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

Grizzly Peak Rd Overlook - December 19, 2009

Grizzly Peak View (pastel on paper12"x18") -Artist Janice L-H

This is a part of the overlook view that aims toward Berkeley and Albany with Mt. Tam floating in the clouds. Gloomier at 1PM, the clouds were very ethereal and only a hint of the golden shimmer was beginning to show.

This was a particularly interesting challenge for me last Saturday. After almost by-passing the meeting point (!), I was able to join the group and caravan in search of The View. It was pretty cloudy over the bay, but the hills in Berkeley were fairly sunny. The photo above was taken after I finished and walked back to the parking area (the sun was illuminating below the clouds by then).

The view from the little lot to the north of Lawrence Hall of Science has a ledge that would be easy to set up for painting. There is a charge for parking all day ($3.50). I was able to use the restrooms and buy lunch at the cafe on the lower floor and peruse the bookstore without paying admission (I asked first). The glare from the sun lighting up the Bridge(especially near the end of the session) makes me want to go back and try and catch that golden light better.

I found a Japanese website that can convert photos to looking like old fashioned silver-nitrate images: http://labs.wanokoto.jp/olds
Take a look: Cool, huh?

Mountain View Cemetery - October 10, 2009

Last Saturday was sunny and bright in Oakland. I was early for the paint out with East Bay Plein Air so I high-tailed it to the road up on the hill above Millionaire's Row at Mountain View Cemetery.




This is not exactly the view I had for my first painting (I was a little further down the road just in back of the statued monument - with a peek of the domed Oakland Columbarium through the trees. I left out the buildings in the background in the painting below.

Mountain View Cemetery (9"x12"pastel on black paper) - Artist Janice L-H


I did rework this when I got home, darkening the liquid amber trees and highlighting the statue above the monument for emphasis.
There is a slight glare on the photo from the right but you can see what it used to look like here.

Once the group arrived I met them at the last fountain where we split up to paint. I had glimpsed one of my favorite statues on the way down the hill but got turned around going to the meeting place. Anyhow I saw the Veteran's Area where I think I will go next time to work up some of those great magnolia trees located there.

Finally finding the Angel at the end of the curve in front of a row of ornamental plum trees, I went to work.




Reclining Angel (12"x 18" pastel on black paper) - Artist Janice L-H

Yes, I did rework this once I was home (I hope I'm not actually messing them up!) and you can see the original rendition here. I toned down the monuments, tree shadows and the sky and added some contour to the plum trees.


Can't wait to return tomorrow! Janice