Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve, Morgan Hill, Thursday, March 10, 2022

Painters Susan B-G, Tanvi, Candy, Karen, Salinda, Sal, Helen, Lisha, Sharmin, Christine, Lora, and Wanda bravely took on a windy day challenge. Susan lead the hikers off into the wind and up to the first overlook of Arrowhead Trail with it’s beautiful views of the valley. Another group painted close to the parking area with nearby oaks, views of ranch buildings and the distant Diablo Range. For information on the site check out:

https://www.openspaceauthority.org/preserves/coyotevalley.html

 

Upcoming Events (see paintsites details for full descriptions of painting sites)

MARCH 17 - THUR PAINT SITE: Alviso Marina Park, Alviso

MARCH 24 - THUR PAINT SITE: Mission San Clara, Santa Clara

MARCH 27 - WKND PAINT SITE: Mission Santa Clara, Santa Clara 

MARCH 31 - THUR PAINT SITE: Hidden Villa NOTE: Hidden Villa would like an estimate of the painters planning to attend.

Please preregister here if you plan to attend this site. 

For additional information about the monthly events, go to the SCVWS Newsletter or Website www.scvws.org

Photos of Artists and their Artwork

"Trees and Rocks"by Susan B-G

"Coyote Valley" by Salinda

Bill's painting of the Coyote Valley Open Preserve

Arrowhead Trail

Arrowhead Trail near the lookout

Sal's painting of the Open Space Preserve

View from the lookout on the Arrowhead Trail

View from Arrowhead Trail by Karen (watercolor pencil)

Lora's watercolor of the horse ranch.
"Even on a windy day, the painters went happily on the
'sketch and hike'. I was happy to sit in a wind break and 
paint a distant barn" ~ Lora

Gopher snake,  Arrowhead Trail

Horse Ranch at Coyote Valley near the preserve

Candy's sketch from the Arrowhead
Trail Hike

Candy's pen and ink sketch from the trail head capturing
the new spring growth on the oaks

Candy's pen and ink sketches of hikers and bicyclists

Candy

Tanvi

Paintsites' hikers getting ready to hike the Arrowhead Trail

McClellan Ranch Preserve, Saturday, February 26, 2022

 Four painters braved the seasonal weather at McClellan Ranch. 

Artist's Artwork

Jayne's sketchbook page "playing with composition"

"Beehives" by Alison

"McClellan Ranch Spirit, Cupertino" by Caroline

Saratoga Heritage Orchard, Saratoga, Thursday, March 3, 2022

Sixteen painters had great expectations that the rain would hold off. Thursday painters broadened (and practiced) their horizons practicing their atmospheric, one and two point perspective at the Saratoga Heritage Orchard. Alison, Brad, Broncha, Candy, Claudia, Dick, Salinda, Iris, Jane, Jayne, Karen, Lisha, Lora, Sal, Susan BG, and newcomer Sharmin painted among the apricot trees and blossoms. The weather held long enough for an opportunity to review the budding art ~ Alison

See the following links for more info on the Saratoga Heritage Orchard:

www.saratogahistory.com/blossomfestival/

https://www.saratoga.ca.us/489/Heritage-Orchard

PLEASE NOTE: The Paintsites blog guidelines have been updated: Check out the updated guidelines for posting artwork on the blog, especially how to label photos.   

Upcoming Events (see paintsites details for full descriptions of painting sites)

JAN 8 to MARCH 12 - Paintsites member Uma Kelkar’s painting has been selected into the CWA’s 52nd National Exhibition, Harrington Gallery/Firehouse Arts Center, 4444 Railroad Avenue, Pleasanton, CA 

FEB 4 to MARCH 12 - Susan Butler Graham’s painting “Dappled Rabbit” was accepted in the GBAO Show. New Museum (NUMU), Los Gatos. 

MARCH 10 - THUR PAINT SITE & HIKE & SKETCH: Coyote Valley Open Space, Morgan Hill 

MARCH 17 - THUR PAINT SITE: Alviso Marina Park, Alviso

MARCH 24 - THUR PAINT SITE: Mission San Clara, Santa Clara

MARCH 27 - WKND PAINT SITE: Mission Santa Clara, Santa Clara 

MARCH 31 - THUR PAINT SITE: TBD

For additional information about the monthly events, go to the SCVWS Newsletter or Website www.scvws.org

Photos of Artists and their Artwork

"Blossoms" by Alison

"Blossom Abstract" by Alison

Brad's Tombow ink sketch of the Saratoga Heritage Orchard

After two successful (if I say so myself) ink sketches of a couple

of gnarled old apricot trees,I thought I was ready for

a big-time painting.Turns out I wasn't, so whipped out this Tombow

sketch so I'd have something to show for the day.

Of course the hi-lite of the day, as always, was sharing

time with other Paintsites artists ~ Brad

"Old Apricot Trees" by Claudia

Karen's study on value and perspective

"Apricot Orchard" by Karen
It was nice to take the lessons given last week
by Susan and Oksana and put it to use today ~ Karen

Dick's painting of a gnarly old apricot in bloom

Salinda's version of the old gnarly apricot 

"Falling Petals" by Susan B-G

"Apricot in Bloom" by Jane

Lora's abstraction of apricot flowers

"Saratoga Heritage Orchard" by Sal

Paintsites artists at the Saratoga Heritage Orchard

Lisha and Iris

Apricot Blossoms

Claudia and Alison

Dick and Salinda

Candy and Susan

Lora

Sharing our artwork

Bernal-Gulnac-Joice, San Jose, Thursday, February 24, 2022

Our bonus event this month was a demonstration on 2-point perspective technique for landscape painting given by Paintsites' member Susan Butler-Graham. Many thanks Susan for preparing and demonstrating an excellent presentation! 

The morning began on the cool side but quickly warmed up making it perfect weather for a plein air demo. 19 painters attended: Alison, Cindy, Dick, Salinda, Bobbie, Sal, Helen, Jane, Lisha, Masako, Bill, Brad, Lora, Tanvi, Iris, karen, Susan B-G, Laurie, Broncha.

PLEASE NOTE: The Paintsites blog guidelines have been updated: Please check out the updated guidelines for posting artwork on the blog, especially how to label photos.   

Upcoming Events (see paintsites details for full descriptions of painting sites)

FEB 4 to MARCH 12 - Susan Butler Graham’s painting “Dappled Rabbit” was accepted in the GBAO Show. New Museum (NUMU), Los Gatos. 

MARCH 03 - THUR PAINT SITE:  Saratoga Heritage Orchard, Saratoga 

MARCH 10 - THUR PAINT SITE & HIKE & SKETCH:  Coyote Valley Open Space, Morgan Hill 

MARCH 17 - THUR PAINT SITE:  TBD

MARCH 24 - THUR PAINT SITE: Mission San Clara, Santa Clara

MARCH 27 - WKND PAINT SITE: Mission Santa Clara, Santa Clara 

MARCH 31 - THUR PAINT SITE: TBD

For additional information about the monthly events, go to the SCVWS Newsletter or Website www.scvws.org

Photos of Artists and their Artwork

Susan B-G gave a demonstration of 2- point perspective
technique. Here she is with her finished demo painting 

Susan's view of the barnyard

Paintsites artists viewing the demo by Susan B-G

Susan's example of 2-point perspective showing
vanishing points

Susan B-G using perspective technique in her drawing in
before adding watercolor

Finished drawing of the barn using 2-point perspective 

Susan's palette and brushes

Adding watercolor 

Paintsites bonus demo on 2-point perspective 

Susan B-G's demo watercolor, painted from the west side 
of the barnyard
 

Sketch of Tanvi by Cindy
"I had planned to do black and white sketches today
but Tanvi's wonderful scarf compelled me to get out
my colors!" ~ Cindy

"Bernal-Gulnac-Joice" Ranch by Sal

Bill, along with Brad, Broncha and Laurie decided to paint
the view from the east side of the barnyard, capturing
the warm, early morning sunlight

Brad's watercolor of the east end of the barn 
"Thanks to Susan for a well thought-out, prepared
and presented demo." ~Brad

"Bernal-Gulnac-Ranch" by Laurie
"That warm sunshine sure felt good after the chilly early
morning. Too bad the chickens were gone."~ Laurie 

One of Jane's quick value studies of the barn yard 

Jane following the demo and using a pencil
to measure proportions

Helen, Iris and Lisha

"Jo's Lavender Iris, Nola's Iris Garden" 
by Caroline (painted at home)