Mtn View Library / Pioneer Memorial Park, Mountain View, October 18, 2018

We are very grateful to SCVWS member Shaowei Liu who gave an excellent tree painting demo at Mountain View Library / Pioneer Memorial Park.  We are also grateful to Salinda who first suggested this lesson.  The lesson was so well attended that it would have been nice to use the large monitor used for demos in the Hoover Theater.  But it was so much better to be outside among the actual trees and to see the shadows and sunlight on the trees and to see how Shaowei handled it in the plein air setting.

The Mountain View Pioneer Memorial Park was an excellent venue for a tree painting demo because it has many mature trees of different varieties, groupings of trees, intensely green grass, and attractive buildings in the background: the library, Center for Performing Arts, City Hall, and the Chamber of Commerce.

Upcoming paintsites: See the SCVWS website or the October/November Newsletters for details:

• Thursday, Oct 25, 2018: Clos LaChance winery, San Martin
• Thursday, Nov 1, 2018: Crissy Field West Bluff, San Francisco
• Thursday, Nov 8, Sunnyvale Baylands Park
• Thursday, Nov 15, Paintsite at Alum Rock Park, San Jose
• Saturday, Nov 17, Clos LaChance Winery, San Martin
• Thursday, Nov 29, Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch, San Jose

Shows & Exhibits by Paintsites Regulars:

• 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" won the 2nd place award. The show runs thru January 31, 2019.    (Official website: https://www.californiawatercolor.org/gallery.php?cat=95
• Tiangong Liu's painting "Low Tide" has been accepted in the California Watercolor Association's 49th National Exhibition to be displayed Jan 11 - Feb 16, 2019 at the Harrington Gallery, Firehouse Arts Center, 4444 Railroad Ave, Pleasanton.  (Official website: https://www.californiawatercolor.org/index.php )
• Elaine Goldstone has a watercolor “Smith Rock" accepted to The Pacific Art League 97th Anniversary exhibition. The piece will be on view at Pacific Art League from Friday, November 2nd, 2018 - Thursday, November 29th, 2018. Opening reception at our First Friday Art Party on Friday, November 2nd from 5:30pm to 8:00pm. PAL is located at 668 Ramona Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301 | 650.321.3891 | info@pacificartleague.org

Paintsite Regulars on TV/YouTube:

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

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGzJb9eToQY&list=PL47LpytMIxu4RA9DJJ2EMv70fDRn4d4mJ&index=102&t=0s
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GbVbjxCF94&list=PL47LpytMIxu4RA9DJJ2EMv70fDRn4d4mJ&index=100

Edward Rooks discusses his wildlife paintings (and his interesting life) with Valentina Design Universe:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZNRuBlIrIM&feature=share

Also see Edward's Flikr album of the Mountain View paintsite on:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/edwardrooks/albums/72157674647337908

Images of Shaowei's work and photos of the very helpful and well attended lesson:

Shaowei's finishing painting

Shaowei prepared a "before and after" comparison to show the extra

brushstrokes she added after her demo.

After the demo Shaowei prepared a detailed drawing to show values.

Shaowei is talking to a large group of students

Shaowei is showing some sample artwork.

Shaowei starts with a light pencil drawing.

Shaowei's painting is coming along very nicely, and the students

are watching intently.

After the demo we painted.  Some artists followed the lesson very carefully:

Benay's painting

Helen's painting

Indira

Liz

Liz's painting

Salinda

Salinda's painting

Sunny, keeping warm while wearing her SCVWS T-shirt

Sunny's painting

Tanvi

Tanvi's painting

Some artists took a looser interpretation of the lesson:

Annie

Dick has been concentrating on putting people in his paintings

Edward

Edward's painting of library

Iris and Lisha

Iris's pencil sketch of trees

Jan

Lorraine's painting of the Mountain View 

Center for Performing Arts

Matt's painting of closeup of strawberry tree

Shaowei's brother Tiangong is also an excellent watercolor artist and a group

of artists gathered around to see how he paints.

Tiangong's painting of the Mountain View Library

Some artists painted the "Wind in the Willows" characters at the Mountain View Library:

Carol

Jane's painting of Badger and Toad from

"The Wind in the Willows"

Leslie's tombow and watercolor painting of the library,

and "Wind in the Willows" characters

Nancy is proudly wearing her new SCVWS T-shirt

Nancy's painting of Toad

After painting:

A group of artists posed after lunch.

Brad set up two display easels to display our artwork.

Getting ready to discuss our artwork

Week 40: A Memoriam for Dan Tellep, Member artworks from Dec. 20 - 26, 2020

In Memoriam

We are sad to announce that Dan Tellep, a magnificent plein air watercolorist and Paintsites member, died on Thanksgiving Day, 2020. Dan was modest about his artwork, yet when approached by eager admirers he willingly shared the secrets to his masterful technique. His love of plein air painting was connected to his great appreciation of nature and an appetite for outdoor endeavors and adventure. Many of us knew him through Paintsites, but few of us knew the other Dan, the aeronautical engineer, Lockheed-Martin CEO/Chairman and glider pilot Dan. To read more on the life and achievements of Dan Tellep please refer to the following links:

https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/dam/lockheed-martin/eo/photo/news/features/tellep/daniel-m-tellep-family-tribute.pdf

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mercurynews.com/2011/05/23/artists-have-just-three-days-to-create-masterpieces-for-los-gatos-plein-air-art-show/amp/

Artwork by Dan Tellep

Dan painting at the Children's Theater
in Palo Alto

The Palo Alto Children's Theater by Dan

Dan painting at the Mountain View Library

The Mountain View Library by Dan

Wildwood Park by Dan

Farrington House by Dan

Paintsites Information

Due to the higher tiered COVID-19 restrictions, Paintsites has been postponed until we can  reschedule. Please check the SCVWS Paintsites details page for updates. We are still publishing the blog and hope you will continue to submit your artwork. It has been so inspiring to see Paintsites artists continue to paint despite the worries and restrictions imposed by the pandemic. Your artwork is wonderful! Please keep it up but stay safe.

In case you are stuck for ideas on what to paint and need a spark to get you going, here are some prompts for a weekly challenge:

’T’is the Season’ (December 6 to 27)

Prompts within this category could include the quality of winter light, or a tradition that has meaning to you.

‘A New Start’ (December 27 to January 30)

This might be a chance to illustrate a New Year’s resolution, a cause or something you are passionate about, or something symbolic e.g. incorporate an overpass or a bridge in your painting to suggest “bridging the pandemic.”

If neither of these suggestions strikes your fancy, you might submit your favorite painting from 2020.

Blog Submission Guidelines

We invite Paintsites' artists to paint or sketch during the week, pick one painting from that week and submit it by Saturday of that week. Here are some guidelines:

• Submit a digital photo of your artwork to paintsites@scvws.org. Cropped photos are preferred.
• Include your name, the date and comments about the site or unique media notes.
• Be creative! Some of your best subjects are in or around your home. You may want to paint from personal photos of your travels.
• Submissions after Saturday midnight will appear in the following week's blog.
• One submission per member per week, please

Artwork by our artists, painted plein air or at home:

Icefall by Salinda
(painted from a photo taken in Canada)

Lighthouse on the Jetty by Dick
(painted plein air in Bandon, OR)

Laurie's watercolor of Princeton-by-the-Sea. In search of a
Christmas tree we "stopped for clam chowder at
Barbara's Fish Trap. This scene captured my attention so
I painted it at home from a couple of photos." Laurie

Holiday at South Court by Caroline

Ainsley House, Campbell, Thursday, September 27, 2018

Canning industry pioneer, J.C. Ainsley built this Tudor revival house in 1925 at Hamilton and Bascom. It was built in the style of an English Tudor Cotswold cottage during the Arts and Crafts movement. It was moved onto Campbell city property and now houses the history house museum.

It was an easy job to find the artists to photograph them because they all set up in sort of a circle in front of the house. It was a harder job for a late comer to find a good spot to set up where they got a good view but didn't block someone else's view.  Some ambitious artists painted the whole house while others focused on details.

For more information about the Ainsley House see the official website at:  https://www.campbellmuseums.com/ainsley-house

Upcoming paintsites: See the SCVWS website or the October Newsletter for details:

• Thursday, Oct 4, 2018: Martins Beach, reservation required, members only
• Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018:  Fall Harvest - Jacob Farms / Martial Cottle CP, San Jose.  Check the October Newsletter for detailed info about parking, etc.
• Thursday, Oct 11, 2018: Ardenwood Historic Farm, Fremont
• Thursday, Oct 18, 2018: Mountain View Main Library/Pioneer Park
• Thursday, Oct 25, 2018: Clos LaChance winery, San Martin

Shows & Exhibits by Paintsites Regulars:

• Only one week left to see watercolors by Jane Saltman, Nancy Troup, and Tanvi Buch in the Los Altos History Museum's "Paint the Town ll: Echoes of the Past " exhibit.   The show runs until October 7, 2018.  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" won the 2nd place award. The show runs thru January 31, 2019.    (Official website: https://www.californiawatercolor.org/gallery.php?cat=95
• Tiangong Liu's painting "Low Tide" has been accepted in the California Watercolor Association's 49th National Exhibition to be displayed Jan 11 - Feb 16, 2019 at the Harrington Gallery, Firehouse Arts Center, 4444 Railroad Ave, Pleasanton.  (Official website: https://www.californiawatercolor.org/index.php )

Paintsite Regulars on TV/YouTube:

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

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGzJb9eToQY&list=PL47LpytMIxu4RA9DJJ2EMv70fDRn4d4mJ&index=102&t=0s
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GbVbjxCF94&list=PL47LpytMIxu4RA9DJJ2EMv70fDRn4d4mJ&index=100

Edward Rooks discusses his wildlife paintings (and his interesting life) with Valentina Design Universe:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZNRuBlIrIM&feature=share

Also see Edward's Flikr album on the Ainsley House paintsite at:  
https://www.flickr.com/photos/edwardrooks/sets/72157671732121067/

Artists and their artwork:

We start with Brad who took a long view but directly in front of the house and then we continue around the circle of artists in approximately counter clockwise direction.

Brad captured the entire view of the house.

Brad with the Campbell water tower visible behind him

Iris

Iris's painting of the entire front of the house.

Sham with Indira in the background

Sham's painting of the Ainsley house

Indira

Indira's painting of the Ainsley house

Indira and Sham seem oblivious to the interest they are creating.

Tiangong painted a small sketch of Ainsley house in his sketchbook

John

John's painting of the side of the house

Edward

Edward's painting of Ainsley House

Toni's painting of detail of the roof and window

Leslie

Leslie's tombow sketch of Ainsley house

Leslie's details of house and garden

Tanvi

Tanvi's colorful detail of the Tudor roof and part of house

Susan B-G

Susan B-G's colorful detail of the Tudor roof and window

Bobbi and Helen

Cathy met us at the Harvest History Festival in Mountain View last Saturday

and she is already joining us to make art.

Cathy's colored pencil sketch of the Ainsley House

Marilyn's painting of the front door and the bay window.

Broncha

Broncha's painting of the west side of the house

Cindy

Cindy's painting of trees in front of the house

These artists ate lunch on the Campbell City Hall side of the gathering area.

These artists ate lunch on the Campbell Library side of the gathering area

We are admiring our work.  (Photo by Edward Rooks)