Busy and Looking forward to a chance to paint!

Sprinkely Day

We are supposed to be having a big storm in here but it is a bit windy and a bit drippy.

Plein Air at Ardenwood Saturday

East Bay Artists are meeting at Ardenwood for painting! Come join us.

I haven't posted here lately because.....

I have been so busy redoing my garden areas. I have been neglecting my art by mostly gardening but the weather will change and I will be done planting and it will be back to painting for me! My gardening blog is at: MyGardenRoom.blogspot.com.

Day 27 - Yellowstone Wetlands

What beautiful scenery in Yellowstone!
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Yellowstone Valley 2

A beautiful sunrise going through Yellowstone Park. Day 26

Poor Vincent

Vincent (Starry Starry Night) Don McLean

www.youtube.com

A slideshow of Vincent Van Gogh's work set to the song "Vincent" by Don McLean. It's part of an art and creative writing lesson plan for the patients at Mississippi State Hospital at Whitfield.

This is such a touching song combined with Vincent Van Gogh's paintings. It is so beautiful and touching and brings to mind the sensitivity and care we need to give those with mental illness and also what they can give us.

Day 8 Leaving Cimmaron

A nice peaceful ride with lovely landscapes heading for Colorado.

Cimmaron

Day 7 we stayed in the prettiest area east of Taos, NM. Lots of Fishermen. Nice Campground

Day 4 Grand Canyon

Day 3-FRIDAY June 11th Grand Canyon

This was painted the day of the STORM! It left quite an impression on us, the storm that is!

Time Lost - Calico

Calico Ghost Town is in San Bernadino County. The mailing address is Yermo, CA It was originally a silver mining town. When the silver ran out the town fell on hard times. They mined borax (remember 20 mule team borax soap!) but when the depression hit, the investors lost all their money and the town became a ghost of what it had been.

Calico is on the edge of the Mojave Desert. It is now a regional park run by San Bernadino County. There is a campground which includes several cabins with electricity (a short walk to the restrooms). The town consists of some restored original buildings and some reproductions of buildings that burned down in a fire a while back. The town is up on a bluff and behind some mountains to hide from the wind. There is a climb on stone and wood stairs. There is a back way up for disabled to get to the town.

Since the town is on a bluff there is a nice view of the valley and desert.

I would not recommend tenting here, the wind is like a small hurricane! We had reserved cabins (thank heavens!) and pebbles blown up on the porch hitting the door were hard to sleep to. We turned on the air conditioner to mask the wind noise! RVs would probably be fine, especially if you pick a site that is protected by a hill. The town is interesting although we did not experience much of it since we arrived in late afternoon and left just after they opened for the day.

The two best things we experienced here was: 1.) The amazing rock formations all around the town. The kids felt this was one of the best experiences they had on the whole trip. 2.)the lack of city lights at night. When we got up in the middle of the night the wind had stopped and the stars were so beautiful!! They looked so close as to touch them! Wonderful!

Day 1 Along I-5

My eldest daughter, her 3 boys and I started from the San Francisco Bay Area on June 9, 2010 at 6 am to meet with one of my sisters and her youngest daughter at a rest stop on highway 5. They will join us on the complete 31 day trip. We will also have 2 friends and each of their sons joining us on the first part of our trip.

As we drove down the central valley of California it was so evident how beautiful our state is. It was morning and the sun was just hitting on the hills on the West side of the Freeway. There are lots of orchards and farming going on. Lots of golden California here!

We are HOME!

A wonderful trip, now lots of stuff to put away and lots to catch up on!

5 days before we leave!

My painting backpack is packed in my sister's car She gets to haul all my stuff, lucky her. The other van is packed to the hilt.

22 days before we leave!

We are all getting very excited. The Grand Council of the Treehuggers will meet tomorrow. This group consists of participants over 18 year of age......My grandson had to be told, "no, you cannot miss school for this meeting. You are not part of the GRAND Council!"

A Quiet Moment

This photo really needs to be redone! Every so often I can really get a good photo without glare. Not this time!

39 Days til the Take-off of Our Slice of America Trip!

Only the things that can't be done earlier are left to do!
All my canvases and wet boxes are ready to go!

Rain, Rain, Go Away! We want to go paint!

After several years of drought we are really getting the rain this year! And when it is not raining it has been really overcast or windy foretelling another rain storm coming. Today is really beautiful but life is in the way......BUT TOMORROW! We are going painting in Sunol Regional Park again! Looking forward to it!

Painting Day at Sunol

We had a great day painting at Sunol Regional Park. The weather was so beautiful, just right temps, not too hot and or too cold like predicted. After all the rain the creek was really flowing and everyone was there with their dogs and kids...Easter vacation!

Warming up for June 9th!

Lots of things have been keeping from much painting but every chance I get I am doing studies to be prepared to hopefully painting every day on our slice of America trip!

So Wonderful to Get Out and Paint!

Took a break today to go painting with Sheryl at Sunol Regional Park. There are so many scenes to paint there. Hills, lots of Oak and Sycamore trees, water (especially now) in lovely forms, serene and waterfalls, and hikers too.

It was a great time and especially welcome after my month of hospitals and rehabilitation with my aunt and now my husband.

It is so nice out! Nature is calling!

I hardly have had time to bask in the beautiful weather we have had for several days. My poor hubby had a bicycle accident and broke a couple of ribs then seems to have gotten a flu or something with real stomach problems....not complications of meds since he hasn't been taking them. He has been so weak, can't eat anything so I have had to be close by at all times. Poor dear.

Meantime I have been working on projects for our Slice of America trip to keep my mind off the thought of going painting!! Tomorrow we will go into the doc again and maybe we can solve this part of the situation. If it gets taken care of then he can come with me while I paint. He just needs help getting up with those broken ribs and being so weak.

Anyhow, I will do a study in the studio if he is still not well after the doc tomorrow.

How to Watch a Plein Air Artist

Since the weather is getting so nice the plein air season will be coming out strong.

Some of the best artists moan and gripe about their concentration being broken while they are painting plein air by people admiring their work. Painting in the studio does not present this problem, but when the artist is painting outdoors this is the only chance most people have to seeing a painting in process. Often these admirers are the same people that purchase the art work.

I figure the public should have a bit of a guide on what is going on and how to watch an artist, just like there are etiquette rules in the gallery at a golf game. Also, I feel artists should not be condescending of their admirers.

It is all about a bit of education actually on both sides. So with that in mind, I am re-posting this from last year:

Creating a pleasing, meaningful painting is a work of problem solving. When an artist begin to paint there are so many questions to answer. And it really takes concentration. As an artist gets more experienced, the some questions are answered subconsciously, but need to be answered none the less.

The first problem starts with the painting subject itself. The composition, the layout (if the canvas should be horizontal or vertical), focal point, depth of view, sharp and soft edges, contrast, perspective, movement, dimension, the contrast ...and on and on. Plein air painting also includes catching the light at a certain moment, unlike working in the studio with a photo. This problem solving continues throughout the creation of the painting to the end.

Someone walking by may not appreciate all the mental work a plein air artist is going through because it looks so simple as choosing colors and applying paint to canvas. Actually a plein air painter must not only concentrate on painting a piece of work, but also deal with the elements as well; temperature, wind, quality of light, bugs, and possibly the lack of near by facilities to name a few. Some times just these elements can break concentration.

Then there is always the attraction factor. Most artists love to have people admire their works, but it can be intimidating to have someone looking over your shoulder when you are working out problem solving. If observers are very quiet and stand back to watch, most artists can still work and not be bothered. If the artist decides to take a painting break, she can then acknowledge those watching and answer questions. I just mention this because the public can be so interested and many do not realize the artist is actually "at work" and may seem rude if she does not respond to conversation at that time.

What is Plein Air?

Every so often I am asked this question so thought I would repeat an earlier posting to help answer it:

"Plein Air" is used to describe the act of painting outside rather than in a studio and it also is used to describe the actual picture created outside. The term comes from the French phrase "en plein air" meaning "in the open or fresh air".

Artists used to have to actually grind up minerals, soils, etc. and mix them to a binding medium to make it into paint. Sometimes it didn't turn out just right. An example of a failed experiment in a new way of mixing paint is Leonardo di Vinci's Last Supper. The paint did not adhere to the wall and has flaked off in large areas.

During the early impressionist period, paint tubes were invented and railroads had been built. These two things made it easy for artists to get out in the country for a day of painting. The artists could now escape the smoky, dirty air and smells and sounds of a time of "horsepower" in the city and literally paint in the fresh air of the country! From this activity came the French easel, a box on legs to hold paint tubes, brushes and a mast to hold a canvas.

Now, a resurgence of "plein air" artists are enjoying painting in the "open air" with the bird sounds and beautiful views. Keep your eyes open for them and you will probably find some!

Last year's EBRP Paint Out! An experience!

5/2/09 Last year's May 2,2009 East Bay Regional Park Paint Out was RATHER memorable! It was the first paint out EBRP had organized, which they did very well. Unfortunately they did not have a hold on Mother Nature. She decided to make a real experience of it and try our mettle. You might check back to my May 2, 2009 post for details. Any how, it was a real experience!

This year, hopefully the sun will shine on all artists!

But just in case, bring plastic bags, umbrella and a strategy for not getting drowned!

(Last year was fun though. Sort of brought out that "pioneer" spirit of stick-to-itiveness!) I do need to get over to Sunol though and check it out. Last time I was there it was just "GREEN".

Whether you paint or not, come on down! And don't forget to say "hi" at the displaying of the work!

The 2nd Annual East Bay Regional Parks Plein Air Paint Out

When: April 3, 2010 8am - 2:30pm (early bird option 6:30am)
Where: Sunol Regional Wilderness
1895 Geary Road
Sunol, CA

ARTIST PRE-REGISTRATION required before April 1. Registration begins on Fegruary 9, 2010.
Register by calling 1-888-327-2757, option 2,3
or go to www.ebparks.org, type in "EBparks Online" in the Search box.

ENTRY FEE: $15 ($17 for non-residents of Alameda and Contra Costa counties)-Sign in at 8am
OR $20 ($22 for non-residents of Alameda and Contra Costa counties)-Sign in at 6:30am

FOR MORE INFORMATION: call Naturalist Dino Labiste at 510-544-3215.

Update on Aunt Edna

She and I thank you all for your best wishes. She is now back where she lives and I am almost over this stupid virus so I can visit her again. Jen was taking my place when I couldn't be there. It really makes a difference in care and attention if there is a visitor there. Thank God for Medicare. 3 days in hospital = $750 Acute Care/Physical Therapy is covered. $160 for Rx. $65 for transportation. Hate to think of the cost without insurance coverage.

My Dear Aunt

Aunt Edna at 95 has fallen and had to have a pin in her hip. Life is on hold till she recovers. So far she is in a skilled nursing facility and is just starting physical therapy. So far, so good. She is busy charming everyone!

Jen's Veggies

So this time I painted some veggies.

Jen's grapes

I did this last time I was at my daughter's house babysitting her animals.

A New Blog for our Slice Trip

I created a new blog to journal our "Slice of America" trip in June. It will be a place where our friends can follow our trip and we can post our pictures. The kids are so excited and thinking of all kinds of things to do. The site is: sliceofamericatrip.blogspot.com

Just thinking......

I was just musing on how beautiful our earth is and thankful for seeing as much of it as I have! I think we should all make it a point to enjoy the beauty around us.

Some of the wonderful places I have been remembering visiting are:
The Loire Valley in France. So beautiful, would love to visit again.
Brugge in Belgium, such a special place.
Venice, and the wonderful countryside of Italy!
Split, and Vis, an island off Croatia and Kliz the castle ruins on a mountain in Croatia....had fun singing a latin chant in the ancient chapel there. The acoustics were great.
The Great Barrier Reef near Hamilton Island off Australia.
New Zealand, it's natural wonders are like a lot of the United States natural wonders in a smaller area. Would have loved to be able to get a recording of the Mauri music, still regret that after 20 years.
Fiji, and their wild horses.
London, the British Museum (loved seeing the rosetta stone) and want to go through Westminster Abby again...slowly.
Switzerland's Alps!
Canada, and it's beautiful countryside!
Mexico, what little I saw of it.
And of course, the United States. There are so many things to see there isn't enough time to see it all in a lifetime!

So I feel very fortunate to have experienced so much and each place I have been I have met such wonderful people.

Still Life on a Rainy Day

Storm #5 has been working its way through the Bay Area. This is one that has brought cold weather. We were out in the garage and we could see our breath. OK, I know, we have it so easy here in California compared to other parts in the world, but we do notice more subtle changes. I do feel for the relatives in South Dakota that keep digging out of 8' snow drifts......And let me tell you, if our storm #4 get out there to them they will get doused again good.

In the mean time, the pears are pretty!

Visons of the Grand Canyon!

Can't go out to paint, it is pouring here in the San Francisco Bay Area. So, decided to get ready for the views I will see in June! The view is from a TV program showing beautiful scenes of Arizona. I'm sure it will help when I see the real thing!

139 to go!