Coyote Hills Regional Park Paint Out, May 2, 2009

Artists are always learning.  It is just part of art, you are never done.  BUT, today was a definite learning experience for a group of 25 artist participating in the Coyote Hills paint out.

We all had been watching the weather reports all week.  It had been windy and chilly and we were wishing for the week before when we were gripping about the heat.  The rain was supposed to start Friday and just scattered showers on Saturday.  Then the news kept getting more ominous.  Down right RAIN on Saturday, 1-2 inches.  Oh, well.  Artists are a brave and sometimes foolhardy group.  Everyone assembled at the park's Visitor Center for sign in, had their canvases stamped (so no one can bring in work already done and all start at the same time).  We collected our water bottles and energy bars and off we went to find the perfect place to paint.  

Just about the time everyone started to settle in and set up, it started...sprinkles first, then full fledged rain.  There were a variety of strategies to meet this foe: Rain coats, ponchos, umbrellas of all descriptions, under trees, under tents, even in the car.

Rain on a canvas board is not a good thing. And an umbrella protecting the canvas can form a little drain spout sending rain into your palette.  Oil paint and water do not mix.  The paint gets a sort of yucky texture and trying to stick it to a wet surface can be down right discouraging.   And then the poor watercolorists, what can I say!

But those perservering artists lived through it and managed to come out with some pretty great paintings.    We all have a story to tell about how to get by painting plein air in the rain!

Next years East Bay Regional Park Paint-Out will be held at Sunol Regional Park.  Pray for Sun.

And by the way, I came in 2nd in the People's Choice Awards

Wednesday Morning Adventures

Today, we met at Coyote Regional Park to get a little painting in.  The weather was clear, blue skies and temps fine with a bit a cool breeze once and a while.  Robyn and Sheryl headed from the Paseo Padre parking lot down the path towards the park entrance, I decided I still need to paint the oak trees so I chose to paint from Paseo Padre looking towards the oak grove.

The fields around the grove are scheduled to turn into a gated community of houses.  Such a loss.  The flatland views are so restful for the eyes and soul and a watershed and buffer zone for the wildlife that lives in the park.  I assume the grove will be left standing but will probably be unavailable to the public in a wonderful setting like it is today.  So, to be one with the trees!

Today's adventures included noisy trucks working near Robyn and Sheryl and where I was a slight wiff every so often of a very, very long time dead skunk down the way.  

It sounds like the May 2 paint out is going to be very fun with LOTS of artists.

By the way, the public gets to choose the best artists at the end of the day!

Today's painting is too wet to photograph, so here is another painting at Coyote Hills.

Paint-Out, May 2, 2009!

There will be a one-day paint-out 9:30-3:30 at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont, CA on May 2, 2009.

This is a beautiful park next to the San Francisco Bay.  It has scenes of the bay, wetlands, hills.  There is lots of wildlife, being on a flyway for birds.  There are walkways over the marshes.  

Artist Registration is required.  Entry Fee for Alameda and Contra Costa County residents $15, all other, $17.  Registration starts on April 7, 2009.

For more information contact:

Coyote Hills Regional Park

8000 Patterson Ranch Road

Fremont, CA

1-888-327-2757

www.ebparks.org

This Paint-Out is hosted by East Bay Regional Park District and the Fremont Art Association.