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

Four Fences

The Friday paint-out group returned to Bailey Canyon Park in Sierra Madre a few weeks ago.  I've painted there several times, the last in August 2015, Park Pines.  The park has some of the gorgeous Matilija poppies but we were early for them to be blooming.  A few views caught my eye.  I settled on a house across the utility road, separated from the park by a variety of fences and gates.  It was lovely weather for painting and I could sit at a park picnic table under a pine tree.

5" x 7" Gouache

Pasadena Playhouse

It's been over three years since I painted at the Pasadena Playhouse.  I wasn't happy with my painting from 2013 of the 1925 Spanish Colonial Revival style Playhouse courtyard.  I was hoping to do a better piece this time.  I chose a view from across the street from a spot I hoped would remain in the shade until I finished my watercolor.  I really like the tall palm trees and banners surrounding the Playhouse courtyard entrance.  As always I was thinking of including a figure or two but the sidewalk seems to be busy enough now.  Happier with this version.

8" x 10" Watercolor

Olympiad Saturday

When rain or showers are a possibility the Saturday paint-out group likes to paint at Cal Tech in Pasadena.  There are many covered walkways for shelter if it starts to drizzle.  There were showers predicted so Cal Tech it was.  It turned out that Saturday was also the Southern California State Science Olympiad Tournament, hosted at Cal Tech.  There were hundreds of middle and high school students participating.  The campus is usually very quiet on a Saturday so this was unusual for us.

No problem for our group though.  There are always wonderful views to paint at the campus and we could stay out of the way of the tournament.  Several of us painted near the raised lily pond where the lilies looked beautiful.  I chose a view away from the lilies towards a courtyard I've always liked.  The light on the patio beyond the dark trees caught my eye so I  tried a small watercolor.

5" x 7" Watercolor

So many students competing!

The lily on the right was just a bud two hours earlier.

NW Corner

I've painted at Arlington Garden in Pasadena many times now, almost two dozen paint-outs.  But that's fine with artists since the garden changes so much with the seasons.  Of course in the spring many flowers are blooming and the paint-out groups visit often to see what we can capture in our paintings.  This post Winter Light was from when we were at the garden in January.  My next visit was in March and there were several views that caught my eye.  I haven't painted in the North West corner of the garden before so I chose that area since the African firestick plant, or pencil tree was especially colorful, surrounded by blue-ish succulents.  The small balcony, awning, and patio lights next door would be fun to include.  I have since visited again to paint and will post that piece soon.

10" x 8" Watercolor

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