Hoffman Marsh with a better attitude

Hoffman Marsh again. This time perhaps with a better attitude, I found a view that I liked. I liked the layers of distance and the colors. I tried to do it wet in wet, but found that I had to glaze some to modify some of the colors later. The sky wasn't nearly that blue, but that is the way it came out. I expected that the paint would dry lighter. I had a lot of trouble with the mud bank. I couldn't get the colors that I wanted, but decided to quit before I completely ruined it.

Hoffman Marsh Bridge

The marsh itself seemed too flat and featureless, so Marilyn and I painted the bridge and watched the tide come in and the geese go out. I didn't get the shadow under the bridge the way I wanted, tried to fix it at home. There was no shade and I got a little sun burn on my hand. The light under and through the bridge and the water were what I was trying to get. Also, I was trying not to overwork areas and get the transparency of the paint to show. Tried mixing the colors on the paper some.

June 22

Hoffman Marsh (click on this for a map)
Directions:
From Highway 80, take the Carlson Blvd. exit west towards the water, and go left (over 580) on Bayview Ave. It will curve dramatically. You will immediately see a freeway exit to 580 on your right. Stop there and right across the street on your left is Seaport Ave. Turn left on Seaport, and turn left on S 51 St. Park at the end of this dead end street, get through entrance and you will see a bridge. We will meet there. It is not possible to take 580 and get off on Bayview Ave. Another way to get there is to park at Point Isabel and walk 15 minutes to the bridge adjacent S 51 St. Bring a chair, it may be wet at your preferred painting location.

The Hoffman marsh may not look like much, but it has a very interesting political history, according to Wikipedia:

The marsh is the delta for the mouth of Fluvius Innominatus creek into the Hoffman Channel which leads to San Francisco Bay. The marsh has been proposed to be included in the Eastshore State Park as it is one of only a handful of undestroyed wetlands in the Bay Area. The marsh is an important nesting ground for wildfowl and stopping ground for the Pacific Flyway.
There is currently a controversial proposal to add a 98,000 sq. ft. (9,100 m²) Kohl's department store on a site between the Costco Store and the marsh. Many residents are worried about potential negative effects on increased nighttime lighting that will make endangered birds such as the California Clapper Rail and Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse more susceptible to predators. This is in addition to other birds that make overnight stopovers at the marsh that would also possibly decrease in number and therefore reduce biodiversity. The Richmond Annex Neighborhood Council has officially opposed the project.

Parchester Marsh, Point Pinole

I was happy with this small acrylic painting of the Parchester marsh because the orange pickleweed is much more visible. I took my dog with me. We went around the park first so he would be tired and relaxed, then settled under the shade of an eucalyptus grove at the beginning of the Bayside trail. It took me two two-hour sessions to complete it. Rebeca

Road To Port Costa

I sat among those grasses that release foxtails, in the middle of a hot day to do this. Dog owners passed me by and wondered why did I have the hood of my parka on, and why was I wearing a parka in the first place. Well, I didn't bring anything else to cover myself from the sun! The black cows of this area live in the tiny farm. Rebeca

Valona Paint Out: Crockett

This year the web site (http://eppersongallery.com/) says it is an invitational. You might have to send some images to the Epperson Gallery. eppersongallery@comcast.net

The web site says that entries including the fee of $40 is due by July 2nd. I would recommend entering, last year was good, each artist got to display 3 works at the gallery and there was wine and snacks for the reception which is August 2nd this year. Most of the work was in oil but also several watercolors. Last year the guest juror was the editor of a plein air journal.

Point Pinole

Moving things are interesting to paint and it took two sessions to get some time with the shore birds and still I need to go back. The boat was going back and forth and I changed it many times.

Karen Zullo Sherr

June 15

We return to Point Pinole Regional Park!
On 80 take the Richmond Parkway exit and make a left at the right, stay on center lane so you can continue without turning on Richmond Parkway past San Pablo Ave. Take the Giant Rd exit ramp. Make a right at the light and go downhill. Make another right at the light and cross the railroad tracks. Continue on Giant Rd past the development on your left. The park will be on your left.

We will walk the 20 minutes it takes to get to the end of the Cook´s point trail, at the northeastern corner of the park.

Cook's Point Marsh--Point Pinole

This is the third attempt at painting this marsh Monday. Two times at the site and this one at home. It worked a little better without the wind drying the paint so fast. And I learned something from my mistakes too. I was not at all happy when I left the park, so I had to resolve that inner conflict by trying to paint what I had in mind. I tried to simplify by dividing up the painting into 4 main areas. I am still not really happy with the foreground, but I like the trees in the background.

June 8

Point Pinole Regional Park
On highway 80 take the Richmond Parkway exit and make a left at the right, stay on center lane so you can continue without turning on Richmond Parkway past San Pablo Ave. Take the Giant Rd exit ramp. Make a right at the light and go downhill. Make another right at the light and cross the railroad tracks. Continue on Giant Rd past the development on your left. The park will be on your left.

Fishing at Eckley Pier

I have been painting with acrylics for awhile outside. I have been a little disappointed with the surface quality but in this one I was able to use layers to get a feeling I like in the water and the distance.

Karen Zullo Sherr

Old Brick Works at Eckley Pier

One of our group painted from inside this brick building the first time we went to the Carquinez Strait Regional Park. I was taken by the color of the bricks and the interesting brick design around the windows. There was a Brick making enterprise there at one time and as far as I can tell, this is the remains of the office without a roof. I attempted to use a wet in wet technique that I recently learned. Although it didn't go as smoothly as I had imagined, it approximates what I had in mind. I also used a new palette of colors, new to me that is.