Blake Garden

Ling Liao will be the coordinator for this session, Monday, April 2 at Blake Garden.  Meet him in the parking lot. Monday is supposed to be clear and warm.

The address is 70 Rincon Rd.  If you are coming from El Sobrante, Richmond or El Cerrito, turn right from the Arlington at Rincon Rd.  From Berkeley it is a left from the Arlington. Watch carefully for the inconspicuous entrance  and sign on Rincon Rd.

Between the Storms

Between the Storms  acrylic on linen  16 by 20

Last Monday we went to the Emeryville Marina on a cloudy day between storms. It was pretty grey and cold but I settled into a spot of sun and the trees acted as a wind block and painted for a few hours untill the wind picked up pretty hard. It was good to be outside.


Karen

Wildcat From Kensington and Terrace

Wildcat From Kensington and Terrace, oil on canvas, 18 x 24"

We set up shop on this trailhead, on a very cold day just before the string of storms hit us. You could hear the cows moo down below. The neighbors came out to see what we were doing, something I like. Eventually it became too cold to continue and we left. I think overcast days pose their own color and value challenges, and they can yield very worthwhile nature studies.

Emeryville Marina

We will meet at the Emeryville Marina on Monday, March 26 if the weather cooperates.

From 80 west take the Powell/ Emeryville exit  and turn left on the Frontage road and right on Powell.  Follow Powell to the marina area.  As I recall there are a lot of parking lots. Lets park at the one near the Chinese restuarant.  After we are all there we can go explore and decide where at the marina we will paint.  

Cancelled: Cummins Skyway

We will NOT meet today at the Cummins Skyway turnout off highway 80, just before the Crockett exit if you are going north. It is rainy and too wet and slippery. We'll try again in two weeks. Until then, keep on painting!

Blake Garden

Blake Gardens- Challenge #4
2 color/complementary-watercolor winsor yellow and winsor purple

Sharon Hind-Smith sent this jpeg of her painting done at Blake Gardens recently.  It is a featured painting on the website of  Plein Air Artists.  She has been working on a series of challenges they have posted on their website.

Overlooking Carquinez Strait

Blue Tower    acrylic on canvas

Painting at Cummings Skyway has been interesting.  Views at both the sites we have gone to are good.  On one side you see the rolling hills that bring to mind so many California landscape paintings. the other side at the large turnout you can see the Carquinez Bridge and hills also. You are right at one of the entrances to the regional park. But it is not a well maintained entrance and you go down an overgrown path to get there.  There is also a short tunnel that takes you to wonderful hill views with grazing cows.  But there is something that feels a little isolated. I don't think it is a good place to go alone.

Karen

Kensington and Terrace

We will meet on the trailhead located at the intersection between Terrace Dr and Kensington Avenue. There are beautiful pastoral views of the Wildcat Creek Regional park on that location, but there is not that much parking, so try to arrive early. No bathrooms or water. We'll depart promptly ten minutes after the meeting time. Here is a link to the Google Map:
View Larger Map

Blake Garden

What a good idea it was to go to Blake Gardens this week.  Every year when the fruit trees start to bloom I want to find a place to paint them.  The cherry and plum are blooming on Thousand Oaks.  Carol took a photo of some flowering trees at Blake Gardens.   We will meet again there next Monday, March 12.


The address is 70 Rincon Rd. We will meetin in the parking lot.  If you are coming from El Sobrante, Richmond or El Cerrito, turn right from the Arlington at Rincon Rd.  From Berkeley it is a left from the Arlington. Watch carefully for the inconspicuous entrance  and sign on Rincon Rd.