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.

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.

Overlooking the Bay

Finally had some clear sunny weather so we have gone back to the cemetery and also painted in a new place in El Cerrito. Both locations gave overlooks of the bay so I have been working on paintings with similar formats.  So unused to the sun that at the El Cerrito location I had too much and went home  and drank 3 glasses of orange juice.    Both paintings are 24 by 36 acrylic on canvas    Karen

Belated Wildcat Creek (down Rifle Range)

I started this painting 18 months ago, but was not able to finish it right away because of its size (30 x 40"), and the difficulty of getting to the spot I chose to paint. The trail at the end of Rifle Range is a long half mile down a steep hill crossed by Wildcat Creek. Then you go uphill for a while in order to see this view. I was carrying at least 30 pounds of gear and on hot days (I finished after three visits) I felt like my heart would come out of my chest. I revised a little at home.

Reflecting Pool at Blake Garden

I sat atop twin staircases that led up a hill, turned around and saw his view. This was an 18 x 18" canvas. I used oils. The photo isn't great, but I am behind in my posting.

Blake Garden House

I had the house on my mind before getting there, so I tried to do something with it. I lost the brightest value in the small palm tree. Once I put the light green on there, it was gone. I might have tried to leave some white, or darkened the wall behind it, but I just left it for now.

Larry Hatfield
9x14 watercolor

I posted this earlier but it went somewhere else???

The Bay from Blake Garden

This painting was a struggle to work on after my easel broke and I had to work on the ground. The colors developed in a way I liked but in the end I lost some of the  composition and may work on it from memory.

I like Blake Garden but never get a painting i like there. This is a 15 by 30 acrylic on canvas.  Karen