Largely employed by the sunny weather, I have nearly abandoned my studio life.... and the electric eye. Alas, I take a moment to check in with you and the world beyond my measure. I love the warmer weather and its lure of adventure and color. My journey is swift and so is this update. Be well my friend, as I have not forgotten you.
I remember being told as a young child to "Do what you love and the rest will fall into place". These were not so comforting words to tell an impatient child, but they did stick with me and now they run through my veins. I love plein air painting, but even more, I love participating in timed events with the added comeraderie of fellow friends painting alongside one another with all the laughs and issues of working out of doors. Here are a few shots of my work and a few other shots of me in the field. The one above was my best piece, only after a rough start with oils. I took the oils to see how I performed in a stressful situation to help me decide whether to bring them to my trip to the Plein Air Easton! event this coming July. It became very apparent when I brought out the pastels that the work just flowed. Much like seeing an old friend who never changes after a long span of time.
"Los Gatos She Shops" 10x8" Pastel (Sold)
Me painting "She Shops" with the baking sun on my back.
"Rustic Retreat" 9x12" Oil
On the highway painting "Rustic Retreat"
As I was painting this piece, I was spotted by my old friend (and bridesmaid) Shaheen as she was zipping by in her car in the Almaden area. She whipped around and drove up for a surprise hug. How coincidental.
"Old Red Barn" 9x12" Oil
There were 6 of us who painted this very scene, each one completely different from the next.
"Broken Back" 12x16, Pastel
My first pastel of the event and if felt so good to return to my old dusty friends after a rough start with oils. Confidence returned!
"On the Corner of Main Street" 8x6" Pastel (Sold)
My final piece. Bummed it was so small as I had no other frames available with glass for a pastel.
One of my failed paintings. (look close) from Garrod Stables
The scene as seen from a horse pasture. As the evening approached, the horses are released into this field to run and socialize. Of course, that means there are plenty of horse piles everywhere. One must be careful where one steps and also where one puts their gear. As I was hustled out of the pasture by the staff, I was very hasty and placed my failed piece on the ground just as a big gust of wind blew hay particles on it and then realized I placed it on a few manures. It was destined for the trash after that!
The booth set up at the Los Gatos Plein Air 2013
With Ann Blair Brown, Anton Pavlenko, Thomas Kitts, Hai-Ou Hou, (me) Brenda Boylan, Tonya Zenin, and Diane May prior the Gala event. A huge shout out to Ann who took "Artists' Choice" for her piece "Grandpa"
Just returned home from the Los Gatos Plein Air event hosted by the Los Gatos Morning Rotary Club and boy, was it a wild one! Wild I say? Well, my traveling partner Thomas Kitts likened it to the "Iron Chef" of plein air painting, and so that's about as close as I can explain how these events go.
My story begins with our departure at 5:00 am to drive down 12 hours from Portland, OR., to my home town, Los Gatos, CA. We stopped in Winters at Root Stock to do a little wine tasting as recommended by one of Thomas' clients. We arrived in Los Gatos in plenty of time for something to eat and to find our "homes" for the week.
Arriving a day early to do some scouting around within the 20 mile boundary is a good idea to help eliminate wasted time in an event like this. The first day was spent hunting for spots to paint and so our first stop was the quaint and charming neighborhoods of Los Gatos to find something architectural, perhaps something like a garden arbor. We found one very nice rose draped arbor and so we moved on. Heading up 280 N we found the hills of Rancho San Antonio. It was a nice county park teaming winding trails, but very hot and was also a very long hike for a painting. We decided this was not where we'd spend our time once the event began. We did run into a very colorful a hiker out there in the hills, so colorful, that I asked if he would stop for a photo. Sebura, we decided, was probably from Kenya or Tanzania out for a walk to get away from his stressful city life at Stanford Univ. So we think. Nonetheless, he was beautiful as ever I set eyes upon. Perhaps a portrait? Yeah....
"Sebura"
We headed back into town and hooked up with Portland artist Anton Pavlenko and headed out to paint some palm trees we saw earlier, but unfortunately the sun was blocking the afternoon light on it. This was our first of many diversions in the event. Instead, we decided to get a painting in of an unkept apricot orchard Thomas had spotted earlier in the day. Something I had overlooked for many years as a kid. I decided to paint a view of the street leading up into the apricot hills off of Blossom Hill Road. I was really happy with this one for the first of many.
The rest of the event begins to get a bit blurry from the pace we kept, with each painting documenting my time here. The next day we checked in at 8:00 am and got our panels stamped and off to paint like crazy. First thing in the morning we painted our rose covered arbor that we found the day before on Palm Avenue. Not a favorite of mine, but perhaps someone will like it?
After we were finished, we ate a quick lunch and then our host called to tell us of a very private estate that we should paint. We eagerly headed up to the estate to find a beautifully kept 5 acre Tuscan garden guarded by a beautiful sculpted iron gate and guard dogs. Once we had permission to enter, we found hills with terraced vineyards, olive groves, and fine sculpture throughout the estate along with a beautiful fountain. While we were looking for something to paint, the car decided to spill out some sort of hot fluid! This was not good news at all as we are trying to use our time to the fullest. Fearful this was going to be a big problem and inconvenience, all I could think of was time lost painting. Thomas called the organizers and got a referral for a grease monkey, thankfully close in to town. Thomas dropped me off downtown to paint and while he stuck around the garage to paint a scene. Not much time was lost as it was only a power steering hose, but we didn't get to work up at the estate like we hoped. I decided to paint a complicated shop window scene of some lingerie maniquins with street reflections.
The car problem did add a bit of stress to the start, but all was forgotten once we were off to the orientation to get some much needed info and meet up with other participating artists over a glass of Pinot. After much visiting we decided to paint a nocturne, but then again we diverted our direction and went to eat a late dinner with Paul Kratter, Sergio Lopez, Thomas Kitts and my friend Robert (Bob) Frank. Tired, I hit home about 11pm for the second day out.
The next morning, Wednesday, we headed out 280 N to find some eucalyptus trees to paint on the recommendation of Bob. I painted two pieces.
After a long painting session of eucalyptus trees, we headed into civilization to find a bite to eat around 2pm. It's a lot like camping and hide and seek, these plein air events with no real agenda, but to get as many pieces produced. Another artist shared with us her host's home up in the Saratoga hills with a pool, views and tableaus, but when we arrived it was not what we had hoped for. So again we diverted, returning back to paint our private Tuscan estate, this time with no car troubles and painted until 6:30.
After we completed our paintings, we went directly on to an impromptu barbeque party with a few artists at one of the generous hosts homes. Home by 11 pm and much framing and paperwork before I go to sleep.
Up around 5:00 am Thursday morning, I headed out solo to paint the city's favorite coffee stop, Los Gatos Roasters. Many people dared to ask what I'm doing and commented on how there are "more people" in the scene than what I have painted. Well, perhaps if they'd stay still long enough! As I start a piece that is early morning, I establish the shadow formations first because they move so fast and are gone before you know it.
Then down the street to a cute little store called Tassles of Los Gatos. Many onlookers again, this time not about adding "more people", but more like "I wanna buy". Now those are the kind of words I like to hear!
"For Little Girls Only" 8x6" Pastel Sold
Painting window shop scenes can be tricky and deceptive. First, you have the subject in the window, but there is also the reflections on the street bouncing off the glass. Now add the movement of the light and it really gets complicated. I decided to just scumble lighly the flat side of a pastel stick over the image to give it a "glassy" look as well as just suggest the reflections. A bit of an experiment, but I'm thinking it worked.
And of course, what's a painting if there is no laughter?
I'm really liking the window shop scenes. Playful, colorful, and identifiable are a few qualities that help sell work as I found out here.
Then I wanted to check out the Mission style church called St. Lukes that has a garden tucked away.
This one was a quick eveningstudy that I ended up not really liking, but now that I have rested up and had some time away from it, I'm liking it a lot more. Hmmm, sounds like a painting hangover.
When I woke up the next morning (Friday), my host asks me if I could paint in a spot where reporters ccould find me. So I head back over to the church garden with Thomas as I had hoped to work this scene once more.
Getting stopped midway through a painting for some press.
This interviewing thing while painting was a bit stressful for me as I was wanting to finish this final piece for tonight's Gala party. Be it stress of competing or whatever, I have eluded most of my contacts for social time while down here for business. Well, at least at the garden, I am in one spot for 3 hours this time around...long enough to meet up with my high school friend Maria, who lives in the area. What a sight for sore eyes, I tell you.
You can see that the color and values are much more brighter in this piece than the one posted above because the mid-morning light is getting flatter and cooler as the sun has less debris to filter out it's rays. Look for this in your next visit outdoors during the mid-morning and then compare the same scene in the late afternoon. Afterwards, I ran home to frame some more, fill out my paperwork, shower, dress, and then out get a small gluten-free bite to eat with friends prior dropping off my one favorite piece for the Gala.
The artists Gala is the best night of all, where the artists submit one favorite piece for judging by the participating artists over the course of the evening. Here is a clip from the event:
After the party was over, we walked over to our favorite Morning Rotary Club member's house for the party after the party and talk more about art. Can you say MORE fun? Whew!
Got up later than most days with art all framed and packed and ready for the Saturday in the Town Plaza for the big show and sale. All work had to be hung and displayed by 10 am for judging and I forgot my paperwork back at home which was filled out incomplete and incorrectly too...what next? I had to return home to retrieve it and broke the key in the door of Thomas's Jeep! Thankfully, he had a spare hidden on the car! A huge sigh of relief and a bit of embarrassment too.
All was hung with some help and then we were told to scatter from the park to avoid influencing the judging process.
I came back to some great news! My piece "Larga Vista Road" won a third place ribbon!
Woo Hoo!
With temps hovering around 99 degrees it was hard for many to stay outdoors, creating less than expected attendance. I didn't realize it any less, as I had many, many visitors and friends who stopped by to visit. Thanks to all of you who took the time to come on out! You made my reunion trip back home to Los Gatos more meaningful and was soooo great to see you!
Celebratory hug with ribbon holders Lf to Rt: Brenda Boylan 3rd pl, Lori Putnam 1st pl, Thomas Jefferson Kitts 2nd pl
After the close of show, Thomas and I immediately threw our stuff in the Jeep and headed back to Portland for a special engagement. I really love the LGPA, my time in Los Gatos, and the California sun that I miss so much, but I am also glad to be home with my family.
I painted ten pieces, sold three, won a ribbon, broke a key, lacked sleep, partied hard, and car trouble. Thank God all worked out. Los Gatos Plein Air sure felt like the "Iron Chef" of art! perhaps there's an idea?
Last year during the Los Gatos Plein Air event, I met Pete while painting an urban nocturn of the Los Gatos Theatre. As I was working the city's iconic 1940's neon structure, I was boldly interrupted by my painting buddy Thomas Kitts, who had gone across the street to grab some grub at Gardino's Restaurant. Thomas bolted back across the street to tell me in a flurry that "We have an opportunity to meet Thomas Kinkade!" Well, you can guess my hesitation to clean up my "studio" just to meet someone you hear so much about. So I packed up my pochade box and my half sketched layout to find out what the fuss was all about. Call it curiosity.
Gardino's is an Italian bistro on the main strip that sweats a "mafia" like atmosphere. Pete, who is the owner, had struck a conversation with Thomas and so it began that "he" has an artist friend too. "You may know him...Thomas Kinkaid?" Yeah, like we heard of him. So Pete tried to contact his buddy TK, waiting long into the night as we sipped wine, but to no avail there was no return call. Pete was definitely the confident Italian, with a very strong gaze and posture. I asked if he could pose for me so I could someday paint him. And so he did.
In preparation for my return to Los Gatos Plein Air, I painted "Proprietor Pete"
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