Lake Anza

We will return to Lake Anza on Monday, April 30. It will be good to see what spring looks like at the lake

Lake Anza, Tilden Park This shady romantic lake features hundreds of "nooks" for curious painters to discover. The walk to the lake's edge involves stairs, paved and dirt paths and takes about three minutes. The shaded painting spots are comfortable,and there are bathrooms and drinking water close by.. It is hard to give really good directions because there are many entrances to Tilden park. We usually go in at Spruce street. The best thing you can do is go to Google directions.  Just type in Lake Anza, Tilden Park to get directions from your house. Once you are in the park, there are a lot of signs that will help you find the lake. If the parking lot closest to the lake is closed, you may have to park in the lower lot. There is a set of stairs up to the other lot and then a paved flat path to the lake. There is also a shortcut from the parking lot to the paved path to the lake.

Selby

We are on for this Saturday. We will meet at the Vista Point just past the Dead Fish restaurant by the Carquinez bridge. Here is a link to the Dead Fish: http://g.co/maps/wrgv9
Just get there, then continue on San Pablo Avenue in the West direction (don't go to Crockett!). You will see the Vista Point to your right almost immediately. There is ample parking and several great spots with a view of the bay and Mare Island.

Emeryville Marina

We will return on Monday, April 23 to the Emeryville Marina hoping for better weather.  There are lots of views including Oakland, San Francisco, the boats and views back to the Berkeley Hills but the wind last week made it hard to find  a good spot to paint. So we try again.

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.  

Cummins Skyway An Hour Later

This Saturday we will meet at the turnoff leading to Cummins Skyway an hour later. We'll caravan to the side overlooking the bay. Because we do not announce our gathering time on this public blog, please check your messages in our Google group, where everything is explained. Please RSVP if you are thinking of coming.

Emeryville Marina

On Monday, April 16 we return to the Emeryville Marina.

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.  

Cummins Skyway Canyon

Cummins Skyway Canyon, 30 x 40" acrylic on canvas

Betsy took me to the other side of the road, where the cows usually are (they were not there that Saturday). I saw a rabbit on the fire road where we set up. I wasn't sure if I would be able to return for a few weeks, and painted as fast as I could so I could finish this humongous canvas. I also used loads of medium so I could control the opacity of the color. It was a very hazy day, and the sky I originally made did not have any depth to it, so I changed it. The backlit hills are okay. I am still revising it in my studio, and will post an update when I'm done.

Tilden Park Botanical Garden

There was so much good work done at the garden last week that we will try another garden on Monday April 9.  This time we will go to the Tilden Park Botanical Garden. I haven't been there in many years. We went to UC Botanical last year but there is a $10 entry fee. Tilden is free and so we should give it a try.  I checked their website to see what is blooming and it looks like fun.

The Regional Parks Botanical  Garden is located at the intersection of Wildcat Canyon Road and South Park Drive within Tilden Regional Park in the hills above Berkeley, California.
Check the website for a map.
http://www.nativeplants.org/directions.html

Cummins Skyway

This Saturday we will meet at the Cummins Skyway turnout off highway 80. We will then caravan to one of the painting spots. The Saturday group does not get to go often to Cummins, so this should be a very fun trip. No water or bathrooms. Bring a cell phone and sun protection, and be prepared for a breeze.

Blake Garden Redwood Grove

Blake garden Redwood Grove, 24 x 18," Acrylic on canvas

I missed Ling and the gang, because I arrived at 11:30 AM. I didn't feel inspired by the reflecting pool or anything else. For some reason, i didn't feel very talkative and retreated into the northern part of the garden. At the bottom, I saw a pool formed by creek water and then I saw a bench. It felt like the place was beckoning me, so I stayed. Onlookers had to leave the path to come see what I was doing, so I felt safe. I was going for the feeling of the place. I love this painting.

Painting at Blake Garden

Blake Gardens  watercolor  22 by 30

Blake Gardens has been good for our Monday group.  Ling Liao sent us this jpeg of a watercolor he did there on Monday afternoon.