BRIGHTFLYER ART JOURNAL

Moffett Field Paint Out - September 17 & 18, 2011

2011-09-20T13:12:00.000-07:00

Robin Chapman and the Moffett Field Historical Society and Museum sponsored a Paint Out at Old Hangar One in Mountain View. Painters from all over the Bay Area took part that weekend. It was simply a sketchers paradise! Check out the link under Robin's name above for her postings.

The Famous Hangar One - it was a scorchingly HOT day and I think I suffered a bit from heat exposure by the end of the day. I went to look for trees for shade in my later sketch.

Working in pastels I tried to capture my impressions of the structure while sitting under the hatch of my SUV (I had no shade umbrella with me that day!).

"Hangar One" (artist Janice L-H) 12"x16" pastel on black Canson paper

Later I sketched it with its surrounding landscape.

"Moffett Field Hangar One" (Artist Janice L-H) 6"x 12"sepia ink sketch in my CoMo sketchbook

I HAD to find some shade so I drove around (past the NASA and Ames Labs) and found a stand of big shade trees near one of the Flight Control Towers. I sketched with other local artists listening to the loud wails of jets waiting to take flight from the airstrip nearby.

"Water Tower and Memorial Plane at the Deconstructed End of Hangar One" (Artist Janice L-H) 6"x12" sepia ink sketch in my CoMo Sketchbook

Some of the other Artists will be showing their work at a show at the Museum later this year.

Check out some other sketches done that day by Cathy McAuliffe and John Decker.
The Historical Society & Museum is also on Facebook.

Napa Valley Part III - September 2011

2011-09-19T13:17:00.000-07:00

The hubby and I wandered over to Yountville for another art crawl (as we are wont to do) on a nice sunny weekend in September. Hungry for Mexican food, we stopped on Hwy 29 at the Red Hen Cantina.

Yummy combo dishes and soft flour tortillas complemented my carnitas dish. Hubby had tacos which he enjoyed.
I even got a neat Mexican hat to wear when I go out sketching.
I loved the bright colors in this cantina (which has a really extensive outdoor bar area and lighted fountain for seating big groups). Worth a stop if you are in the area.

Let's Draw Davis - September 16, 2011

2011-09-16T14:00:00.000-07:00

UC Davis (before the student rush):
The "Let's Draw Davis" sketchcrawl was scheduled for the Saturday, but since I was going out of town, I decided to do my own solo trip on the Friday. I borrowed the tentative route and managed to do it (more or less) considering that I hadn't been on campus in a few decades!

I started at the bus stop near the Memorial Union. It was pleasant in the shade, but fairly hot in the sun. Not many students showed themselves (except when the busses emptied!) since classes hadn't yet started.

I loved the trees in back of the stop with the red old fashioned British telephone box. It gave me a chance to use some new metallic-glittery pens I bought recently. Staff from the University would come out on their breaks and use their cell phones from time-to-time.

Not really knowing my way around campus (I had left my handy map in the car) I walked over to the front of the MU building and found a nice shady table to paint some of the early sketches. It was nostalgic for me to see the small groups of new students come through the quad with their campus tour guides. Geez , they are looking younger every year I think! I headed out toward the Art Building (I thought) and found one of Robert Arneson's Egghead statues in front of the Shields Library Building.

Well I must have gotten a little lost, because I missed the Eggheads in front of the Art Building (heck, I missed the whole Art Building!) - I DID find the one in front of Mrak Hall. I also had forgotten my little camp chair, so I used the closest bench I could find to capture that one in the low angle of the late afternoon sun.

All in all a pretty nice day in Davis , I only wished I could have been able to join the Saturday Group...

Here's an article about Pete Scully's Group.

Napa Valley Part II - August 28, 2011

2011-08-31T16:03:00.000-07:00

Paintout with the North Bay Plein Air Painters: Napa Valley Art Museum, Yountville, CA.

The Sunday after the sketchcrawl in Davis, I went out with the hubby to Yountville, in the Napa Valley. It was a hot day there again but some welcome breezes made it nice to be there if you were in the shade. Check out more pictures of the artists and their paintings on the NBPAP Blog and on co-organizer Gerald DeDios' website. It was a wonderful day to paint and I really enjoyed meeting some new faces to the group!

I arrived way early so was able to finish my pencil and ink sketch of the Napa Valley Art Museum. One of the artists (Alfredo Tofanelli) is having a show there in the spot light gallery downstairs. It is well worth cathching if you are in the area.

Later I added watercolor to it. I'm not sure if that was a good idea. I seemed to lose some of the three dimensional effects that the ink sketch had. What do you think?

More about our day in Yountville in a later post.

Sketching in Old Davis - August 27, 2011

2011-08-27T12:53:00.000-07:00

Davis Food Coop and Pete Scully's "Let Draw Davis" Group:

I have to put the day's temperature on these initial drawings, it will give you an idea of the conditions here in Davis in summertime. I chose to stay pretty much in the shade this time so my street sketching was rather limited to our first stop, the Davis Food Co-op. This store has all the good stuff (deli, food tables, steam tables), and a bar-b-que (also known as BBQ or barbequed meats) out by the store entrance! The guys were cooking chicken on the grill all day and I hear it was delicious!

There was a good gathering of the artists - we sat capturing each other in our sketchbooks. We had folks from Sacramento, Rio Vista and local folks too. All ages are welcomed and all levels of skill encouraged to attend by Pete Scully and Marlene Lee, the organizers of these monthly sketchcrawls. Below is Sandra (who is sitting near the crates of watermelons and the herb plant display).

Since we were sitting in the outside seating area (usually occupied by shoppers enjoying the delectibles from the store) we had comfortable tables and chairs to use for our sketching. Good thinking organizers! A little girl and her mommy sat across from me while I attempted to draw the trumpetvine that was growing among the rafters of the outside overhang of the building. Up at the corner, someone had placed a plastic owl (to deter birds from roosting over the seating area). I liked that and here it is - along with the tiny girl below. She didn't stay long so I left her in sketchier mode (ballpoint pen & watercolors).

Pete and the others had spread out to the front of the store and the nearby corner to sketch the neighborhood. I went around to the back parking lot and spied the delivery van and sketched it over two pages (I had my little square Bee sketchbook to work in). A composite will be included on the Flicker Group when I get a chance to post there. That's a jazzy van painted with "Davis colors". The few of us that were left (5) met up at the Dairy Queen (Oh, Wonderful, Cooling Milkshake!) to look at the day's work. We agreed it would be good to go back and tackle the hardware store another time...

I'll include links to Pete Scully's and Marlene Lee's blog. Of course you can see the rest of the drawings on the Flicker Group photostream.

Napa Valley Part I - The Art Festival - August 20, 2011

2011-08-20T09:59:00.000-07:00

This year's Napa Valley Art Festival (held in Yountville) is always a day long event for us. We get there early, scope out the lines at the Bouchon Bakery and nab a couple of scones for breakfast. The Art is in the Yountville Community Center (as it was last year). No longer a plein air event, the artists present recent work for sale and 40% of it goes to charity. This year the festival benefits the Connolly Ranch Education Center. (The photo above is a shot of the display for artist Paul Kratter).

Here's a watercolor sketch from my Moleskine. All the artists depicted here are much prettier, cuter and handsome than I can draw at this stage of my development! But you don't get better if you don't try...So here are a few collaged images from the Art Festival and the award results so far (they just posted the People's Choice Award so it didn't make it yet into my sketch below).

I was so enjoying visiting with the artists (and looking at the art) that I didn't get around to sketching the outside of the venue (see a photo link here from the internet). That will have to wait for another day. Anyway - here's a goodie from the past :

Sketching in Lodi - Part III

2011-08-13T10:14:00.000-07:00

Lunch during the workshop was alone time for me. Since we were having wonderful spring-like weather that day, I opted to sit in one of Downtown Lodi's open air eateries. The sandwiches at the Dancing Fox (Winery, Bakery Eatery) were scrumptious and the sidewalk seating under a large market umbrella was just the thing for sketching while I waited for my lunch. Above is the view from my table across the street and the House of Clocks storefront. I'm thinking I might go inside one day to sketch some fancy timepieces!

I inked these sketches and added colors later. Usually if I am working fairly leisurely, I will sketch first in pencil. If I am in a Sketchcrawl situation I tend to use ballpoint pen or other. I guess I'm afraid of smudging off the pencil when I'm moving fast in this little sketchbook. I like this sign over the door at the Dancing Fox. I did a sketch of it in my Moleskine but I misjudged the size and only captured 3/4 of it! So no posting that one...Oh heck - why not!

Below is the view I had while waiting - I'm glad the people sitting in front of me left before I sat down so I could quickly include their dishes. Business was brisker in the side garden area behind me - most customers preferred the shadier spots there. The waitress would walk back and forth between my table and the other customers seated behind me and at the far table. The Dancing Fox website has a cute little tale about their logo here.

Watercolor and ink sketches by Janice L-H

Hanging Out At Lodi, Again...Part II

2011-08-06T16:05:00.000-07:00

Living in a semi-rural part of the California Delta, you always have to be ready to travel a bit for your entertainment, fine dining and shopping. We are about 25 miles from anywhere so when I'm out art gallery hopping, sketchcrawling or looking for a bite to eat, I'm pretty much doing that while on the road.
This time I was visiting the town of Lodi, CA.

Lodi is in the upper part of the Central Valley, a city of farmlands, dairies, wineries (lots of wineries) and residential homes mostly located along Hwy 12 between Interstate Hwy 5 and Hwy 99. It's a nice drive with views of vineyards, strawberry patches, marshlands and Mt. Diablo in the distant south. I especially like hanging out in the older part of town with it's distinctive architecture on 100 year old buildings and historical areas. Did you know the first A&W Rootbeer was sold in Lodi? (Yup, neither did I but Huell Howser can't be wrong!) The picture below is by the train station and entrance to the old part of town.

Back in July I attended a pastel workshop in Lodi and enjoyed a preworkshop day of shopping and lunch at the Lodi Beer Co. on S. School Street: that's me in the mirror below taking the picture. We sat across from the enormous brew vats (beer made on the premises).

The burgers and onion rings were enormous!

Land's End, San Francisco with NBPAP - July 31st, 2011

2011-08-01T08:47:00.000-07:00

Sunday was cold and windy on the coast (with just a bit of the drizzly rainy fog to keep my pastels in their box!). The SF Marathon was earlier that morning so traffic was still kind of messing things up downtown.
The views from Land's End were somewhat curtailed and the Golden Gate Bridge played hide and seek all day, frustrating many of the artists. However this area always has tourists and other visitors drawn to its trails even in weather like this.

I rather like the graphics on this very truthful sign (an unlucky few had already lost their lives this year from falls from the cliffs).

Most of the painters had arrived by noontime and while I was waiting for the clouds to lift (just a little, please) my hubby and I went over to the Seal Rock Inn for lunch (and to get warm). Poor guy, everytime he tries to join me in a painting outing it is either stifingly hot, bitterly cold, or tied up in endless traffic. The Cliff House food was a tad too expensive and Louis' Restaurant was not yet open for business after its recent remodel.

We had walked part of the trail at Land's End earlier to try and scope out some good views but I settled on this view in the parking lot overlooking the ruins of the old Sutro Baths and Seal Rocks. I had brought my Canson Watercolor SF Sketchbook to work in since the weather wasn't cooperating.

There was a fairly large turnout this day of painters (despite the weather). We are a hardy bunch!

For more pictures and a look at the other paintings created that day - visit the North Bay Plein Air Painters Blog.

Botanical Gardens in Tilden Park, Berkeley, CA

2011-07-24T15:47:00.000-07:00

Workshop/Demonstration by Artist Rebeca Garcia-Gonzalez:

Membership in the East Bay Plein Air Painters has many benefits. The ability to paint a couple of times a month with various talented artists and the yearly dues gives the membership access to workshops/demonstrations during the paint-out schedules. This year's workshop/demonstration was conducted by local artist Rebeca Garcia-Gonzalez* at Tilden Park's Botanical Gardens.

It was a overcast and cool day (usual in California for the Berkeley Hills area in the summer). The demonstration was one of the best I've attended. Rebeca gave us a running commentary of her process in capturing the scene before us in her painting. She explained her techniques with acrylic painting methods and gave us all pointers on composition, value and color harmony.

After the demo, I was able to get about the Garden and attempt some sketches of the various flora and fauna (as well as see what the painters were up to!). Even on a foggy day - there were marvelous views along the winding and climbing pathways.

Later I added some pen and watercolor to my pencil sketches and went back down to the "flatlands" for a bite to eat.
Here's a sketch that I made from photos of Rebeca (and a hummingbird that was spying on one of the artists at work that day). The hummingbird sat very still on that branch so I could get a zoom photo of it.

* Rebeca is also one of the founding artists of a similarly named plein air group (the collaborative East Bay Painters). Check out their blogs: East Bay Landscape Painters and the East Bay Figure Painting.

Sketchcrawl 32 - July 23, 2011

2011-07-23T15:54:00.000-07:00

Berkeley Horticultural Garden (Tilden Park)

Sketchcrawl Saturday found me in Berkeley with the East Bay Plein air Painters at a workshop (more about that later). Anyway, after the demonstration I had a chance to get around the garden and very quickly pencil in some impressions (ink and color added at home).

This sketch was of some interesting trees in the meadow area that had a very colorful orange litchen or moss growing on it.
The flowers below were found all over the garden entrance. The white ones are Matilija Poppies and they can get very large.

After the workshop I had dinner at Nation's Giant Hamburgers in El Cerrito.
I had a lot more time to sketch and ink in the burger place. The burger was tasty too!

Pastel Workshop at Knowlton Gallery - Lodi Part I

2011-07-17T15:36:00.000-07:00

July 16th & 17th - Lodi
I attended a pastel workshop given by Gil Dellinger in Lodi. Gil is one of the premier pastel artists in California and exhibits his work nationally and internationally. We are lucky to have him available for this workshop through Knowlton Gallery (one of my favorite galleries). Here he is demonstrating his pastel technique to the class. His completed pastel painting of Lake Louise is included below.

Below are my efforts in this class - somewhat different from my usual pastel paintings. I found it difficult to work from photographs I hadn't taken. Gil provided the class with excellent photos he had taken as subject matter (or we could bring in one of our own).

"Cows in Autumn" (9" x 12" pastel on Canson paper - Artist Janice L-H)

In this second painting - it was the first time I had worked with the sandpaper surfaced paper and it was from one of my own photos taken earlier.

"View from the Castella Moat" (9"x 12"pastel on Wallis paper - Artist Janice L-H)

My fingers got a little raw from using them to blend on this paper! Next time I need to invest in finger cots!

I hope that I will be able to work more like this on location - with a bit of my usual style added in!

Here are a couple of blog post by terrific local artists on painting from photo references:

Sergio Lopez and Terry Miura.

Sketching in Isleton on a hot June day

2011-07-04T13:42:00.000-07:00

The day after the Davis Sketchcrawl, I drove up to the little Delta community of Isleton. Known for their "Cajun Festival" in the summertime, the Benicia Plein Air Painters were gathering for one of their weekly Sunday paintouts. I arrived a little late, but was able to get in a couple of sketches before I had to head out home.

Sketching Davis with Pete Scully's Group

2011-06-27T11:17:00.000-07:00

This weekend was a "Let's Draw Davis" Event that Pete Scully holds about once a month up in (where else?) Davis, CA.

We all met at the Amtrak Station there in downtown Davis. It was a warm 86 degrees but quite manageable if you were sitting in the shade of the many trees found downtown.

I had lots of fun meeting Pete and the other local artists. A few sketches were committed...:)

Check out the mention of this event on the Urban Sketcher's Blog.

Check out Marlene Lee's blog about this sketchcrawl!

Check out Salvador's blog on this sketchcrawl.

We stopped and sketched some toys in the window of a local shop.

Here's Pete with some of the Group:

I had the day off the Friday before and sat in my car and sketched a few scenes in the early part of the day. (Colors were added later).

It took me a few trains stopping to catch the side of the train but I was always rewarded with a view of one of the conductors. This is more of a composite sketch of the ones I saw that day.

I see that they renamed the local "Murder Burger" - Shows you how long it's been since I was in Davis!

Lucky me I was there early enough in the day to avoid many pedestrians but I spied this old jalopy when I drove down the street. I had to stop and catch that!

I had to leave a bit early the day of the sketch crawl on Saturday but this was the place the rest of the Group would meet at the end. I sat in the car in front of Chipotle's to get this view (a composite of the Plaza). It was getting kind of hot by then...

Check out Pete Scully's Blog to see a sketch of ME! (Hey Thanks Pete!)

I definitely enjoyed myself in Davis and will look forward to sketching there in the future!

SKETCHCRAWL 31 - APRIL 16, 2011

2011-04-18T12:45:00.000-07:00

Mission Dolores & Basilica St. Francis of Assisi: I started my Sketchcrawl over at the Mission (Dolores & 16th) and took the $5 tour of the buildings and the cemetery gardens. One of my favorite movies (Alfred Hitchcock's "Vertigo") was filmed in the cemetery here.

The Basilica was wonderful inside. Well worth the tour!

Valencia & 20th in the Mission District: I had my car so I took the opportunity to wander over to Valencia Street looking for a bite to eat. Finding shady parking spots in the Mission District is a formidable task. Here near this house on Lexington I happened upon a mural by Shoultz & Noble on the side of a typical SF building. I had to draw even a small bit of it!

The next block I was lucky to find a wonderful Mexican Rotissiere - Regalitos. The added chile verde was wonderfully hot and the tangy chicken enchiladas verde (made with homemade corn tortillas) was served with spanish rice & pinto beans and really hit the spot!

Berkeley Marina & 9th Street - April 8th, 2011

2011-04-11T10:24:00.000-07:00

BERKELEY MARINA & 9th STREET. The day started out cool and slightly hazy but I headed down to the Berkeley Marina to join the East Bay Plein Air Painters. Sidetracked, I meandered over to Cesar Chavez Park to sketch the view over at Yerba Buena/Treasure Island and the City.
"San Francisco Skyline from Cesar Chavez Park" - each 5" x 7" watercolor sketches

Unluckily for me I had inadvertently left my headlights on and when it came time to join the EBPAP, I was waiting for the AAA truck! I amused myself while waiting watching the local kids flying their kites nearby.

After my car was charged up (by driving to have lunch at El Pollo Loco - yum!) , I headed over to 9th Street and Camelia where the East Bay Landscape Painters were gathered for their paintout. I was able to park a short distance down the street and captured this view of the Oriental Rug Company. A fun end to a adventursome day!
"Oriental Rug Company" - 12"x 18" pastel on black paper

Calistoga with NBPAP - March 27, 2011

2011-03-27T14:57:00.000-07:00

CASTELLO DI AMOROSO - Calistoga, CA

Check out the paintout on the NBPAP Blog and for more of my photos of this venue see our MeetUp Page! (More below)

This winery just outside of St. Helena is amazing with dungeons, sheep, chickens & peacocks on the property. There is an entrance fee and a separate tour and wine tasting fee. The day of the paintout with the North Bay Plein Air Painters, it was rainy and drizzling. Artists from all over Northern CA and as far as Chicago came to paint with us. Although most braved the elements that day, some of us paper artists fled to the dry interior of our cars to sketch the scene.

GOLDEN GATE PARK, SF - December 12, 2010

2010-12-12T14:26:00.000-08:00

End of the Year Paintout with the NBPAP - Music Concourse, Golden Gate Park

Music Concourse

De Young Art Museum

(Watercolor pencil sketch -Artist Janice L-H)

(View Toward the Japanese Gaardens - watercolor pencil sketch - Artist Janice L-H)

A great venue for the End of the Year Paint-out. The hot dogs at the cart were good too (The Chowder guy left by the time I got over there). Lots of statues, fountains and trees of all kinds. I would have liked to go over to the Conservatory of Flowers if I had gotten there earlier. See the write-up on the NBPAP Blog: http://nbpleinair.blogspot.com/2010/12/21st-nbpa-results-san-francisco-ca.html

Jenner with NBPAP - July 18, 2010

2010-07-18T13:35:00.000-07:00

Check out the story about the painting trip to Jenner, Goat Rock, Duncans Mills, Christopher Queen & Quercia Galleries on our Meet-up page: http://www.meetup.com/North-Bay-Plein-Air/photos/992571/

This was a winner paintout with the North Bay Plein Air Painters. Good views of the hills and the Russian River as it goes out to the ocean. Nice sunsets. It does get cold and foggy in the AM but sun comes out by noon. Views along the road to Goat Rock and pullouts along Hwy 1 have parking for a couple of cars. Good eats and shopping in Duncan Mills and Monte Rio...

("Arch Rock - pastel 12" x 18" - Artist Janice L-H)

("Goat Rock"- pastel 12'x 18"- Artist Janice L-H)

Quixote Winery - Napa Part 2 - June 27, 2010

2010-06-27T15:50:00.000-07:00

This was the second day of painting in the Napa Valley - this time with the North Bay Plein Air Painters at Quixote Winery along Silverado Trail.

Most photos by Janice L-H (except where indicated)

Quixote Winery,6126 Silverado TrailNapa, CA 94558

http://www.quixotewin.../

These 3 Photos from Quixote Winery website:

Tours of the Winery are available by appointment only.

I stationed myself in this little alcove (above) near the vat room.

The winery was kind enough to allow us access to water and facilities while we were there.

The grounds have interesting old oak trees and wonderfully whimsical buildings.

It was a really hot day (90+degrees in the shade) and I was motivated to get the quirky buildings on paper!

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

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

See the rest of the work done that day on the North Bay Plein Air Painters Blog.

Pineridge Winery - Napa Part 1 - June 26, 2010

2010-06-26T15:55:00.000-07:00

It was a non-stop painting weekend for me at the end of June.

"Pineridge View"

(12" x 18"pastel on paper, Artist Janice L-H)

"Stone Arch at Pineridge Winery"

(12" x 18", pastel on paper, Artist Janice L-H)

It was good to get back outside after all the

weeks of classes earlier this year!

I have been coming here on and off (taking photographs and enjoying the views). Recently, the East Bay Plein Air Painters agreed to put this venue on their paint-out schedule. Many thanks to the staff at Pineridge Winery (especially Jeff Butler) who extended their hospitality to the EBPAP!

Saturday's weather couldn't be nicer - the fog burned off about 10 AM and the sun came out to stay. It was a big group of painters who attended and the works of art produced that day were stupendous!

See the photos on Plein Air Painting June 26, 2010

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brightflyer/sets/72157624260707545/

Antioch Historical Society - 2010 Celebration of Art Show

2010-06-19T15:33:00.000-07:00

From the website:

http:http://www.art4antioch.org/CelebrationofArt2010.asp//

6th Annual CELEBRATION OF ART Exhibit runs June 19th - July 10th, 2010

Antioch Historical Society MuseumOpen

1-4 PM Wednesdays & Saturdays

1500 West 4th Street, Antioch CA

I will be showing two of my pastel paintings:

"Mountain View Monuments" (upper)

and "Golden Gate Memorial" (lower)

(9" x 12" , pastels on paper by artist Janice L-H)

Spring Art Class III - Final Projects - May 2010

2010-05-27T09:21:00.000-07:00

The rain is back but the classes are over and finals have been critiqued! Here's to my teachers (Abigail Jane Rubenstein and Carol A Levy) this semester - long on patience and full of encouragement.

Drawing Class: The theme was Reflections (and I did what came to mind) - an Alice In Wonderland theme (based on illustrations by John Tenniel and others from the long-time favorite children's books).

Drawings are graphite on paper 21"x30":

"Dormouse Through Another Looking Glass" (artist Janice L-H)

"Dormouse Landing In Reality" (artist Janice L-H)

Figure Painting Class:

We had to display our current favorite paintings at the final critique.

Oil, acrylic and pastel paintings - artist Janice L-H

(the models are Christopher, Rachael S., LaWanda, Lisa and Barbara)

Here's some paintings from the final model sessions:

The model is Christopher: canvas paintings 22"X30"

My very first oil painting! It was really cool.

Christopher in acrylics (22"x30")

The model is Lisa: pastel on paper 18"x24"

Figure Painting instuctor Carol A. Levy in a humorous moment (holding up a great torso in acrylic by classmate artist Natalie). It's bigger than she is!

Out and About with East Bay Painters

2010-04-26T10:39:00.000-07:00

Saturday was busy and the weather couldn't be better! I headed to the Berkeley Marina for a demonstration by David Savellano on sketching a scene with the East Bay Plein Air Painters. Wouldn't ya know it - I forgot to pack watercolors. Luckily I did have pastel pencils and a water brush and soluble graphite & ink! The first page is a cut & paste image from David's flyer (below).

Page 2 & 3: The houseboat and marina view is mine (ink, soluble graphite & pastel)

Berkeley Marina & Houseboats (artist Janice L-H)

Later I jumped in the car and headed over to Alameda to join the East Bay Landscape Painters (Karen, Rebeca, Larry & Fran) before it got too late to sketch. The weather was still warm and I found an area in the shade to sketch the Ferry Building view. I got quite a bit of sun (since I also forgot to pack my hat) but I managed to stay in the shade! (artist Janice L-H)

Spring Art Classes II - April 2010

2010-04-08T09:44:00.000-07:00

Spring is really in the air! The weather is getting sunnier (interspersed with rainy days). The hills are still green but that will start to change soon. Time to get outside and paint! But first,

I'm still in Student mode...

Midterm madness is upon me and I have posted a few of the more successful paintings and drawings from the classes.

Figure Painting:

The model is Lawanda.

(18"x24" acrylic- artist Janice L-H)

Midterm project - after a sketch by Michaelangelo)

(22"x30" watercolor & pastel- artist Janice L-H)

Drawing class:

The assignment: 24 small drawings of a view/space each 8"x9" using graphite (I'll did 20 but only show a few).

graphite on paper (artist Janice L-H)

Spring Art Classes - February 2010

2010-03-03T14:49:00.000-08:00

"Carmel Mission study"
(12"x 18" pastel on paper artist Janice L-H)

Spring is almost here and the assignments in class have kept me pretty busy. I'm really going to try as best I can to fit in my weekend painting sessions with the painting Groups (East Bay and North Bay Plein Air Painters , as well as the Sacramento and the Benicia groups). The Saturday class (Landscape Art) is also starting soon and Marc Pandone chooses some nice local areas to visit with his students. Mountains and Valleys and Trees...Oh, My!

At the very least, if I can't get in a pastel or two, I can use the time to work on some assignments! In the meantime, I include a few exercises below.

Figure Painting:
The model is Barbara. Some of you may have worked with her before. Both matronly and quirky, Barbara has the best fashion accessories!

(18"x24" acrylic on paper - artist Janice L-H)

Drawing Class:
I don't think I've ever spent so much time on line drawings without adding paint or pastel. The first one is from my sketchbook "Nicasio Land Co Ford" (with the NBPAP in Nicasio last Sunday) and the second drawing is a class assignment (18"x24" graphite on paper) titled: "My IsShoes With Teddy"

(9"x12"graphite & ink on paper)

(18"x24" graphite on paper)

100 Days of Pastels - Napa Valley Art Museum

2010-02-23T09:35:00.001-08:00

Last Sunday I traveled to Yountville for a little art & pastry run. Several loaves of french bread safely packed in the back of the car (and a chocolate crossaint later), Jim and I went over to the Napa Valley Museum to see the exhibition by 4 artists that runs until February 28th.

One of my former art teachers, and a long-time environmentalist, Marc Pandone, was showing some of his Sierra paintings and 100 days of oil pastel paintings of nearby Buzzard Peak. A fantastic 100 consecutive day view of a subject near and dear to him.

Be sure to catch the show "4 On Form" before it ends Feb 28th

Story at : http://www.napavalleyregister.com/entertainment/arts-and-theatre/article_0eec6978-0aec-11df-9743-001cc4c03286.html

St. Vincent's Church - January 31, 2010

2010-02-01T13:29:00.000-08:00

I met the North Bay Plein Air Painters in Marin County this last Sunday. They returned to St. Vincent Church on an initially overcast day. Later the sun decided to show its face and all 11 of the painters were glad for it, I think. The artists worked in oils, watercolor and pastel (me).

We all found different subjects to paint: the church, the courtyard fountains, the arched doorways and corridors, the surrounding countryside and gardens.

12"x18" pastel (Artist Janice L-H)

"Past the Wall at St. Vincents Church"

Below: (photos by Janice L-H)

Entrance road lined with giant Eucalyptus trees.

St Vincent's Church - marvelous stained glass interior

I loved the stone wallwork surrounding the area - need to paint this!
I will return...

See lots more photos of the art created that day on http://www.meetup.com/North-Bay-Plein-Air/photos/817112/

More Figure Drawing & Painting - January 29. 2010

2010-02-01T13:25:00.000-08:00

The model today is Rachel

Five minute and ten minute charcoal and conte drawings

Below are 20 minute pastel paintings and a 40 minute acrylic painting.

Painting from the figure is definitely a different skillset for me!

Back to Figure Drawing 2010

2010-01-25T15:44:00.000-08:00

I signed up for a figure drawing class this semester and I definitely need more practice since I haven't done this in &%$# years! Looking forward to making the paint fly. This model is Lisa.

3 minute, 5 minute and 10 minute model poses. Charcoal & conte on 18"x24"paper (Artist Janice L-H)

Goodbye to 2009, Hello 2010!

2010-01-11T13:23:00.000-08:00

2009 was a year of discovering painting en plein air and forming new friendships.

I got myself back in the the classroom and that led directly to my painting en plein air.

I discovered the "wonderfulness" of working in pastels and became determined to follow up
that discovery with forays into acrylic painting.

Here's a few works from late in 2009 that I never got a chance to blog about:

November 7th, 2009 at Viansa Winery with one of the East Bay Plein Air Groups:

The view from the winery grounds was spectacular that weekend but VERY bright!

Overwhelmed with color and patterns, my initial attempt here didn't have very much focus. When I returned home I tried to tone down the background to give more depth, but I guess I'll just have to go back this year and try again.

"Viansa View" (12"x 18" pastel on paper) Artist Janice L-H

November 22, 2009 at the Shollenberger Park, Petaluma with Northbay Plein Air

I certainly can't improve on the great write-up that Gerald DeDios posted on the NBPAP blog. See it for yourself at http://nbpleinair.blogspot.com/2009/11/ghhhyes-we-are-painting-in-petaluma.html. Meeting up with the painters and visiting Alfredo Tofanelli's studio in Petaluma was the highlight of the day.

"Under The Overpass" (12"x18" pastel on paper) Artist Janice L-H

Acrylic Fun and Games
Fall Class in acrylic painting tried my patience with the new medium!

"Soup's On" - acrylic on canvas (Artist Janice L-H)

I came to the realization that I didn't own ANY white cups or saucers.
And didn't have the required lighting in the house for dramatic lighting. Using the camp flashlight just didn't cut it!

Luckily the class had great lighting and some of the exercises we did just made me realize
that I need to get some figure drawing or painting opportunities in 2010!

"Babydolls and Mannequins" - acrylic on canvas (Artist Janice L-H)

"Viansa Fountain" - 24"X36" acrylic on cardboard (Artist Janice L-H)

Here's looking forward to a great 2010 with more painting opportunities with
local artists in the Bay Area and beyond: East Bay, North Bay, Benecia, Solano and Sacramento!

Grizzly Peak with East Bay Landscape Painters - December 19, 2009

2009-12-21T16:11:00.000-08:00

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 go in 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?

November - Lynn House Art Gallery Local Artists Collection

2009-11-23T10:09:00.001-08:00

From the Antioch website:

http://www.art4antioch.org/Local-Artist-Collection.asp

5th Annual Local Artist Collection
November 14th - December 5th
The 5th Annual Local Artist Collection is a diverse, non-themed mixed media exhibit of artworks featuring paintings, sculptures, pottery and more. In its 5th year, the show is a local favorite; providing the community an opportunity to view and purchase art during the holiday season.
... The Lynn House Gallery is located at 809 W. 1st Street in Antioch (across from the Amtrak Train Station) and is open Fridays and Saturdays, during exhibits from 12 noon - 5 PM.

Pastel Paintings by Artist Janice L-H on display:
"China Camp Beach Shack" and
"Marshview Afternoon"

Check out the website above for more pictures and a list of participating artists!

Mountain View Cemetery - October 10 & 17, 2009

2009-10-12T09:31:00.000-07:00

Saturday was sunny and bright in Oakland. I was early for the paint out with the East Bay Landscape Painters 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 Monuments (9"x12"pastel) - Artist Janice L-H

This painting will be shown at the CELEBRATION OF ART Exhibit June 19th - July 10th, 2010*Antioch Historical Society Museum

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"x18" pastel) - 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 next time!

Update for October 17:

View From The Hill (12"x18" pastel, Artist Janice L-H)

There's a long set of steps leading up this hill where there is a small water feature and roundabout big enough for one car. I - being me - did NOT go up all those stairs, I drove up there and found this view under an incredible oak tree. I did shorten the view because of the size of my paper but wanted to be beable to include the Crocker Monument as well as the Golden Gate Bridge (the top of the Oakland Columbarium peeking through the trees as well).

Wish I could have joined the rest of the painters last weekend!

Legion of Honor, SF - September 26, 2009

2009-09-30T16:09:00.001-07:00

Weekly Wandering - SF & Folsom (Janice L-H)

Wanting to avoid the >100 degree heat in my area - I accompanied the EBPAP to the Legion of Honor for one of their bi-monthly paint outs. Although the fog was in and out around the bridge until about 10AM, the rest of the day turned out to be very warm! The EBPAP arranged for the group to be able to access the Legion of Honor facilites and handed out membership applications to whoever wanted them (in anticipation of the Musee d'Orsay exhibit that the De Young will have next year - membership is good for both SF museums).

EBPAP Critique gathered on the grass outside the wall to the Legion of Honor.

Foggy Bridge - Camino Del Mar (9"x12"pastel) Artist Janice L-H

I completed a quick pastel sketch of the Legion of Honor (yup it's too short!)

Legion of Honor (pastel) Artist Janice L-H

"Golden Gate Memorial"(9"x12"pastel) Artist Janice L-H

This painting below will be shown at the CELEBRATION OF ART Exhibit

June 19th - July 10th, 2010 at the Antioch Historical Society Museum

I apologize that I couldn't correctly render the writings on this beautiful memorial to Japanese Shipping in SF. Here is the real thing for those who can read Japanese. It is located to the north of the museum right before the golf course.

Folsom Gourd & Arts Festival - September 27, 2009

Got in the car the next day and headed north to the Sacramento area to join the Sacramento Plein Air Painters Meetup group. Hot! Just had time for one sketch which I have cropped here below. Since most of the group painted on Saturday, that just left me to record what I saw. I called the calvary at noon (my Folsom area friends) to pick me up and head back to their house for a cool lemonade and wonderful meal!

The Art booths at this festival were clustered in the rear of the park. The gourds were all delightful. A big Thank You to Sue of the Sacramento Meetup Group for arranging for free tickets for the Plein Air Painters who participated that weekend!

Folsom Gourd Festival, Folsom City Park (pastel) Artist Janice L-H)

Miller Knox Park, Point Richmond - August 30, 2009

2009-09-30T09:56:00.000-07:00

Point Richmond - Canal Street (A bit out of order)

It was a foggy morning but soon the sun came out over Miller Knox Park. By the time I got there about noon, the picnic grounds were fairly protected from the wind but it was still pretty windy and cool by the water. After finding Sergio and Fran settled into their spots, I decided to drive down Dornan Drive to Ferry Point to look for painters. Not seeing any more easels setting up, I headed through Brickyard Cove over the hill to Canal Street near Shipyard #3 where I hoped to be able to paint tugboats. They were working that day and in addition to sailboats and parasails I caught sight of this one coming into the Marina Harbor Channel.

"Tugboat Shipyard #3" (9"x12"pastel) Artist Janice L-H

I set up near a very attractive drainage ditch (leave it to me to find a marshy spot with sea birds in all that concrete). It gave me a view of the Harbor Channel on one side and a view toward Mount Tam, and the megaexpensive houses built on piers over the water along Sandpiper Spit, next to the Richmond Yacht Club.

"Toward Sandpiper Spit" (9"x12"pastel) Artist Janice L-H

Aside from the occasional Richmond police cruiser, hiker, and tourists on the way to see the Red Oak Victory Ship, most of the traffic was on the water.

A very nice day indeed!

See the post on the nbpleinair website:

Miller-Knox, Point Richmond Paint-Out

Oakland Harbor and Cathedral - Sept. 19, 2009

2009-09-30T09:27:00.000-07:00

Middle Harbor Shoreline Park, Oakland

"Bay Bridge in the Morning - Middle Harbor Shoreline Park"

Pastel (Artist Janice L-H)

I went out Saturday with another group (East Bay Landscape Painters -Monday Painters now also on Saturdays) to Middle Harbor Shoreline Park in Oakland. I was early and ran into the Coastal Clean-up Volunteers and lots of walkers and bicyclists. The Park has lots of benches and picnic tables in the area and a few places with restrooms nearby. This park has a really expansive view of the Bay Bridge (and a little of the Golden Gate if clear enough) , San Francisco and Yerba Buena Island. Three of the group assembled there that afternoon (Rebeca, Larry and Sunny) as well as another artist that was in the recent Antioch Rivertown Plein Air Paint-out (Thomas Glass Phinnessee).

Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland

I slipped away during the afternoon for lunch and dropped by the Oakland Cathedral of Light (by Lake Merritt on Grand Ave & Harrison). The cathedral has a mausoleum underneath it and some interesting statuary and stained glass in the recesses. The image you see has a figure projected on the diffused "window" over the altar. There's another large baffled light diffuser at the top of the dome. The exterior of the church is roundish but is said to resemble the hull of a boat construction.

Third Place! Rivertown Plein Air Paintout-Sept. 12, 2009

2009-09-30T08:56:00.000-07:00

Rivertown Plein Air Paintout - Antioch, CA

I was pleasantly surprised to take Third Place with my pastel of "Painters At The Antioch Pier" (below left) and both of my pastel works (including "View of the Antioch Bridge" - below right) sold that evening!!

Pastels: (above left) "Painters At The Antioch Pier"
(above right)"View of the Antioch Bridge" (Artist: Janice L-H)

Rivertown Plein Air Paintout in Antioch was an interesting challenge. It was a dark and stormy morning with big rain drops and lightning dropping from the sky throughout the early part of the day. Painters gathered at Lynn House Gallery to register their canvases and paper and spread out over a designated area of Old Rivertown (including the Marina) to paint. http://www.art4antioch.org/RivertownPleinAir2009.asp

Antioch Fishing Pier (above)

View toward Antioch Bridge from Antioch Lumber (above)

Paintings were later displayed in the Lynn House Gallery (until October 3rd) and awards given out during the evening Artist's Reception. Many thanks to Diane Gibson-Gray and Mark Roberts and members of the Board of the Arts and Cultural Foundation of Antioch (special thanks to Karen James-Smith).

The Happy New Owner

Art Crawling in Napa - August 15. 2009

2009-09-28T14:35:00.000-07:00

Art crawling in Napa at the V Pavillion was really fun!
Food, Art, Artists, Wine, Pastries, Barbeque - what's NOT to love?
I saw, I met, I bought! See the full write up at the link on the bottom of the page.

Bistro Jeanty - Yountville, CA (watercolor pencils)

Napa Valley Art Festival
from nbplein painters blog

Inverness With North Bay Plein Air - July 26, 2009

2009-09-28T13:37:00.000-07:00

Tomales Bay, Inverness, CA

Plein Air Painters at Tomales Bay (watercolor pencils)

Here are Sergio, Iris and Gerald painting the "Point Reyes"boat that went aground some time ago and is a well-known landmark in the area. Several other painters joined the group that day. See the posting link at the end.

View Toward Elephant Mountain, Tomales Bay (pastels)

The "Point Reyes" on Tomales Bay (pastels)

Kayaking by the Golden Hind Marina, Inverness (watercolor pencils)

Check out the blog for this trip on the North Bay Plein Air site:
nbpleinair_Inverness link

Sundays in June & July with the Benicia Painters

2009-09-28T09:55:00.000-07:00

A couple of times I met the Benicia Plein Air Painters "Da Group")
at this great beach park and boat launch area among the neighborhoods.
This was a neat jump off fishing spot at the end of the park (see below) .
I didn't have too much time that Sunday but managed this little sketch.

Fishing Spot 9th St. Beach (watercolor pencils)

9th Street Beach Park, Benicia - July 25, 2009 (watercolor pencils)

It was about 6PM at the Park in Benicia and the
wind was really blowing that day! This sketch was done
the day before (Saturday) because I was also painting at Inverness
on Sunday and JUST had time for a quick sketch
on the way home.

June was nice in the Fairfield area (not yet really hot) and the Sunday Benicia Painters gathered on the frontage roadside to paint the afternoon sun on the Cordelia Hills just below Marshview Drive.
The shadows that the oak trees make on the warm grassy hilsides are very interesting. The sun just illuminates the foreground grasses from behind in this view (below).

"Marshview Afternoon" (9"x12" pastel) -06/14/2009

South of Marshview Rd., Cordelia
This image (above) was shown in the recent Fairfield Art
Association's Suisun Marsh Show (July & August 2009)
at the Fairfield Performing Arts Theatre Gallery and also at Antioch's
Lynn House Gallery (Annual Local Artists Show, November-December 2009).

Cordelia Hills - June 14. 2009 (9" x12" watercolor & pastel)

China Camp Beach, San Rafael, CA - June 28, 2009

2009-09-25T13:19:00.000-07:00

China Camp Beach Shack (9"x12" pastel) - Artist Janice L-H
(photo by G. DeDios)
This image was shown at Antioch Lynn House Gallery
(Antioch Historical Assoc. Annual Local Artists Show, Nov-Dec 2009)

Late last June I joined the both North Bay Plein Air Painters and the Benicia "Da Group" Plein Air Painters at China Camp State Park. I tried to capture the eucalyptus trees in a watercolor but it was beyond my capabilities in the heat of the day. I switched to pastels and was able to complete a couple of sketches from where we sat.

It was VERY hot that day and we were glad for the BBQ Picnic and Critique later in the afternoon. Definitely have to go back to this location!

China Beach Boat Pier (9" x12" pastel)

From North Bay Plein Air Painters Blog:
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
China Camp

Inaugural Post

2009-09-24T13:45:00.000-07:00

Pine Ridge Winery, Yountville (watercolor & pastel)

A blog of my own - This is a new concept for me so it will take a little time to come up to speed.

Definitely more to come. I'm hoping to keep track of my plein air wanderings and sketchbook musings. I'll include news about painting groups I have gone out with and some of the adventures we had along the way. Welcome aboard!

View Toward Luco Slough (watercolor & pastel)