Betsy Powell-Emeryville 2015

Diana Yoshida-Blakes Garden 2015

Linda Kohn-Emeryville 2015

Sharon Hind-Smith-Emeryville Dock #2 2015

Ling Liao-Martinez 2015

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.

Martinez Marsh

Again, the darks are wrapped around a light. The palm was very complex, so it was hard for me to make it read well, but the spot was a little unexpected oasis in a large expanse of marsh. Larry suggested I add more dark in the lower left corner which was a good idea.

Marilyn Hill
Watercolor
11 X 14

Inspiration Point

This was a painting I did at Inspiration Point. At first I didn't like it, and didn't post it, but then I did a few things to it and noted the similarities to the painting done this last Monday in Martinez. I think I've been thinking a lot about that tunnel effect.

Marilyn Hill
Watercolor
11 X 14"

End of Crest Ave, Point Richmond

We drove up Washington and took a left on Crest Ave. I had spied a trailhead that I thought would let us look at the town from above without trampling on anyone's front lawn. We parked at the end of Crest Ave, but it was such a hot day that Karen and Fran decided to stay in the shade of the trees at the beginning of a steep uphill trail that leads to an incredible 360 degree view of Point Richmond, Richmond, Pinole, and Miller Knox Park. I had picked a great spot but it turned out to be full of poison oak, so I moved higher and ended up with this view of the Chevron Pier and the San Rafael bridge.

Inspiration Point, EBMUD Trail

Betsy and I were the only ones on this World Cup Saturday. Luckily for us, it was not very hot. She set up shop in the middle of this path but I did not paint her. The challenge of this painting is that I've been wanting to do different subject matter. Maybe next time. This 20 x 20" oil was done entirely with a spatula.

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.

Belated Rodeo Beach, Marin Headlands

I started this 24 x 24" oil last week, but used the following week's session to go back up the hill and look again. There are elements I modifed in my effort to make the painting frame the beach. For example, I was judicious wih the tree branches and roadside bushes. I never took a photo the second time I went, because I am finding memory a better guide for colors and values. I went home and redid the main values. Now I am happier with the noontime light.

Cardoon Growing on a Clark Trail Gully

It was a perfect morning for painting, and we settled by a path dodging an enormous gully. I kept looking for a good spot that would show the true size of zigzag-shaped opening, but no luck, so I settled for this view of the hills. Dennis was nearby and I put him in the picture. I had an 18 x 24" canvas and I used acrylic because I was tired of painting in oil after last Saturday's trek.

Clark Road, Wildcat Canyon

This was a very umbrella or mushroom shaped Buckeye tree with Lichen covered branches and brand new foliage. The trick was getting the lichen to stand out without losing the umbrella shape. I continue to experiment with textures on this, using the toothbrush spatter to soften the dry-brush and the fan brush to create grass.

Marilyn Hill
Watercolor
11 X 14

marilynhill.com

President's Day at Jewel Lake

The tiny lake was swarming with small children and their parents. We took a less popular trail which was quite muddy and arrived at the southern shore, almost at the water's level. My chair kept sinking in the mud. Towards noon several preschool-age kids started visited us. Their completely uncensored comments were so much fun I almost forgot the hard time I was having with this painting. It was a 16 x 20" canvas I had previously scraped, and I should have not used pthalo blue at all. I just wasn't very focused and I think the water could have come out a lot better had I been more conscious of what I was doing. Rebeca

Orange Trees at Muir's Orchard

Luckily for us, it was a mostly sunny day during our second week at John Muir's Historical Site. This is a very small oil painting for me (11 x 14"). I was in a hurry because I got there late, and did not have time to work larger. It is certainly true that painting will get you to really see things for the first time: I wanted to paint the orange trees I had seen before because they reminded me of the orange groves I had experienced in my childhood. Joan and I had both been interested in this humdrum house but she ended up painting a different view. I focused on making the grass feel grassy.

John Muir's Orchard

John Muir's house sits atop a hill on vastly reduced lot. Only two small orchards remain behind it. The house did not call me and neither did the adobe. I even dared think the orchards did not hold a lot of interest at first, but I was to be proved wrong. The longer I sat there, the more interesting those parts shrouded by the hills' shadows became. But I had chosen the wide paved path with the shadows cast by the orchard. This was an interesting 18 x 24" oil because it took a life of its own. I would not change the colors if I had to do it again and I like the color harmony, but the painting as a whole feels a little scary, like the orchard is haunted or something. Joan mentioned a "tension" between the elements that I also see. Is there (should there always be) a focal point?

John Muir Historic Site

Matt and I arrived a bit late (too much browsing in antique shops in Martinez) and knew the sun would not stay for long. The orchard has some lovely bright green grass and leafless trees standing in formation. If you can make it next week and haven't been inside, remember to go into the house and take a look – great views from the top and some huge traditional landscapes on display plus, lots of info from the docents.

I kept wondering how long the grass will stay this green and really enjoyed the strange grays and pinks of the bare branches against the dark evergreens.

Cesar Chavez East, Berkeley

This was a cold grey day at Ceasar Chavez Park. I needed another jacket, but didn't want to leave the painting to get another layer. I blame the weather for the painting having lots of splotches and hand in the paint marks. Oh well.... I continue to play with darks in this painting trying to keep them energetic without to much muddiness.

Marilyn Hill

Cesar Chavez Park

It looked dreary when I left home, but by the time I got to the park, it had lightened up. The sun would come out briefly later. I liked the mass of shrubs and a pine tree near the water's edge by the walkway. This is the first larger painting that I have tried out doors. It is a half sheet, about 15x22" paper size. I used a 2" in. brush for the sky and water and the under-painting. for the foreground. After I got home, I made the distant water line more distinct, fading it to the foreground. I experimented with perinone orange a little. You probably can't find it on the painting as I was not too bold with it. I was inspired by a Pam Glover painting that I saw at the Epperson Gallery
Larry Hatfield

Briones Road

Larry and I were painting close to the same spot. Larry caught the stripes, I faltered. It seemed I spent a long time fishing for colors. The sparce leaves were this odd shade of dull pinky orange. The trunks of the trees hung from the foliage like black sticks on a very green background. My version kept looking like blossoming trees in the spring so I ended up experimenting by just using grey and black paint — usually a no-no in some camps — so ok break rules. Also adding compliments in the detail to grey down. The feeling of the day was cold. I now have an appreciation of just using black paint.

Marilyn Hill

Briones Regional Park Winter Oaks

Only 2 lonely painters today. Marilyn Hill and I painted not far from the parking at the top of Briones Rd. It was a lot dryer today, but still some mud. We haven't figured out what kind of oaks these are, but they had an appealing orange leaf canopy. The leaves look like Blue Oak, but I didn't think Blue Oaks dropped their leaves. I will get out my field guides and try to figure this out. It was overcast with a little sun now and then. I was not happy with the painting when I left the park, but after seeing it from a distance, I think I'll keep it. I might carry on the dark behind the middle ground trees up to the left some more.

Larry Hatfield

Briones Park

My concentration in this painting was to explore negative shapes in watercolor. For instance, the tree in the foreground was light against a medium to dark background. In watercolor, painting white or light detail over a dark is generally not an option. So the exercise was to see and paint the spaces between objects. Although I didn't in this painting— I occasionally cheat and use white gauche to create an opaque light. This practice is frowned on by many purists. However John Singer Sargeant expertly used gauche when it suited him so.......The tree was frail, dead and complex with lacy branching. So conveying this with interest and some conviction was my other challenge.