     Brad

Sylvia Waddell

I was struck by this view of the the old tower and the newer City buildings right behind, which also meant I didn't have to put in too many fiddly architectural details!.  Brad's right though, the ivy is a great cloaking device!   Sylvia

Grace Tang

Tower Hall is considered the centerpiece of San Jose State University.  It is also the oldest structure designed in the Spanish Revival style, which houses lecture halls and administrative functions. The dense plants growing along the exterior walls of the building add some antique qualities to the 100 yrs old building. It is heartwarming to see students walking across campus with their minds completely absorbed in their school work!   They are the future owners of our nation!    Grace

Los Altos Redwood Grove Preserve, Thursday, August 1, 2013

With our leaders in distant lands, the plein air group was left to our own devices.    We're all adults and normally we could have done just fine on our own - as it was we did OK; but we could have used their commanding presence in dealing with the swarm of 3 - 4 year old morning day-campers and the horde of 5 - 6 year old afternoon day-campers.   The latter group driving us from the shady benches we'd selected for our lunch break and critique session.   But we didn't surrender without putting up some resistance -- not until we'd held a hurried critique.

For more information about the Los Altos Redwood Grove Preserve, check  out:
 http://www.losaltoschamber.org/parks_recreation.html
 http://losaltos.patch.com/listings/redwood-grove

Hope you can join us at one of the upcoming Paint-Outs:

• Thursday, August 15 -- Tower Hall on the San Jose State University campus 
• Saturday, August 17 -- Cooper-Garrod Winery and Stables in Saratoga

Check the Watercolor Society website or the August Newsletter for details

Lunch under a native Black Walnut - before we were evicted

The critique

Here are a few hurriedly photographed paintings (note the interesting dappled shade on the paintings --- a happy accident?) --- please visit again to see the finished and carefully scanned / photographed work ...

Bonnie

Elaine

Linda

Here are some of the finished paintings & artist's comments:

Grace Tang

It was a unique experience visiting this " little sanctuary " of redwood trees transplanted from those native in Sta Cruz.    And it was a wonderful place to find peace while painting amongst the excitement and laughter of very young day campers, who were instructed to use their 'walking feet' when moving from one place to another....  To add some variety to the redwoods, I tried to revive the Adobe Creek that is meandering through the grove.  Grace
 

Deborah Olenev

I enjoyed the beautiful Redwood Grove and painting with other artists. I wanted to capture the majesty of the Redwood trees in my painting.     Deborah

 Liz Siegel

Beautiful day to paint poison oak..."Leaves of three, let them be."     Liz

Brad Santos

Why would anybody paint Sycamores when they're in a wonderful Redwood Grove?   Beats me --- I plead temporary insanity.    Brad

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