Mira Flores, Oishi, Sakai & Maida-Endo Nurseries

After being granted permission to paint at the greenhouse site through the Richmond Redevelopment Agency we were joined by Ellen Grailing a photographer who has been photographing Mira Flores for many years. She showed us places to go and places not to go. I was excited.

The roses appeared to be lifting the greenhouses toward the sky. It was raining and the paint kept running together creating a rather Zen effect on the painting. When we were done, I must have put the painting on top of my truck where it proceeded to fly off into the anon. I recreated it here.We could do many paintings here if it were possible. There was wonderful stuff everywhere.

A Mini Historical Note
"According to Donna Graves, who wrote the historical component of the 2004 “Historic Architecture Evaluation: The Oishi, Sakai and Maida-Endo Nurseries,” the site contains “the only extant cut-flower nurseries begun by Japanese Americans before World War II in the entire Bay Area, and [is] the last remaining of Richmond’s community of Japanese American flower growers.”
To find out more about the Japanese flower growers



Marilyn Hill
Watercolor
15 X 11

marilynhill.com

Richmond Farmers Market

Fran and I caught the Richmond Farmers Market last Friday. The people were gracious, and curious — the weather was very cold. It was a grey day but I put in a blue sky. I think I was hoping the sun would come out. I liked the zig-zag composition this scene made with the vertical column of the back of the truck. Also the vender had some very engaging oranges hanging from her tent. I was beginning to play with the idea that maybe a brushstroke could hold up a table of onions

Marilyn Hill
Watercolor
15 X 11

marilynhill.com

Monday, January 31

We've been busy preparing for the Immigrant Neighborhoods show. For this reason, a coordinator will not be available for this session. This session has been cancelled. We will meet again Saturday 5th February.

Saturday, January 29

We've been busy preparing for the Immigrant Neighborhoods show. For this reason, a coordinator will not be available for this session. This session has been cancelled. We will meet again next Saturday.

Monday 24th January

We meet in the parking lot of the Laotian Family Community Center at 1865 Rumrill Boulevard in San Pablo and will then decide where we want to paint. We can split up into twos if necessary.

Directions: From 80, take the El Portal in the west direction (don't go to El Sobrante). Go under the freeway and into the city of San Pablo. Continue along the El Portal. Drive all the way past Contra Costa College to your left. Make a right on San Pablo Ave, and almost immediately, at the very next intersection, make a left on Rumrill. Pass Broadway, 19th and 20th Streets, Brookside Dr, Folsom Avenue and Dover is the next street on the left. We will meet outside 1865 Rumrill. Bathrooms and water are at the Food Mart further along

Clean & Safe

We started at Nicholl Park in Richmond Saturday. I went a block East looking for something to paint. I saw this odd shaped building, now abandoned, with the sign on the bench in front. It is probably the good intention of the city to make it clean and safe. I liked the big redwood behind it. The color of the building is a lot duller than I painted it. But I did see a google picture of it on a map and it was very colorful then, red roof and bright yellow walls.

Larry Hatfield
10.5 x 14.5 Watercolor

Saturday, January 22

An early morning check revealed Google is wrong: there is no Starbucks off MacDonald and 44th Ave. So, we will instead meet in front of Payless, inside the parking lot of the strip mall with Target, Panda Express, etc. To get there take the MacDonald exit off highway 80. You will go under the freeway and end up facing west, with the strip mall to your left. Make a left turn at any of the entrances along McDonald, look for the Payless and wait outside. Together, we'll decide where we'll paint around this area. There are interesting businesses all along McDonald Ave, in addition to the wide spaces near Nicholls Park.

Pink Mobile Home

I missed out on painting the mobile homes last week. So I went to Church Lane to find some today. This pink one stood out, so I decided that was my painting for today. It will always be memorable for the electric wheel chair lady who rammed my ankle as I sat painting.

Larry Hatfield
10.5 x 14.5 Watercolor

San Palbo Arch

We bombed out of the locations we tried today. So I went home and worked on this. I had taken a photo of it on San Pablo Ave. It is the welcoming arch to the city of San Pablo.

Larry Hatfield
10.5 x 14.5 Watercolor

Little Pink Home, 22nd near Market

The residents in this little trailer park seemed happy to see the sun, work on their homes and picnic in the street after so many cold rainy days. Karen, Fran and I were painting Saturday. The neighborhood treated us like visiting dignitaries — taking our pictures, bringing us food, and sharing their artwork, their stories and their animals with us. It reminded me why painting outside so important to me.

I took one look at this little pink trailer among all its neutral colored mates and decided I must paint it immediately. It's the first time I used a magenta in the shadows.

Marilyn Hill
Watercolor
15 X 11

marilynhill.com

Monday January 17

We return to Rumrill Boulevard but this time to the Laotian Family Community Development Group at 1865 Rumrill and Dover in San Pablo.

Directions: From 80, take the El Portal in the west direction (don't go to El Sobrante). Go under the freeway and into the city of San Pablo. Continue along the El Portal. Drive all the way past Contra Costa College to your left. Make a right on San Pablo Ave, and almost immediately, at the very next intersection, make a left on Rumrill. Pass Broadway, 19th and 20th Streets, Brookside Dr, Folsom Avenue and Dover is the next street on the left. We will meet outside 1865 Rumrill. Bathrooms and water are at the Food Mart further along.

Saturday, January 15

We will meet again at 23rd and Market. The area is full of colorful, interesting shops and homes. The people have been very welcoming so far. From 80, take the El Portal exit, turn left at the light and go under the freeway. Continue on El Portal drive and make a left on Church Lane. Cross San Pablo. Church lane turns into Market. You will see 23rd soon after.

Jo Ann Dr From Fairmead Park, El Portal

This painting is a living testimony of my love of cars. Not of them as vehicles, but cars as rolling polychrome sculptures. I have never included so many cars and truck in a painting of this series. This acrylic on canvas must be 24 x 30," and was done during one of the last Saturdays in the fall. I revised it at home. I like the two bright sidewalks, leading the eye like runway lights.

El Chalatec, Hellings & San Pablo

While I was painting this, an old guy came up and was impressed that I was working so hard. I said I was doing it for fun. His answer was that it was to cold to be fun. Of course, that was for sure. I ended up doing a lot of the painting back at the ranch.

Recently I've been studying the paintings of Jean Michel Basquiat, a young artist with a short but powerful career in the 80's. I also attended the last day of the Japanese Print Show at the Palace of Legion of Honor. Towards an upcoming workshop my painting are becoming increasingly experimental - therefore not always my strongest – but still intriguing to paint. You can see the beginnings here and of the above influences.

Marilyn Hill
Watercolor
15 X 11"

marilynhill.com

Monday January 10, 2011

We return to the parking lot of Food Mart (1835 Rumrill Blvd), at the corner of Rumrill and Market in San Pablo.

Directions: From 80, take the El Portal in the west direction (don't go to El Sobrante). Go under the freeway and into the city of San Pablo. Continue along the El Portal. Drive all the way past Contra Costa College to your left. Make a right on San Pablo Ave, and almost immediately, at the very next intersection, make a left on Rumrill. Pass Broadway, 19th and 20th Streets, Brookside Dr, Folsom, Dover and Mission Aves. Immediately after Mission, look to the right side of the road to find the Food Mart. Park anywhere inside their parking lot. Meet us near the taco truck if it is there (it usually is). Bathrooms and water at the Food Mart.

Mobile Home Parks in San Pablo

I haven't been posting lately because my camera needed a new lens, then I found out I lost my camera chip, and could not buy an SD chip right away. Here are two mobile home acrylics roughly the same size, about 18 x 24".  The first painting, the one with the alley and the boxy mobile homes was done very recently on 23rd St and Market, in the company of a new member named Anne. I returned alone on a Sunday to finish it, when it was sunny enough. A man walked up to me and said he had seen us the day before, painting at 23rd and McBryde. The second painting was done in October when Darryl, Karen and I painted in front of Saint Anthony's Cemetery on El Portal Ave. The late afternoon light was wonderful. Inside the Chevy truck there was a Chihuahua named Little Toy that was very endearing. I may still place him in this picture (but on the street).

5210 McBryde

I passed this house on my way to meet the group. Since I didn't feel drawn to anything at the meeting place, I went back to this house. I took a couple of pictures and went home to paint it. It was too cold for me today, foggy too. The owner has added some gables of his own to the place over a garage.

Larry Hatfield
10.5 x 14.5 Watercolor

Saturday, January 8

We will meet again in San Pablo.
From El Sobrante, Martinez etc. go to highway 80 and take the El Portal exit. Go to San Pablo by making a left on Church Ln from El Portal Dr. Church Ln veers right to become Market St. Market St crosses 23rd. Make a left on 23rd and continue until you see Andrade nine blocks later.
If coming from Berkeley, take the Solano exit, make a left on McBryde, cross San Pablo Ave, continue on to 23rd St, and make a right. The next corner is Andrade. We will meet on the corner of Andrade and 23rd, where another cluster of colorful businesses awaits. No bathrooms, no water. Bring a cell phone.

Ricos Pollos Asados

I went to 23rd Ave. San Pablo again near the U-Haul place. I found this interesting place. Rico was BBQing his pollos outdoors. A few people stopped to talk, all very interested and friendly. I was a little annoyed by the wind that blew dust, ashes, hair, leaves, dirt into my paint. Joys of painting outdoors.

I have no idea what the Giraffe and Elephant are doing there.

Larry Hatfield
Watercolor 10.5 x 14.5"

Golden State Textiles, Rheem near 23rd St.

I was attracted by this white building with the decorative front and dark space within. The owner first thought I was going to paint on the building and was very polite in suggesting the police might not be happy since the city needs to paint over graffiti. Once we established that I was to paint a picture of his storefront all was a go. This was a nice spot. The painting came out a little cartoony but I've been exploring the idea of signage as symbol which fits right in. (Does the stuff we buy or sell become symbols of our culture??? Will we be remembered by KFC or Quarter Pounders???)

Marilyn Hill
Watercolor
15 X 11

marilynhill.com

Sopitos, 23rd St. near Market

Larry and I painted Sopito's. He was across the street and I, as usual, was right next to it. For me I think it was about the color, the umbrella + reflection and the palm tree with the fuzzy trunk. The sky was white.

Marilyn Hill
Watercolor
15 X 11

marilynhill.com

Saint Paul's Church

I wanted to do this church tower since seeing it on the way home last week. The church was established in 1864. There is another view with lots of red tile roofs visible. I had several conversations with people walking by as I was right next to the sidewalk. I told them about the show, Immigrant Neighborhoods, in late Feb. at the San Pablo City Gallery.

Larry Hatfield
10.75 x 14.5
Watercolor

Early Lunch

The Taco truck gets busy at lunch but even before there are usually people wainting. I wanted to to a closer view so set up near my car in the lot. I was worried I would attract to much attention but everyone was very nice and did not interupt but waited till I took a break to talk to me. I felt pretty comfortable painting there.  Karen

Rumrill and Market

It was a very cold wintry day between storms when I worked on this near the taco truck in the parking lot of the hamburger stand. I came back next week and finished it and the weather was pretty much the same. I was very happy ther was the same truck there again and I realized after awhile that the truck was owned by someone in the taco truck. It is a 24 by 30 canvas.

Monday, January 3

We will meet at 23rd and Market and then go to Andrade and Market.

From 80- Exit San Pablo Dam Road. Go west toward Bay. When you get
to
the Casino turn right on San Pablo Ave. Go to Church and turn left.
Church becomes Market. Stop at 23rd st. Park and meet at little
shopping center.

We plan on painting at Andrade and Market but becasue I can't find it on the map I can't do the directions so we will meet at the same parking lot we have used before at 23rd and Market.

Karen