Sunday, September 16, 2018

Palo Alto Baylands, Palo Alto, Thursday, Sept 13, 2018

More than a century ago, the Palo Alto Baylands salt marshes extended inland, approximately to the location of Highway 101.  Palo Alto's stewardship of the Baylands began in 1921 with the purchase of 40 acres.  In the 1930s the yacht harbor clubhouse, a saltwater swimming pool (now the Duck Pond), and the lagoon were constructed.  Today the Baylands covers 1940 acres.  The preserve includes some of the last remaining salt marsh/mudflat habitats on the West Coast.

After all the hazy skies we have had the past few weeks, we were pleased that the visibility was "pretty good" and we could see Mount Diablo easily.  We were there at low tide so the islands at Harriet Mundy Marsh were well above waterline.  The winds were calm when we started allowing for crisp reflections on the duck pond, but the wind picked up by noon to the point that we had our lunch and artwork sharing early so we could get out of the wind.

For more information about Palo Alto Baylands: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/gov/depts/csd/parks/preserves/baylands.asp

Upcoming paintsites: See the SCVWS website or the September/October newsletters for details:
  • Sep 20, 2018: Pigeon Point Lighthouse, Pescadero
  • Saturday, Sep 22, 2018, 9 AM: Special event at Heritage Park, Mountain View
  • Sept 27, 2018: Ainsley House, Campbell
  • Oct 4, 2018: Martins Beach, reservation required, members only
  • Oct 11, 2018: Ardenwood Historic Farm, Fremont
  • Oct 18, 2018: Mountain View Main Library/Pioneer Park
  • Oct 25, 2018: Clos LaChance winery, San Martin
Shows & Exhibits by Paintsites Regulars:
  • Watercolors by Jane Saltman, Nancy Troup, and Tanvi Buch are featured in the Los Altos History Museum's "Paint the Town ll: Echoes of the Past " show which runs from July 5 to October 7, 2018.  Tanvi's painting of "Voyageur du Temps" received the Honorable Mention award.  The Museum is located at 51 S. San Antonio Rd, Los Altos.  Hours are Thu - Sun: noon - 4 PM.   Admission is free. (Official website:  https://www.losaltoshistory.org/2018/06/los-altos-history-museums-exhibit-paint-the-town-features-artwork-of-historic-landmarks/
  • Annie Haines and John Ediger each have two paintings in the California Watercolor Association's "Explore Color / Discover Color" exhibit at Dominican University, 50 Acacia Ave, San Rafael.   John's painting "Red Barn" was the 2nd place award. The show runs thru January 31, 2019.    (Official website:  http://www.californiawatercolor.org/index.php )
Paintsite Regular on TV:

Candy Yu was interviewed about her art for two installments of  the "In Our Community" program which was aired on KMVT15 Community Media in August.  Each installment is about 25 minutes long:

Artist and their artwork:

Lorraine's painting of Harriet Mundy Marsh

Kristi's painting of Harriet Mundy Marsh with the open
San Francisco Bay, East Bay Hills, and Mount Diablo beyond

Marilyn's painting of Harriet Mundy Marsh in imagined fall colors
with an actual flock of black-necked stilts

Indira's painting of the slough

Sham's painting of the slough

Mary R's painting of the slough with the Santa Cruz
Mountains in the background

Helen's painting of the slough with the garden
behind the duck pond

Leslie G., webmaster

Leslie G's tombow sketch of the slough

Carol R.

Elaine G. was practicing quick sketching of figures today

Elaine G's quick sketch of Broncha, a duck, and Carol R.

Elaine G's quick sketch of Wanda

Elaine G's quick sketch of Mary R.

Elaine G's quick sketch of white pelicans feeding in the duck pond and
 an airplane landing at Palo Alto Airport

Broncha

Broncha's painting of the Duck Pond

Iris's painting of the EcoCenter

Leslie G's painting of the EcoCenter with an airplane
landing at Palo Alto Airport
Caroline's painting of a Baylands runner

Motionless great blue heron waiting for breakfast

Snowy egret

We are admiring our artwork after lunch.  I think we put our artwork on the ground instead of on the table
because we thought it had a smaller chance of blowing away there.

Sunday, September 9, 2018

Agnews Historic Park, Santa Clara, Thursday, September 6, 2018

The Oracle R&D facility and conference center, a campus-like setting, was the former Agnews Insane Asylum. It consists of numerous beautiful buildings in the Mediterranean Revival style. Agnews first opened in 1889, and was rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake with low-rise buildings along tree-lined streets. It was specifically intended to be a “cheerful” place to bring light and air to patients.  Agnews Hospital closed in the late 1990’s and the campus was sold to Sun Microsystems (later acquired by Oracle). Today it is used as an R&D campus with public access to many of the buildings preserved in the park-like setting. The artists enjoyed painting the Clock Tower Building, the Auditorium, and the Administration building with their elaborate brickwork and rich details.

For information about Agnews history: Link
For information about the Agnews Historic Park: Link

Upcoming paintsites: See the SCVWS website or the September newsletter for details:
  • Sep 13, 2018: Palo Alto Baylands
  • Sep 20, 2018: Pigeon Point Lighthouse, Pescadero
  • Saturday, Sep 22, 2018: Special event at Heritage Park, Mountain View
  • Sept 27, 2018: Ainsley House, Campbell
  • Oct 4, 2018: Martins Beach, reservation required, members only
  • Oct 11, 2018: Ardenwood Historic Farm, Fremont
  • Oct 18, 2018: Mountain View Main Library/Pioneer Park
  • Oct 25, 2018: Clos LaChance winery, San Martin
Shows & Exhibits by Paintsites Regulars:
  • Watercolors by Jane Saltman, Nancy Troup, and Tanvi Buch are featured in the Los Altos History Museum's "Paint the Town ll: Echoes of the Past " show which runs from July 5 to October 7, 2018.  Tanvi's painting of "Voyageur du Temps" received the Honorable Mention award.  The Museum is located at 51 S. San Antonio Rd, Los Altos.  Hours are Thu - Sun: noon - 4 PM.   Admission is free. (Official website:  https://www.losaltoshistory.org/2018/06/los-altos-history-museums-exhibit-paint-the-town-features-artwork-of-historic-landmarks/
  • Annie Haines and John Ediger each have two paintings in the California Watercolor Association's "Explore Color / Discover Color" exhibit at Dominican University, 50 Acacia Ave, San Rafael.   John's painting "Red Barn" was the 2nd place award. The show runs thru January 31, 2019.    (Official website:   http://www.californiawatercolor.org/index.php )

Paintsite Regular on TV:
Candy Yu was interviewed about her art for two installments of  the "In Our Community" program which was aired on KMVT15 Community Media in August.  Each installment is about 25 minutes long:

Artists and their artwork:

The clocktower building, historically known as the Treatment Building, was erected in 1908.  It is a very imposing building and the painting subject of many artists.

Rich painting the Clocktower Building

Rich's painting of the Clocktower Building

Kristi

Kristi's painting of the Clocktower

Benay

Benay's painting of the Clocktower Building

Carol

Carol's painting of the Clocktower Building

Broncha

Broncha's painting of a Clocktower
Building window and garden area

Annie

Annie's painting of bunya-bunya tree in the park

Jan and Tanvi

Tanvi's detail of the Administration building
The Auditorium, historically known as Assembly Hall, was erected in 1914.  The management of the hospital believed that recreation could be used as a tool to shape behaviour; therefore, the Auditorium housed spaces for performances, social gatherings, billiards, and music, and served as the hospital's principal social center.  It was also the painting subject for many of our artists.

Tiangong

Tiangong's painting of the Auditorium

Lisha and Helen

Lisha's painting of the Auditorium

Helen's painting of the Auditorium

Candy

Candy's sketch of the Auditorium

Candy's sketch of the driveway in front
of the Clocktower Building

Marilyn, Thursday paintsite co-coordinator
Marilyn's painting of reflections
in an Auditorium window


Tanvi's sketch of the Auditorium

One of many planes which took off from SJC while we were painting

The artists pose for a group photo.

Tiangong led our sharing time.