Weekend Paintsite Downtown Campbell Saturday, September 13, 2014

Two members and three guests made for a fine afternoon of plein-air painting. Only Alison came near to finishing her work. The rest of us were too engaged in watching the festivities of Campbell's 2nd Saturday event.

Alison

Alison's nearly finished painting

Guest Artists Tom Zunkel and Yan Zheng

Guest Artist Cindy Ling

Syngenta Flowers (formerly Goldsmith Seeds), Gilroy, Thursday, September 4, 2014

Who knew that Gilroy was a premier spot for Bay Area plein air painters?   Last month it was Gilroy Gardens, this month (although we missed peak bloom by a few weeks) it was Syngenta Flowers.   Normally we'd expect Gilroy to be hot late Summer, but again, on Thursday it was perfect.   (Sylvia modestly took credit for arranging the weather - she and Jenny seem to have a knack for that.)   Who knows what other hidden treasures await us in South County?

For more information about Syngenta seeds, check out their official website at:
http://www.syngentaflowers.com/country/us/en/seeds/Pages/default.aspx
For a dramatic photo of the demonstration flower fields, see: 
http://gilroywelcomecenter.org/attractions/syngenta-flowers.html 

Upcoming Paintsites: 

• 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  *

* Remember, if you plan to attend the Santa Cruz Paintout on September 25 & 26 and want to attend one or both of the post-paintout parties, reservations are required by September 15th.   Check the Newsletter or website for details.   A PDF reservation form is available on the Paintsites Details page of the Members Only / Member's Home Page. 

Check the Newsletter or website for complete details for all upcoming events.

Here's the Paintsites first team:

Cathy

Broncha

Candy

Helen

Iris

Jane

Leslie

Lisha

Liz

Mary

Melanie

Sylvia

new member Barbara

Yan

Don - first time with Paintsites

guest Michele

And here they are in action:

Dick

Liz & Helen

Iris

Leslie

Lisha

Marilyn

Marilyn's painting of the demonstration fields

Brad

Candy

past SCVWS presidents Mary & Jane

Mary

Melanie

Don

Sylvia

Barbara & Michele

Candy, Lisha, Helen & Iris taking a break

Sylvia, Lisha & Yan surveying the flower fields

Alwyn has passed his probation and is now the official Paintsites mascot.

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