Campus Tours

A recent paint-out was at Occidental College in Eagle Rock.  On my previous visit I painted a watercolor,  Return to Oxy.  I enjoyed painting that building so much that I gave it a try again in gouache.  I considered the auditorium since it had some colorful banners.  But a couple other artists were painting from spots in the olive grove so I stayed there to paint as well.  While I was painting, several campus tour groups of visiting students walked by.  It's a very beautiful campus, and even President Obama studied there for two years.

7" x 5" Gouache

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"

Garden Archway

One of the paint-out groups is lucky to be invited to paint at a private home that is very lovely.  So far I've been able to visit the estate three times.  There are so many views to paint there that I spend too much time walking around considering a composition.  Front yard, back yard, side yards, pool, vista across the arroyo...many spectacular views.  On my previous visit I painted a gouache piece, View from the Terrace.  I've always wanted to try the pretty archway and gate.  The light kept changing so much but I gave it a try in watercolor.  Looking forward to next time!

8" x 10" Watercolor

Garden plumb bob

A Show!

I was so surprised and thrilled to be asked to participate in the "Paint the Music" event at the Laurie Hendricks Gallery, part of the Eclectic Music Festival in South Pasadena.  Of course I did a blog post about the event, Eclectic Music Festival.  I painted a plein air piece the day of the event as did the other participating artists.  As a result of the event, Laurie offered Pati Bruce, an oil painter, and me, a two woman show at the gallery!  So it will be my watercolors and gouaches, and Pati Bruce's oil pieces for the City Views show running till October 21.  This is so exciting, and such an honor.

Arboretum Fountain

It was a nice day to visit the L.A. County Arboretum for our group's quarterly planning meeting.  After our planning, there isn't too much time to paint.  Arboretum Terrace was my watercolor from my previous opportunity to paint there.  For our meeting we have a couple tables at the Peacock Cafe and there are always peacocks there to watch.  The cafe has a gorgeous pink trumpet tree in the center.  When the tree is flowering and there's a peacock perched in it, quite a crowd gathers for photos.  Iridescent blue feathers and bright pink flowers are a stunning combination.  I had about an hour to paint so I didn't walk far.  The main fountain on the Bauer Lawn was close by and there were some colorful flowers as well.  Perfect!

5" x 7" Watercolor

Another Fun Challenge

For July the amazing James Gurney offered another challenge for plein air artists.  I missed his first gas station challenge but loved trying the next one which was painting an outdoor market, Painting Challenge.  Then for Halloween a few months later there was the October Graveyard Challenge, October Challenge!

Somehow I missed a couple of the events in 2016, but happily this month we had James Gurney's Dead Vehicle Plein Air Painting Challenge.  Fortunately for me there is a well-known old, dead truck nearby at the stables.  I've painted this truck before in 2013, The Truck.  James Gurney's challenges are just for fun, not a contest.  Artists need to show a photo of the artwork in progress at the location.  I wanted to try painting the truck again, and our Saturday group met there so we could participate in the event.  There is usually a chicken or two sitting on the truck but I didn't see any this time.   A fun morning!

7" x 5" Gouache

Across from the Park

We haven't had a paint-out at Alhambra Park for about four years.  My Alhambra Pool watercolor was done there then, four years ago.  The park is very close to where I live in South Pasadena and has some nice features as well as interesting surrounding areas.  Anyone seeing some of my paintings has probably noticed I like to include utility poles.  It turns out that across the street on the east side of the park is the Alhambra section of our main electric power distribution system.  There were some substantial utility poles I hoped to include in my landscape painting.  It turned out to be a smaller, quicker watercolor so, only one pole.  Always a fun morning painting with friends in the park.    

5" x 7" Watercolor