Painting Days!

We have been having cold strong winds and we are trying mightily NOT TO WHINE!  So...We are painting and planning a trip to the WINE country for the Sonoma Plein Air Festival in May!

Friday, we were up on the hill and we froze.  Today it was cold and windy at Coyote Hills.  I painted with the hill sheltering me and it wasn't bad - until it was time to leave the shelter and head for the car.  This is supposed to be California, for pete's sake.  Warm up!  Woops, enough whining.

Anyhow trying to get in as much painting we can before the Coyote Hills Paint-out on May 2.

It really makes a difference when you are consistent with your painting

The Shinn House

Today we painted at Shinn House.  It is very warm today, about 84 when we left but there is lots of shade at the Shinn House.  

We all feel the need to come back and work on the house again, somehow to get off the details but portray the character of the house.  There are lots of wonderful scenes to paint there, the gardens are beautiful and varied.

May 17, 2009:  MISSION PEAK HERITAGE FOUNDATION and FREMONT CULTURAL ARTS COUNCIL present Arts & Crafts in Shinn Park, 1251 Peralta Blvd., Fremont, CA this Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Co-sponsors of the event are Dale Hardware and Fremont Art Association.  Local artists will display, demonstrate and sell their artwork.  There will be historic crafts people with their works for sale.  Entertainment will be offered throughout the day, including Square Dancers and belly dancers.  Hot dogs, popcorn, and other refreshments are available for sale.  The Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum will show Silent Films in the Archive Room at the Shinn house, some of which were locally produced.  Docents will offer tours of the historic home.  Tours are $5.00 adults, $2.50 for children, age 5 – 12.  There is no admission charge to the grounds, and no booth charge to the Artists or Craftsmen.  Call Al Minard at 510.552.4839 for information

Mission Peak

After last week's cold strong winds, this week we are having temps in the 80's.  We painted at Mission Peak Friday.  So beautiful.  The greens are dulling out a bit and soon the hills will turn golden.  

Morning Marsh

A study in all the grays of the marshes and the atmospherics on a early spring morning.

A morning at Don Edward's -until the wind came up and we froze!

Wind, Wind, Go Away!

The wind has been blowing for several days, no plein air for us!  Time to do a little studio work.

Spring! And the lambs are playing!

Spring is so fun.  All the baby animals are so cute!  Ardenwood had 4 pairs of twin lambs born a couple weeks ago.  We have calves due this month.   And the pasture by the train station has about 250 goats of all sizes and ages mowing the weeds! 

Thinking of you, Italy

So sorry to hear that there was a large earthquake in the center of Itay.  Our thoughts are with them.  

We have contacted our friends that own the Vento di Rose B&B near Monterubbiano.  They are fine.  They are about 200 km away and all is well.  So glad to hear that. 

Intel Show is Hung

Today we ventured down to Intel with two cars loaded with paintings.  It took awhile to hang them all but it looked nice once we were done.  

This show is for Intel employees only.  Hope they enjoy!  They had some circuit boards of some of their projects nicely framed across from the art.  They are art pieces themselves.