Monday, June 27

We had a good day at Pt. Pinole last week and will return on Monday.

From 80 take the Richmond Parkway exit and make a left at the light, 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.

Saturday, June 25

This session has been cancelled because there are no coordinators to lead it. One of us is out of town and the other one is busy that afternoon. Please watch this space in case we can find someone to lead it, or if you would like to lead it, please e-mail us.

Viewing the Albany City

We met at the small parking lot on the top of the hill. In the park, the view of the bay was blocked by trees. I did not want to explore too far away from the trail because of the poison oak.  After having walked for 10 to 15 min along the trail, Rebeca and I found an open view of the Albany City. This is an oil painting done on a 12" X 16" Gesso board.  Philip Ng

Monday June 20

We havent been to Point Pinole Regional Park as a group for over a year, so we will return on Monday.

On 80 take the Richmond Parkway exit and make a left at the light, 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.

Saturday, June 18

We will meet on Albany Hill Park. Yes it is on a hill, but think of the views. A Yelp writer says, "at the very top is a tree-enclosed park, but if you make a left at the last intersection before getting there you'll be amazed to find patches of open views of the entire bay, including San Francisco and the Golden Gate bridge." There is a small parking area at the top and some benches. Here's a very short video of the area. 


Come prepared to do some walking with your gear, with a backpack or rolling cart. For the same reason, bring your cell phone, drinking water, hiking boots. Avoid shorts or short sleeved shirts because of the poison oak in some trails. We strongly recommend that you print a map of the way the access streets are laid out before you go, if you've never been there before.


Directions: From San Pablo, take Washington in the direction of Albany Hill, then continue on El Cerrito, left on Hillside and right on Taft. From 80, take Central Ave and make an immediate right on Pierce St, which is the frontage road along 80, then make a left on Washington. Veer left to El Cerrito St, make a left on Hillside Ave, and a right on Taft Ave. Drive all the way up until you get to Albany Hill Park, which has a circular turning area. Par outside of the red zone and wait by your car. We will be painting in the more open, southern parts of Albany Hill which are accessible from east of Taft Ave. 

9th and Camelia

Two months ago I was going to finish my painting of the church on 8th and Camelia, but when we got there, there was a memorial service going on. We realized it would be terrible to stand across the street, finishing our paintings while people cried in front of the church. So we went a block away to 9th and Camelia. I loved the extra-wide sidewalk and the car lineup. Phillip and Kendall were there and I was able to include them in the otherwise barren landscape. But when I got home I had to admit the figures were too small. After 24 hours of deliberation, I gave in and scraped them, but not without first taking a cell phone photo (you can find it here) to use as reference for the second attempt. The finished painting shows the correction I made to the figures, as well as the revised sidewalk, which I lightened.

Saturday, May 14

Some of us have some half finished paintings done at the cemetery. This Saturday there might be some clouds and that would be like the last time,  so we are going back.  There are some great views from different places on the grounds.
We will meet at Sunset View Cemetery at Colusa and Fairmont Streets in Kennsington.  Betsy will be the lead for the day. Meet her at the parking lot and she will show you a good place to paint at the cemetery.  Bring a hat and water to drink.
Here is a link to the directions http://www.sunsetviewcemetery.com/Site/Hours_and_Directions.html

Monday, June 13

We will meet again in front of Sophia Cafe, at 1247 Solano Ave in Albany (at Masonic).  This section of Solano Ave in Albany has some colorful stores, an old movie theater with beutiful mosaic sidewalk, an  old-fashioned ice cream parlor and cafes.  We can set up on the sidewalk near the stores or on the paths below BART. 

Monday, June 6

This session is cancelled. We will try again next week
We will meet again in front of Sophia Cafe, at 1247 Solano Ave in Albany ( at Masonic).  This section of Solano Ave in Albany has some colorful stores, an old movie theater with beutiful mosaic sidewalk, an  old fashioned ice cream parlor and cafes.  We can set up on the sidewalk near the stores or on the paths below BART.