Painting Mission Peak!

It was so beautiful today!  We painted at Mission Peak Park!  

Creativity and the Mental State

I have not been in the greatest state of mind, worrying about friends and family and it has really shown in my creativity!  I have tried to push it into the background but it tends to pop up anyway.  Things are starting to resolve themselves so I am beginning to relax more.  Hopefully tomorrow will be the triumph of creation over the mind!  At least I still learn while I am "practicing"  it is just a pain to know my work isn't up to snuff.  

I certainly have been busy with all sorts of other activities, graduations, grandkid events, Ardenwood, etc.  Ardenwood had free admission on Memorial Day.  Over 300 guests toured the Patterson house.  I certainly knew we were busy.  The day was beautiful and warm.  The picnic groups were certainly having fun on the lawn!  The murder mystery is Saturday - "George's Lost Gold".  Always fun.

Foxgloves

This was done from under the shade of trees and my wonderful large umbrella at a winery in Sonoma..  I certainly didn't want to add to my Monterey sunburn!

It has really become aware to me how important it is for the palette as well as the canvas to be in the shade on a sunny day.  I just can not SEE the colors with the glare of the sun.  My new umbrella is nice and large to cover canvas, palette and ME!  It has a stake that goes in the ground (if it is not rock!) and a footrest to help push it into the ground.  The umbrella itself is vented to help it stay upright in a good breeze and the angle can be changed as the sun moves without having to move the pole in the ground.  It was worth the $80!

Sunscreen is also very important.  And I learned the lesson to put it one BEFORE I start painting.  Once I start painting and the little voice in my head says "put on the sunscreen" I say "in just a little bit" then go into a painting meditative state and that little voice does not get in that Quiet Space.  -And I feel it later when I am red!  Listen, Mary Kay, get that lesson into your head! -Sorry, just talking to myself!

Movie: Local Color

The movie "Local Color" will be out in theaters June 26th.

The writer/director is George Gallo.

The movie is a semiautobiographical account of Gallo's life as an impressionist painter during the summer of 1974.

"I know of no better way to cleanse a soul than painting plein aire landscapes. Whereas people can deceive charm and flirt, nature, as my departed Dad used to say, “Is what it is.” It is my personal love, respect and awe of the sheer unyielding natural beauty of what lies around us that I am trying to bring forward in these works. It is impossible for me to stand before a mountain and not be completely aware of my mortality. It will be here long after I am gone, but at the moment in time that we meet I feel the need to not only recognize its beauty, but let others know that I tipped my hat to its glory." - George Gallo

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"It seems now, that when I first started out on this journey I had it all wrong. When I was responding to a clever flick of a brush, what I was responding to was not technique, but truth. When you really look at something and finally understand it’s nature and how it relates to everything around it, that is when you can throw that fleck of paint with assuredness.  

When you understand the very simple lesson I have just stated, then I believe you are not only on your way to painting masterpieces, you’re also on your way to a far deeper understanding of the universe. Not the universe of science, but the universe of the soul. It is in these quiet hours that you will get as close to God as you can here on earth and with a little luck and a lot of patience, come as close to happiness as you’re ever likely to know."  

- George Gallo

 

Back Home

Back home and now the weather is HOT!  Stop Whinning!  I was so glad I had brought my large umbrella to Sonoma.  After getting sunburned in Monterey I had learned my lesson.  I am really happy with the umbrella.  It went into the dirt easily and held up even when a breeze came up.

Wednesday, May 20, 10 PM at Coyote Hills to paint.

Sonoma

Lots of adventures in this last week.  I bought a new prochard and have been trying it out.  It is always interesting to try something new and get used to it.  Advantages and disadvantages.

Sonoma was beautiful.  The Art Festival was wonderful, lots of very good artists and interesting paintings.  The weather couldn't have been better, the company either!  We all had a great time.

Pacific Grove

What a wonderful day in Pacific Grove with Jen.  Perfect weather!

Coyote Hills Paint-Out Art Work May 2,09

Simone Archer was the winner of the People's Choice Award.

Coyote Hills Paint-Out Art Work May 2,09

From top to bottom, artists:

1.  Robyn Leimer

2.  Mary Kay Chicoine

3.  Laura Williams

4.  Laura Williams

5.  Edwin Bertolet

More Coyote Hills Paint Out Art Work

Top to bottom, Artist's names:

6.  Donna Arillaga

7.  David Skidmore

8.  David Dunlap

9.  Carolyn Lord

10 Bert Evens

More Coyote Hills Art Work

I am not sure of the artists on these pieces, if anyone knows let me know:

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And yet more Coyote Hills Paint Out Work

I do not have the names of the artists that go with these pieces.  If you have them please let me know. 

If I have missed your work, I apologize. Send me a jpeg and I will add it.  

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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

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.