Los Gatos Plein Air Art Show and Sale

June 18, 2016

The Los Gatos Morning Rotary Club hosts the the annual Los Gatos Plein Air Art Show and Sale. Artists from all over the US are juried into this week long event where artists paint throughout the area, producing an amazing oeuvre of fresh work to be auctioned and sold at the end – the results are always impressive!Here a few shots I manage to capture from today’s sale at the Town Plaza (artists websites are linked to their names).

Greg LaRock (Newport Beach, CA) – Best of Show

Suzy Long – ( Mendocino, CA) The Copper Bucket – People’s Choice Award

Susan Elwart Hall (Atherton, CA) – Artist’s Choice Award

Susan Elwart Hall – Pink Buzz – Oil – Honorable Mention

John Guernsey (Marietta, GA) – Courtyard at the winery -Oil -Second Place

Waye McKenzie (Truckee, CA)

Wayne McKenzie – Mountain View – Oil – Third Place

Wayne McKenzie – Friendly Rivalry – Oil

Wayne McKenzie – Santa Cruz Surfers – Oil

Anton Pavlevnko (Mollala, OR)

Anton Pavlevnko – Trickling Creek – Oil – Honorable Mention

Terri Ford (San Jose, CA)

Terri Ford – Valley Vista – Pastel – Honorable Mention (with a bit of reflection)

Kevin Kasik (San Jose, CA)

Kevin Kasik – Shannon Road (detail) – Oil

Me and Kevin hanging…

David Stonesifer (Los Gatos, CA)

David Stonesifer – Foot of Shannon Road – Oil

Ed Lucey (Los Gatos, CA)

Will Maller ( Los Altos, CA)

Sergio Lopez (Santa Rosa, CA)

Sergio Lopez – Capitola Rooftops- Gouache

Barbara Clark (Corrales, NM)

Barbara Clark – painting detail – oil

Sterling Hoffmann (Sebastopol, CA)

Abby Zhang (Los Gatos, CA)

Laura Wambgans (Santa Clarita, CA)

Art Docent Volunteers, Julia and Judith

Art lovers

Artist Lorraine Lawson volunteering with the Morning Rotary.

Los Gatos Plein Air 2015

June 23, 2015

I love plein air! It’s magical how artists go out and brave the elements and a cacophony of input and paint up a little gem in a matter of minutes – so fresh, so immediate! Los Gatos Town Plaza was filled with such gorgeous wet paintings by artists from all over the West Coast that had been juried into Los Gatos Plein Air 2015. Artists had begun painting on location last Tuesday with canvases stamped at NUMU and had wrapped up their work by Friday night with a VIP Auction.

Organized by the by the Los Gatos Morning Rotary Club, proceeds from the event are going to support Montalvo Arts Center, the Museums of Los Gatos, Lighting for Literacy, Los Gatos Music and Arts and Art Docents of Los Gatos (which was represented by this great group of women – Hey Louise and Elizabeth!).

The Los Gatos Museums Gallery was well represented with five member artists participating, Ellen Howard, Ed Lucey, Will Maller, Carole Rafferty and David Stonesifer. In fact, Carole Rafferty was awarded best in show!

Congratulations to Carole Rafferty who was awarded Best in Show!

David Stonesifer.

David Stonesifer‘s oil, View of Los Gatos from Olive Grove.

I shot David working on this piece last week on Overlook Road.

Will Maller.

Will Maller‘s oil, Morning Walk Vasona.

Ed Lucey.

Ellen Howard.

Ellen Howard‘s oil painting.

2nd Place was awarded to Greg LaRock for his oil painting of a creek in Saratoga.

I missed 3rd place, but an Honorable Mention went to Erich Neubert for A Walk in the Park.

Another Honorable Mention went to Kim VanDerHoek for this lake scene below.

Lorraine Lawson.

Susan Elwart Hall.

Susan Elwart Hall‘s Penthouse View.

I shot Susan painting this piece on Overlook Road.

Sylvia Dahlgren painting away.

Sylvia Dahlgren‘s oil, Point Lobos.

Yong Hong Zhong.

Yong Hong Zhong‘s oil, Hiding from the Sun.

Anton Pavlenko was awarded an honorable mention, for a beautiful little painting, I was going to take a photo of it but then I got distracted by this one:

Anton Pavlenko‘s oil, Morning Meditation.

Elvis and his gentleman companion taking in the art.

Mira Petkova, a fabulous new volunteer at the gallery who is helping with promotion material, and myself shooting the event (Thanks Thuy Le).

Nancy MacDonald‘s oil, Joined at the Hip – love those stabs of red!

Fins, Feathers and Fur

March 8, 2015

One of the really nice things about the Fins, Feathers and Fur Exhibit at the Pacific Art League (besides the soulful art) is that many of the exhibiting artists have chosen to donate 10% from the sale of their work to the Peninsula Humane Society / SPCA!

On hand at Friday night’s opening reception were two of their friendly volunteers and Swiss, a very cute and totally adoptable puppy! Here he is happily flaked out after so much adoring attention.

This show was juried by Bradley Platz of Modern Eden Gallery in San Francisco. He spoke at the reception but sadly before I had arrived.

1st place was awarded to this striking sculpture, Cougar, made from recycled tires by Blake McFarland. The photo does not show how the great texture and personality in this work, for that, see the artist’s website – I’ve provided links on all the artist’s names where available.

2nd place went to Maura Carta for her oil painting Rabbit.

3rd place was awarded to Denise Howard for her flawless colored pencil drawing What Is It?.

Honorable Mentions were awarded to Elaine Heron for her photograph, Sled Dog Guarding her Pups in Greenland.

This abstract drawing which I failed to get a name or title on.

And to David Fleming’s oil painting, Wayward Bus.

There were three artists from the Los Gatos Museums Gallery with work in this show, Carol Rafferty with her oil painting, Two Cows.

Ed Lucey with his oil painting, I See You.

And myself with my oil painting, Strawberry Demitasse Trio.

It was fascinating to see all the different takes on animals, from the realistically observational, the whimsical, the symbolic and the political / environmental.

Janice Wong’s oil painting, Spring Hill Way Series – Autumn.

Jean-Marc Brugeilles’ oil painting, The Stool and the Rabbit.

Diana Lee‘s scratchboard drawing Guess What.

John Haynes watercolor painting, Which Brush?

Skye Becker-Yamakawa and her Big Cat acrylic paintings (left), Tulio Flores‘s found object sculpture, Morph (center) and Jeffery Anthony Baylon’s manipulated photographs on metal, Bottled 1 and 2 (right).

Jenifer Renzel‘s assemblage, Walking Stick.

Joyeux Noël!

December 5, 2014

A lovely evening of art, wine, hors d’oeuvres and great company at the Los Gatos Museums Gallery’s holiday reception! It’s so nice to spend the evening with all our local member artists and our fabulous art loving community!

The holiday reception invitation was based on a detail from the painting, Joyeux Noël by one of new member artists, Johane Amirault’s. Her vibrant, (usually) abstract work is a welcome addition to the gallery!

I love the way the community comes our to celebrate with us every year!

The tree was hung with the small treasure paintings, proceeds of which are earmarked for our party fund! Looks like member artist Belinda Lima is working the desk.

Member artists Ellen Howard (who’s new to the gallery this year with her beautiful oil landscapes) and Ed Lucey chatting in the corner.

Member artist Veronica Gross conversing with quests in this corner.

I love when this kind of thing happens, I had gone over to complement this woman on her fabulous taste (loved her vintage style) only to find out that she was the very person who now owns the folding screen that is in the background of my painting Feathers! Her friend, Lisa, had discovered this the month before when she was admiring my painting and brought her to the reception. It was a blast to talk with Shanna and Lisa, who are both portrait lovers, and to hear their fabulous stories of the portraits in their lives. I felt like I was finding members of my tribe!

Member artists Mary Ann Henderson and Carole Rafferty talking with artist Tom Yacoe.

Larry Arzie with guests by the small treasures tree.

Is that member artist Kevin Kasik on the left (I’m not sure as it looks like he’s traded his standard page boy for a holiday fedora)?

Member artists Julia Watson and Nancy deWeess looking to thank co-owners Larry Arzie and David Stonesifer for all they do to make this great gallery possible!

Thanks too to Julia Watson, member artist and part time manager of our gallery for all her hard work making this year a very successful one!

Member artist Sandi Okita who has some beautiful portraits on exhibit.

Thanks to everyone who turned out and to those who volunteered to make this a such a nice event!

Land’ Sea’ and Urbanscapes at PAL

October 10, 2014

The Pacific Art League held a reception for their October exhibition Landscapes, Seascapes and Urbanscapes, juried by Sara Kabot, Head of Exhibitions at the Cantor. I was pretty excited to hear that one of my two oil paintings juried in (Bottom of the Bay) was awarded First Place! There had been a record 343 entries for this show and a lot of really fine work! I’ve linked artist’s websites to their names it you want to visit them.

So happy to see the blue!

Gary Coleman, felllow Los Gatos Museums Gallery member, was awarded Second Place for his oil, Blazing Shadows.

Third Place went to this gorgeous photograph. So hard to catch the delicacy of these images when up against glass and reflections!

Lisa J Ellis Sunbathing Photography Honorable Mention – love it, it seems so Californian to me!

Living Water 1, an acrylic by Malika Santa Cruz was awarded an Honorable Mention. There was another Honorable Mention for a photography of the Giants Ball Park but my image was so blurry I couldn’t post it.

Cynthia Barmore‘s Stanford in oil was a small but perfect painting.

There was a gorgeous encaustic, Down The Road, by PAL instructor Janet Bartlet.

I was happy to see a group of my friends were juried in as well. Curiously, they all had window placements which is great exposure but challenging to shoot. Maralyn Miller, Los Gatos artist and current LGAA president, exhibited her beautiful Pacific Grove oil.

Ed Lucey, fellow Los Gatos Museums Gallery member, Los Gatos Artist and also LGAA member was showing his oil, North of Salinas (dramatic view of hills lower right.)

Saratoga Artist and LGAA member, Isaias Sandoval was exhibiting his acrylic Ocean View.

Kit Colman was exhibiting the oil painting Moon Over Palo Alto.

Archil Pichkhadze was showing his stunning oil painting Three. I had recently been introduced to his work through Anne and Mark’s Art Party and through assemblage artist Jennifer J. Renzel now I’m a big fan!

Anita Tran with her Photoshop CC, The Stanford Quad (center) flanked by photos of young art critics taking a close look at the art.

Mark Monsarrat with Half Moon Bay Farm (left), one of thoe oil paitings he har juried in, Angelica Spurigo with her oil The Vessel (center) and Patti Bond with Yellow Swirl (right), one of two photographs she had on exhibit.

Caroline Mustard was also having an exhibit of her ipad digital Art in the Corridor Gallery.

Pacific Art League instructor and watercolorist, Steve Curl gave a live demo of his technique, a real crowd pleaser! His dynamic use of a wash in the island’s light filled mist – very nice!

Last Hours – SVOS 2014

May 19, 2014

I was able to squeeze in a few more studio visits before time ran out on the 28th annual Silicon Valley Open Studios. Click on the artist’s name for a link to their website.

First on my list was Ed Lucey‘s hilltop Los Gatos studio ( Site 271). I have admired his work since I arrived in California in 1997 where I saw it at the Pacific Art League and although we both belong to the Los Gatos Museums Art Gallery and the Los Gatos Art Association, I have never seen his studio!

I was not disappointed. It was overflowing with richly hued landscapes and the occasional still life and that was just what was on the walls – lots more in the pull out racks!

The artist talking with studio guests.

Ed Lucey’s work is really rooted in the local landscape, you can feel that as you gaze out over the valley below his studio.

His plein air easel was set up on the patio – you really need that umbrella for the California sun!

Michael Rogan, who belongs to the Los Gatos Museums Gallery and the Los Gatos Art Association too, was also exhibiting his work at Ed’s. Michael had his great watercolor landscapes and portraits and I’ve seen his roosters before but his parrots were new to me!

Not the only wildlife to be seen at the studio…..

Yes, that’s a rattler – a little one and, sadly, not a live one anymore but it was amazing to examine it up close and to remember that though we seldom see these snakes, they’re close by!

The last stop on my list was Holly Van Hart‘s Saratoga studio. I met Holly this last year as she became a new member of the Los Gatos Museums Gallery and won the Triton Museum of Art’s Statewide Painting Competition (and a coveted solo show). She’s busy preparing an “oeuvre” of nest and egg themed paintings related to her winning entry, Possibilities Abound, for this upcoming exhibition.

Possibilities Alight

Queen of Possibilities

Holly’s nests are very warm and fluid and textured, I especially love Possibilities Alight where the nest is precariously perched among all those lovely magnolias and the activity within the nest is implied but still mysterious. Can’t wait for the show!

Spring Awakening

April 19, 2014

I finally got a chance to visit the Spring Awakening show at the Pacific Art League that was juried by Los Gatos artists Maralyn Miller and Ed Lucey and I was delighted to see that I had been awarded 3rd place for one of my two entries!

Here’s the run down of awards, (click on the artist’s name for more information):

1st place went to Fred Holle from San Carlos for his acrylic, When Winter Comes Can Spring be Far Behind?

2nd place was awarded to Lyn Twitchell of Gardnerville, Nevada for her oil, Jessica 1. So lush!

3rd place was given to my oil, Lily of the Valley With Cows.

Honorable Mention went to Mark Garner of Palo Alto for his watercolor, Peaceful Reflections.

I Never Promised You A Rose Garden #1, a photograph by Robin Apple of Palo Alto also received an Honorable Mention.

Second Day in Yellow, an oil by Sagi Erez of Sunnyvale was awarded an Honorable Mention too.

I really enjoyed the exuberance of Cupertino’s Jennifer Blalack’s acrylic, Spring Reflected. I love how the blossoms seem to bloom out of a chaos of golden mud!

I was happy to see two fellow Los Gatos Museums Gallery artists in the show, Julia Watson of San Jose with her acrylic, Spring of ’13 and Deborah Gabris of Los Gatos with her acrylic, Spring in Pacific Grove, Carpet Ice Plants.

It was nice to see one of my photographs hanging in an exhibit for a change! Here I am with Dancing on Yellow.

My favorite in the exhibit was still Skye Becker-Yamakawa‘s Hesperia which was featured on the postcard for the show. Heavenly! How fun it would be to decorate a room around this painting!

Spring Awakening

April 3, 2014

Isn’t she lovely? This is the Pacific Art League‘s card for this month’s exhibit, Spring Awakening featuring Hesperia by Skye Becker-Yamakawa The show was juried by two great local artists Maralyn Miller and Ed Lucey and I’m delighted to have two pieces in the show!

The first is Lily of the Valley with Cows, an oil painting which certainly feels like spring to me.

The second is Dancing on Yellow – A digital photograph that I took this year – springy in more ways than one!

The show runs from April 4-24, with a reception this Friday, April 4 from 5:30 – 8:00pm.

Los Gatos Plein Air 2013 – Silent Auction

June 30, 2013

I was able to catch the last few hours of the Los Gatos Plein Air Art Show down town after taking in the Triton Midsummer Art Celebration last weekend. I knew I was in the right place as there was a steady stream of people leaving the Town Park Plaza laden with heavy gold frames holding freshly painted works of art! Los Gatos Plein Air is a fundraiser presented by the Los Gatos Morning Rotary Club. Jurored artists have nearly a week to paint at least six plein air pieces of local vistas. This event supports the arts, music and youth in the South Bay, and the humanities programs of Rotary International.

It was amazing to see what these talented plein air artists were able to whip up in such a short time! I can imagine the pressure is so intense to produce your best work on demand like this! I’ve provided links to their websites, which can be reached by clicking on their names.

Ed Lucey is a Los Gatos artist, a member of the LGMG and LGAA who was recently featured in Artist’s Magazine! He specializes in local landscape and playful still life oil paintings.

Hey I know that cactus! I pass it on my favorite evening walk. It’s funny how I’ve photographed it, been photographed with it but never though to painting it. Ed Lucey has done such a beautiful job with it – I’m loving all those warm rich tones!

Terri Ford (in the shades) is an accomplished pastel artist from San Jose who used to be a member of our gallery. I miss seeing her paintings there as I always covet them! Her use of color and material is always gorgeous, sadly not so evident from this photo as her display was hopping! Her website is great though and she teaches classes!

Sergio Lopez, from Santa Rosa, reminds me of one of my favorite impressionaist artists, Childe Hassam, especially the painting of the bluff (upper left). I think he said it was from Wilder State Park in Santa Cruz. Sergio also paints an exquisite series of women overlaid with floral patterns, called Painted Roses, how I adore them! For a full rundown on all the pieces he did for the show, check out his great blog!

John White of Long Beach is a plein air and studio artist. I love the seascape on the bottom right. See all those empty hooks? Those paintings went off to new homes before the close of the auction, one of them (a fresh vineyard scene) can be seen on his website.

Exhibiting artist David Stonesifer of Los Gatos and artist Lesley Underwood (both Los Gatos Gallery Members) were enjoying a moment at David’s display.

I love the compostion, the square format and the pink undertones in Here is David Stonesifer’s oil painting, Laguna Road at Santa Teresa!

Tonja Zenin of Cupertino painted several views from one of my favorite spots, Shark Tooth Cove in Davenport!

Anton Pavlenko also did several paintings from Shark Tooth Cove too, I mean who could resist (not me) It’s beautiful there!

Look how the color of the water warms up as it hits the beach and goes cool and deep as it hits the shadow from the rocks! Those loose, buttery brush strokes make me salivate!

For me, this little oil painting, Waiting to Cross also by Anton Pavlenko is what plein air is all about! With only a few exuberantly textured and vibrant strokes he has captured but also transformed a familiar scene. The staccatos of red and green really animate the piece and the entire image seems to shimmer with the movement of the juicy brushwork. I go for burgers now and then at that building on the right, It overlooks the plaza where the silent auction was held.

Here’s another familiar haunt charmingly rendered in pastel by Brenda Boylan of Beaverton, Oregon in Coffee Break. How did she capture moving people like that! This is clearly the Los Gatos Roasting Company on Main Street where there’s always a good crowd and on weekends there are hoards of cyclists and dogs of all breeds added to the mix! I love her use of color and raking lines.

I ran into John Agg, Executive Director of the Art Museum of Los Gatos and artist Kee Jin who were taking in the event.

I got to meet Sterling Hoffman of Sebastopol for the first time. You can see some of his work is on the left, paintings from Garrod Farms, a spot with which I’m very familiar with as my daughter loves the horse camps they offer there.

Marti Walker of West Sacramento did this charming pastel of one of Los Gatos’s storefronts (Tassels, I’m guessing). Just one of the many paintings proving the town to be as pretty as a picture!