Saturday, May 1st

We will meet at Dimond Park, Oakland. Last time we were there we found vast green areas, conifer groves, and some views. There are bathrooms and water available. The city of Oakland does not publish directions to Dimond Park , but click on the name for a map. The address is 3860 Hanly Rd, Oakland, CA‎.
Directions: Berkeley residents can take Highway 13 to Park Blvd. (west), then make a left on Wellington. The rest of us are better off taking 580 to Park Blv (east), then making a right on Wellington. We will try to park on the parking lot at the end of Wellington or at the parking lot across the green area at the end of Wellington. Bring your cell phone so you can locate us.

Rodeo Beach

I was perched on top of a cliff overlooking the Southern end of Rodeo Beach. The rock in the middle ground was very black, and the total view full of contrast so I tried to subdue my usual color palette to concentrate on values—except for the colors in the back ground.

Marilyn Hill
4/25/10
Watercolor
14 X 21"

Arrowhead Marsh, Oakland

I'm a little behind in posting paintings. I usually like to review them in the studio before posting- then the rain. I think I liked the way the ramp stretched out into the marsh, especially since I am building a ramp at my house. Again experimenting with textures and colors.

Marilyn Hill
Watercolor
11 X 15"

Debris at the Alameda Ferry

I think most of us were interested in the wreckage found on the shores of this beach. Luckily, I had the acrylics that day and this allowed me to make innumerable corrections as I sought the best composition. The water and sky in this 20 x 24" painting were flat when I went home. I finished from memory. Like Karen, I started out blocking all of the values in one color and then moved on to the various hues. After I photographed the painting the reds and yellows did not show, so I manipulated the levels in Photoshop to resemble the original painting. Rebeca

Waiting for the Ferry, Alameda

It was a much better day in Alameda than last time. The ferry comes once an hour at the time we were there so it gave me a little time to do the people waiting. The van drove away at some point and was replaced by a black one. I did a grayscale underpainting and got things blocked in and then worked in color. It is an 18 by 24 acrylic. Karen

Alameda Ferry terminal, April 24 2010

On a very hot day, I found a spot on some rocks with still water and lots of fascinating reflections. The pattern of piles under the walkway was very complex and I spent most of my time trying to get them to work with their reflections. I worked on the sky more when I got home. I had made it very flat with just a wash of ultramarine, so I added a thin glaze of cerulean blue and that seemed to connect the sky and the water a bit more. I was going to work on everything else but decided to leave well alone. Oil on canvas 18 x 24.

Rusty Hulk

I tried to focus on the colors of the rust. I played with spatter on the foreground sand. I hated sitting in the sun and I was ready to leave before I thought I was done. It has some problems but the rust looks rusty, I think.

Larry Hatfield
11x14 Watercolor

Saturday at the Alameda-Oakland Ferry Building

I haven't been out to paint in awhile but I was in Berkeley earlier on Saturday and decided to mosey on down to Alameda to see how the EBLP was doing. I saw Karen and Fran out by the small walkway and decided to sit and do a quick sketch of the view toward the Ferry Terminal before I had to head on home. Rebeca and Larry came over to say Hi on their way out. Yes I've missed being out with y'all!


(ink, graphite and watered pastel) Janice L-H

Monday, April 26

We will meet at the Marin Headlands Visitor Center's parking lot and decide where to go once we're together. Directions from the East Bay: Cross the San Rafael Bridge. Follow 101 south through the Waldo tunnel. Take the last “Sausalito” just before the Golden Gate bridge. Turn right at the end of the exit ramp. Pass under 101, at the stop sign go straight onto Alexander Avenue. Turn left on Bunker Road (a brown sign saying “Marin Headlands Visitor Center” marks the intersection). Go through the one-way tunnel and drive approximately 2 miles. Turn left onto Field Road. The visitor center will be on the right side of the road. It is located in the historic Fort Barry Chapel, at the intersection of Field and Bunker Roads. The Visitor Center is approximately 3 miles from the entrance to the Marin Headlands. Bring water, food, money, a hat and your cell phone, specially if you're going to be late. There are more directions here.

Saturday, April 24

We return to the Alameda Ferry terminal. From 80, take the Webster Street tunnel towards Alameda, make a right on Atlantic (you'll see only a sign pointing left, but make a right anyway), then a right on Main. Look for the Ferry Sign on the right. We'll meet at the Ferry Terminal parking lot. There are bathrooms at the ferry terminal. Several interesting marine views await us!

Arrowhead Marsh Near the Oakland Airport

We had fun waiting for each other at the observation tower. Later on, everyone went in a different direction. I walked down the long pier that serves as observation platform for water birds. I did not see the Clapper Rail this marsh is famous for, just lots of stinky mud. But there must be something about the light hitting this mud that is very attractive to me, as I have done a number of these canals by now. I also enjoyed the look of the new grasses in the breeze, even though I know they are the oat grass that causes my allergies, and the deadly foxtail. I worked hard on this 24 x 20" oil, and finished it in the field.

Near the Oakland Airport

I like the marshes near the airport. There were many water birds and airplanes and helicopters. People walked their dogs and were taking pictures. I put some of the elements around me into this painting. It is a 20 by 24 acrylic on canvas. Karen

At the Ferry Terminal in Alameda

The wind picked up while I was painting and although it made for interesting water and boat movement it was very hard to paint. I had to keep one hand on my canvas and easel to keep it from flying away. I painted faster and looser than usual on a 24 by 28 canvas. Karen

Alameda Trawler

This huge red ship was sitting at the boatyard, getting maintenance. I spied it on my way inside the ferry parking lot, and stationed myself just outside the fence surrounding the boatyard to paint it. There was a terrible noise from what seemed like sandblasting, and every once in a while a loudspeaker as well. The workers were curious about us, but could not see what we were doing. After 3:00 pm a cold wind started blowing and I hurried to finish, knowing that most likely the boat would not be there by the following Saturday. I had arrived late and left by 4:00 pm, so I completed this 20 x 24" acrylic in record time due to the bad conditions. Update, upon our return the following week, the hull had been repaired and the whole ship looked like new.

Monday, April 19

Looks like we'll be able to paint at the San Leandro Bay Regional Park. We'll meet at the parking lot next to the observation tower of San Leandro Bay Regional Park, AKA Martin Luther King Regional Park. This park is located off Hegenberger Rd. The directions are here. We will meet at the parking lot by the observation tower. So once you make a right on Swan Way, and then a left to get in the park, drive by four picnic stations named after birds before you get to "Tern" and the observation tower.

Saturday, April 17

Tomorrow will be a sunny day! While we will be returning to Alameda, we will meet at the location Larry nominated: From 80, take the Webster Street tunnel towards Alameda, make a right on Atlantic (you'll see only a sign ointing left, but make a right anyway), then a right on Main. Look for the Ferry Sign on the right. We'll meet at the Ferry Terminal parking lot. Please try to park as close to the terminal as you're able, to facilitate finding each other. Bring your cell phone with the number of those who normally come. There are bathrooms at the ferry terminal.

Monday, April 12

Our outing to San Leandro Bay Regional Park has been cancelled due to intermittent showers. We'll meet at the parking lot next to the observation tower of San Leandro Bay Regional Park, AKA Martin Luther King Regional Park. This park is located off Hegenberger Rd. The directions are here. We will meet at the parking lot by the observation tower. So once you make a right on Swan Way, and then a left to get in the park, drive by four picnic stations named after birds before you get to "Tern" and the observation tower.

Alameda Beach

This oil was 18 x 24". I took a new cart that I now use to carry my gear. Karen was underneath the cypress on this picture. I finished this at home because the tide came in quickly shortly after I set up. Ifinished it from memory. My intention was to include passersby, but the incoming tide took care of that. Rebeca

Saturday, April 10

This outing was cancelled due to rain. While we will be returning to Alameda, we will meet at a different location this time, which Larry nominated: From 80, take the Webster Street tunnel towards Alameda, make a right on Atlantic, then a right on Main. Look for the Ferry Signs on the right. We'll meet at the Ferry Terminal parking lot, park as close to the terminal as you're able to facilitate finding each other. Bring your cell phone with the number of those who normally come. There are bathrooms at the ferry terminal.

On the Beach at Alameda

I enjoyed painting at Alameda, painting until the wind came up and I started to freeze. But I had plenty of people to choose from as models and crisp light that made things sparkle. Sometimes I stop too soon developing things, and other times I want to keep going. This was a time I wanted to continue but it got too cold. I am looking forward to better weather. It is an 18" by 24" acrylic. Karen

Monday, April 5

The weather forecast as well as my window show a storm brewing, so our outing has been cancelled. We will try again next week. We'll meet at the parking lot next to the observation tower of San Leandro Bay Regional Park, AKA Martin Luther King Regional Park. This park is located off Hegenberger Rd. The directions are here. We will meet at the parking lot by the observation tower. So once you make a right on Swan Way, and then a left to get in the park, drive by four picnic stations named after birds before you get to "Tern" and the observation tower.

Mariners Lagoon

I walked and walked in Washington Park before I found this
little Lagoon/pond. The coots kept trying to get a closer look at
what I was doing. It was sandy and the sand would blow into my palette and on the painting. There was a chain link fence around tennis courts behind, but I didn't want to paint that so I just grayed out the background. The water was smooth when I started but as the wind kicked up, it changed. The yellow show was the attraction at first, then I liked the tree. Anyway, another Alameda painting done. I need at least 2 more for the Frank Bette Art & Wine Gala, April 17th at the Rock Wall Winery. I tried a different paper, Stephen Quiller Watercolor cold pressed. It was different, seemed to soak and dry faster than Arches. I am so used to Arches, I am not sure about the new one.

10" x 14" watercolor
Larry Hatfield