Calf Squeeze Chute at Tormey (updated)

Thanks to Betsy who asked a local man what this is. Its a device to hold calves while they are tagged, inoculated and turned into steer-calves. It was in the middle of the turn-around at the end of the road at Tormey. There was some other farm equipment there too and a goofy statue and sign that went along with the other quirky things in town like the mannequin buried upside-down and the cardboard man in the window.

Larry Hatfield

10x14" watercolor

Monday, Aug 30

We will return to Tormey.  From 80 East take the Cummings Skyway extit (26). Go left on Cummings Skyway and left on San Pablo and you will see a row of houses on the left on Old County Road. We will meet at the end of the block.  

I found some interesting material about Tormey

The Rise and Fall of Tormey, California by Michael Tormey, May 7, 2006 (Note: Readers may find it helpful to first read the narrative, A History of Rodeo, California and the Role Patrick Tormey Played in its Early Development.) Lost to the annals of history is the small town of Tormey that once existed in the upper northwest corner of Contra Costa County, California, near both San Pablo Bay and the Carquinez Strait, barely two miles from the town of Rodeo and 28 miles from downtown San Francisco. While the name Tormey still appears on maps of the San Francisco Bay Area, today it is for the most part long abandoned, vacant land. It was at one time, however, a cozy company town that was home to hundreds of families over the course of nearly a century. Read More Karen

Saturday, August 28

This session has been canceled. See listserv message for more details.

Crockett Barn overlooking the Carquinez Strait

On a very hot day, I decided to stay in the shade and paint this barn that I tried painting last year from a slightly different angle. I was relatively cool until the last 45 min. I was next to a tree that had an ant nest and I had to straddle their trails so I wouldn't disturb them. I was surprised at how dark brown the distant hill was. But it worked well to contrast the roof. I am still not totally happy with the trees on the right. I might want to put some shadows to connect the barn and the foreground. The shadow on the left of the bard is a little too straight since the roof line is bowed and not straight.

Larry Hatfield
10 x 14 Watercolor

2nd & Page, Berkeley

Fran, Tani and I met to once again paint industrial Berkeley that seems to have endless possibilities. I think it was the color that captured my attention for this painting. Again I added my own graffiti or calligraphy to this Painting after it was painted. Went back to a smaller size for this since time was limited.

Marilyn Hill
Watercolor
14 X 11

www.marilynhill.com

Tormey

A wonderful end-of-road painting spot. A tattery little house with out buildings and animals and a tattery faded American flag. There was cardboard man standing in the left window and some plastic flowers in the right. I've started looking for insignificant details that say a lot about the place being painted, like barbed wire or the aerial on top of the house, the lettering on the fence post etc.

Marilyn Hill
Watercolor
14 X 11"

www.marilynhill.com

Carquinez Regional Shoreline

I couldn't find any shade to paint in but set up anyway. Larry had an painting umbrella he offered to me but I couldn't get it attached to my easel. I was also using a large canvas 24 by 36 inches. So I worked until I couldn't stand any more sun.  Karen