Weekend Paintsites Ardenwood Historic Farm--Fremont, CA October 15, 2016

We had a great weekend paintsite October 15th. Alison, Iva, Srivani, and I painted all morning and then had lunch together. We all are experienced outdoor artists and painted at least 3 paintings apiece. There are so many painting opportunities at Ardenwood. Alison greeted Jamie who she said was a weekend painter and we expected her to join us, but we did not see her again. (Plein-air painters often find a perfect location and focus only on painting.) The paintsite featured lots of happy children selecting pumpkins in the pumpkin patch and helping to make apple cider. The park staff provided samples of the apple cider, and it was delicious. Marilyn (paraphrased by blogger DZ)

Alison

Alison's painting of the station

Alison's pumpkin patch

Alison's Watertower

Iva and Srivani

Iva's cow painting

Iva's hay barn

Iva's field vista

Marilyn

Marilyn's train station

Marilyn's pumpkin house with the hand stamp

Marilyn's field vista

Srivani's Ardenwood Farm shelter

Srivani's Ardenwood country road

Srivani's haybarn

Srivani's portrait of Marilyn

Clos LaChance Winery San Martin, CA October 13, 2016

The spectacular Clos LaChance Winery is set in the rolling hills of of San Martin. It features expansive views of vinyards, Corde Valle Golf Course, and the hills beyond. The vines were still mostly lush green; only a few leaves had started to turn color. The sun shown weakly through thin clouds keeping us very comfortable. The grand vista from Clos LaChance's patio was so spectacular that nearly all of us painted it from different angles.

At 1:00 we packed up and headed for member Karen's home for a treat of homemade cookies and refreshing lemon and cucumber water. After socializing and brown-bag lunches Karen gave an insightful critique of our paintings. She is  a seasoned watercolor instructor, and gave us helpful tips for finishing our paintings.

Unloading grapes

Katherine

Katherine's painting

Jane

Jane's unfinished painting

Leslie

Leslie's pen and ink watercolor wash

Leslie's Pots and Flowers

Leslie's Grand Vista

Marilyn's painting

Ji-eun and Katherine

Ji-eun's painting

Lisha, Helen, and Sharon

Helen's Painting

Lisha's painting

Lois

Lois's painting

Mary, Joy, and Annie

Annie's painting

Mary's painting

Dalene

Sherrie

Sherrie's unfinished painting

Curious tarantula

Ardenwood Historic Farm, Fremont. Thursday, October 6, 2016.

We came looking for pumpkins --- hopefully big, bright orange pumpkins still on healthy, bright green vines.   We found only a few of those down a dirt track in a field across from the park and more than a few (many, many thousands more in fact) harvested pumpkins in a commercial pumpkin patch adjacent to the parking lot.   But resolute plein air painters that we are, our initial disappointment forgotten, we found plenty to paint: old buildings, goats, sheep, tractors, chickens, peacocks, other commercial crops still in the fields, and ...


For information about Ardenwood, see: 
http://www.ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood

Upcoming Paintsites:

• Thursday, October 13, 2016:  Clos LaChance Winery, San Martin.   Post-paintout brown-bag lunch & critique at member's home in Morgan Hill.
• Saturday, October 15, 2016:  Ardenwood Historic Farm, Fremont
• Thursday, October 20, 2016:  Cowell Redwoods SP, Felton.   Hike & Sketch or Sit & Paint.  Post-paintout brown-bag lunch & critique at member's home in Ben Lomond
• Thursday, October 27, 2016:  Senior Safari Walkabout - Happy Hollow Zoo, San Jose.  Note: 9:00 start time.   See SCVWS website 'Members Only / Paintsites Details' for important additional information.

Details can be found on the SCVWS website and in the October Newsletter.

Ongoing activities of interest involving Paintsites regulars:

• John Ediger will be gallery-sitting at the Az Gallery (1213 Lincoln Ave., San Jose) on Thursday, October 13th from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
• Candy Yu is currently showing 18 watercolor pet portraits at the VCA Crocker Animal Hospital, 475 N. Jackson Ave., San Jose.  Most of her artwork is in the reception area and hallways and can viewed by the public.    The Hospital is open Mon. - Fri. 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM; Sat. & Sun. 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM.    The exhibit runs thru the end of October.
• SCVWS  members Annie Haines, Mary Raftery, and Uma Kelkar were accepted into Fioli's "The Valley of Heart’s Delight: A Multiple–media Exhibit"  which runs thru October 23rd in the Visitor & Education Center.    A  'Closing Reception' will be held Thursday, October 20th from 5:00 - 7:00 PM.    This event is free but reservations are required by October 14th and can be obtained at:  http://www.filoli.org/art-exhibits/  or 650-364-8300, x 508.
• Jane Ferguson is participating in the Santa Cruz County Open Studios Art Tour on Saturday & Sunday, October 15 - 16.  Hours are 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM.   Jane is Artist #86 - 3540 Marilyn St., Santa Cruz.
• Mike Granger has two paintings in the Fremont Art Association's 50th Annual Art Show.  The Association Gallery is located at 37697 Niles Boulevard, Fremont.   Hours are: Tue. 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM; Wed. 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Thu. 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM; and Fri. - Sun. 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM.    The show runs thru Sunday, October 30th.

Ardenwood's big Central Field:
Where there had been pumpkins or corn planted in the Central Field in years past, this year bright green and red row crops (lettuce?) were under cultivation.   The distant Diablo Range, the row of deciduous trees (some starting to change color) separating Ardenwood from Hwy 84, and the rows of corn fronting the trees made a splendid background for the field. 
 

Jane S.

Jane S.'s painting of the Central Field.

Iris, seated, and Lisha.

Iris's painting of the Central Field.

 

Katherine

Katherine's Central Field painting.

Lisha ...

... and her Central Field painting. 

 

Ji-eun, standing, and Helen.

Ji-eun's painting ...

 

... and Helen's.

Also painting the Central Field were Susan and Tammy.   Visit again to see their finished paintings.
 

Susan

 

Tammy

Park structures:
In years past the numerous structures in the park were popular subjects.  (Maybe because during our most recent visits it was hot and we were anxious to paint in the shade.  This year the weather was perfect for painting in the shade or sun.)  This year only a few of us tackled them.
 

Joy's painting of one of the outbuildings.

Jane P.'s  painting of the 1889 'Patterson House'. 

Dick's 'Ardenwood Station'.   The reproduction doubles as a the Visitor Center and the station for the little excursion train which carries visitors thru the park.

Pumpkins:
You want to paint pumpkins?   You want to paint unique structures?     With the Pumpkin Village you get both for the price of one.

Salinda's 'Pumpkin Village'.   The pumpkins, no longer grown at Ardenwood, are trucked in from nearby Coyote Hills Regional Park.    (We may have to schedule a 2017 September visit to Coyote Hills to see pumpkins on the vine.)

Annie's sketch of a pumpkin still on the vine.

Jane S.'s Pumpkin Patch painting.

 Lunch & Critique:

Lunch finished, we get organized for the Critique.