Virtual Paintout - Hashima Island, Japan!

The Virtual Paintout for October 2018 was Hashima Island, Japan.  Hashima is an abandoned island off the coast of southern Japan.  The 16 acre island was known for its undersea coal mines established in 1887.  By 1974 the coal mines were nearing depletion so the mines were closed and the 5,000 residents left the island.  In the early 2000s there was renewed interest in the undisturbed historic ruins.  The abandoned concrete buildings gradually became a tourist attraction, and in 2015 the island became an UNESCO World Heritage Site.  In 2013 a Google employee with a Street View backpack went there to capture the place which allows people to virtually walk across the island and go inside the abandoned buildings where items still remain just as they were left.  Such an interesting place.

Gouache 7" x 5"

Virtual Paintout - Amsterdam!

Thanks to Bill Guffey for restarting the Virtual Paintout!  For September the location to virtually find our view to paint was Amsterdam.  Using Google Street View it seems that every single street, as well as canal, in Amsterdam has been photographed.  Of course I could still be looking around such a beautiful city.  I'll never be there in person so I always love the push from the Virtual Paintout to be there virtually.

Watercolor 5" x 7"

Watercolor 5" x 7"

VIRTUAL PAINTOUT - U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

Who knew that the Virtual Paintout for September 2017 would be the last one until August 2018?  It was a surprise to me when Bill Guffey, the paint-out's creator and host decided to go on hiatus.  It was only supposed to be for three months but turned out to be eleven months.  I know Bill needed a break and some time off.  I missed the paint-out.

I was very surprised when my monthly check of the website announced the return for August.  The U.S. Virgin Islands sounded like a wonderful place to see via Google Street View.  The U.S. Virgin Islands include St. Thomas,  St. John, and St. Croix, a lot of area to check out for a painting spot.  I found these islands really interesting to see.  I know I won't ever be there in person.  I happened to go down Strand Street where the picturesque Hotel St. Croix is located.

7" x 5" Watercolor

Virtual Paintout - South Florida!

I really enjoy participating in the monthly Virtual Paintout where artists choose their view to paint by using Google Street View.   I've joined the Virtual Paintout every month for over 5 years!  The project started many months before I joined in and I see some past locations I would love to investigate.  

The location for September 2017 was South Florida.  A very timely location considering the state's devastation following Hurricane Irma this month.  The Street View vehicle  images I found were from 2013 to 2016.  Sometimes these images change years several times within a few blocks.  I like having this extra painting challenge as well as sight-seeing during the month.

5" x 7" Watercolor

Miami

5" x 7" Watercolor

Key Biscayne

Virtual Paintout - Buenos Aires!

It's been almost five years that I've been participating in the monthly Virtual Paintout.   Bill Guffey chooses the locations from places the Google Street View vehicles have covered.  I really enjoy seeing these sometimes exotic cities and countries without the hassle of traveling.  This month it was Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina.  It's the most visited city in South America and known for its preserved Spanish/European-style architecture.  The busy downtown did look beautiful but too crowded for a painting.  The city is 78 square miles so there was a lot to see in my limited time.   I noticed many parks so I chose one to try as well as a view from the coast.

Watercolor 5" x 7"

Watercolor 5" x 7"

Virtual Paintout - Malta!

I always enjoy participating in the Virtual Paintout each month.  For July 2017 the location was Malta, a small island country in the Mediterranean.  Due to its strategic location it has had an interesting history, and a succession of powers including the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Moors, Normans, Sicilians, Spanish, French, and British...wow.  Malta got independence from the United Kingdom in 1964, and became a republic in 1974.

Malta is a popular tourist destination so I saw cruise ships and yachts in the harbors.  There are also architectural and historic monuments including seven prehistoric temples.  I found the islands to be beautiful and so interesting to virtually look around for my painting views.  I like to try a watercolor, and a gouache piece.      

5" x 7" Gouache

5" x7" Watercolor

Virtual Paintout - Guatemala!

The Virtual Paintout for June 2017 was Guatemala.  I like participating in the Virtual Paintout and always enjoy virtually looking around the month's location for my views to paint.  Guatemala has ancient Maya archeological sites, and the beautiful old colonial city, Antigua Guatemala.  There is never enough time for me to see everything using Google Street View.  I usually try to choose a city scene and a country scene.  And I'm always trying to improve my watercolor painting, so the Virtual Paintout is good practice time.  Looking forward to the July location announcement.

5" x 7" Watercolor

5" x 7" Gouache

Virtual Paintout - South Korea!

For May 2017 the Virtual Paintout was in South Korea.  It seems I never have enough time to thoroughly, virtually, look around the month's location.  I really enjoyed seeing what I could of South Korea.  The country looked like somewhere I would love to visit in person someday.  Thanks to the Virtual Paintout I was compelled to see a tidbit of such an interesting place.

5" x 7" Watercolor

5" x 7" Watercolor

Virtual Paintout - Tunisia!

The Virtual Paintout for April 2017 was Tunisia.  Last month Bill Guffey chose Ghana so we've had two recent visits to countries in Africa.  I find it fascinating to virtually look around these countries.  Living in Southern California, I do like painting palm tress and I was happy to see many in Tunisia which borders the Mediterranean.  As always, I'm looking forward to the location for next month.

5" x 7" Watercolor

5" x 7" Gouache

Virtual Paintout - Ghana!

Every month I enjoy participating in the Virtual Paintout, hosted by Bill Guffey.  Artists virtually look around the month's location using Google Street View to choose their view to paint.  Bill posts the submissions on his blog and on Facebook.

For March 2017, the location was Ghana.  To me it's always interesting to see places I haven't visited in person and Ghana was no exception.  Most of the areas I saw looked very colorful and busy but I did happen upon the National Zoological Garden which was shady and peaceful.  The only animals I virtually saw were a few peahens.  Looking forward to Bill's location for April!

5" x 7" Watercolor

Kumasi National Zoological Garden

5" x 7" Gouache

Virtual Paintout - Nashville!

The February 2017 Virtual Paintout was in Nashville, Tennessee.  The Virtual Paintout is in a different city or country each month, chosen by creator and host, Bill Guffey.  I really enjoy virtually looking around for a view to paint in the many places that I'll never be able to visit in person.

But this month was Nashville!  There have only been a few Virtual Paintouts in cities I've visited.  I haven't seen much of Nashville but in 1996 we drove from Southern California to the Olympics in Atlanta.  The highway mostly stayed on the outskirts of the city but we did stay that night in south Nashville.  I looked around the area on Google Street View.  There were some wonderful, rustic views.  That was something I enjoyed about this month's city, great landscapes and also nice city views.  Looking forward to next month's location.

5" x 7" Gouache

5" x 7" Watercolor

Virtual Paintout - Puerto Rico!

Each month I enjoy participating in the Virtual Paintout hosted by Bill Guffey.  Bill chooses the month's location from places covered by Google Street View vehicles.  Artists can virtually "walk" around the location to select their subject to draw or paint.  I always learn something when I virtually visit cities and countries that I'll never get to see in person.

For January 2017 the location was Puerto Rico.  It is an archipelago of islands, and an unincorporated territory of the United States.  I always run out of time looking around.  And I didn't realize until after I finished my two paintings and saw other artist's submissions that I forgot to look around Old Town San Juan.  Disappointing.  Of course I can still look around there with Street View.  Where will next month's location be?  

5" x 7" Gouache

5" x 7" Watercolor

Virtual Paintout - Montenegro!

Each month I love participating in the Virtual Paintout.  So much fun to virtually visit locations around the world, having a painting in mind.  This month Bill Guffey chose Montenegro for our virtual paint-out.  Montenegro has a very picturesque coast along the Adriatic Sea across from Italy and it's a prime tourist destination.  Along with some cruise ships, I also found some medieval walls and villages.  The buildings with tile roofs, and the many flowers and palms are so charming.  The country looks like a beautiful place to visit.  

These are my last paintings and final post for 2016.   Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and wonderful 2017!

5" x 7 " Gouache

5" x 7 " Watercolor

Virtual Paintout - Tijuana!

I find the monthly Virtual Paintout is fun to participate in.  Bill Guffey choses the location from anywhere in the world that the Google Street View vehicles have covered.  I really enjoy seeing parts of the world that I'll never be able to visit.

For November 2016 Bill chose Tijuana, Mexico.  There is a spot I have visited briefly but that was a long long time ago.  I never did check what the street view offered of downtown Tijuana.  I looked along the coast and loved the many hilly inland neighborhoods.  I chose two colorful views to try in watercolor.

I have to add that while we were at the South Pasadena library painting the model who posed for us Something Different, the Google Street View car drove by.  I'll be checking to see how long it is until those images are posted.

5" x 7" Watercolor

5" x 7" Watercolor