A very festive Holiday Reception at Los Gatos Museum Gallery last night. Champagne, wine and tapas, many artists, friends, patrons and lots and lots of art!
Tom Yacoe, Marie Cameron, Danielle Dufayet
Stacey Nussbaum
Marie Pascal
David Stonesifer, Ellen Howard and Carole Rafferty
Katy Kindig, Donna Orme
Veronica Gross
Joan Drennan and her patron.
Ellen Howard and Belinda Lima
Pinot making friends with Karen Van Galder’s cat sculpture (realistic enough to growl at earlier).
Santa Baby…..
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‘s oil, View of Los Gatos from Olive Grove.
I shot David working on this piece last week on Overlook Road.
Will Maller‘s oil, Morning Walk Vasona.
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.
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‘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!
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!
What makes a plein air party you may ask?
A gorgeous day, a stunning location, a mess of easels, paints, mediums, gloves and canvases or boards and you’re good to go – oh yes, and most importantly a whole whack of talented artists!
What makes it festive is a hot barbecue, a cold beer and a mountain of mouth watering desserts. Add in a painting and gift exchange, some lava soap and hand lotion all is merry and bright!
Artist Diana Leone and her husband Ed hosted the LGAA -PA holiday party this year and it was time for me to break out of the studio and brush up on my plein air skills. Most artists chose to paint a view of the meandering Calero Creek but I went with the Leone’s magnificent persimmon tree. I must say, I so enjoyed sitting underneath that canopy of impossibly orange fruit set against that brilliant blue sky, watching the flock of marauding starlings and listening to the croaking of bullfrogs – I didn’t really care how my painting was turning out! So when artist Kevin Kasik came to climb the tree and harvest what he could reach, I was only to happy to get out of the way. Not before a plump, ripe persimmon practically fell into my lap – and my, it was sweet!
Calero Creek meandering along in the morning light of a Californian winter.
Plein air artists setting up to paint along the creek.
Artist Hershel Abelman blocking in his values with a persimmon underpainting.
Artist Rebecca White ready with her palette knife!
Artist Kathy Carlquist adding the last touches to her view of the Calero Creek.
Artist Diana Leone laying in her color. Visit her website at www.dianaleone.com
Artist Cynthia DeBenedetti capturing the moment. www.cdebenedettistudio.com.
Artist Ellen Howard setting up her easel. Visit her website www.ellenhowardart.com.
Artist Will Maller setting up for plein air. His website is willmaller.com.
Will Maller has sketched in the work with persimmon orange, start with a spark!
Will Maller’s paints could be a great painting too.
The Leone’s Hachiya Persimmon tree was dripping with ripe fruit.
Flocks of marauding starlings liked them too!
Working on my persimmon painting under that big beautiful tree.
This view was the inspiration for my painting.
And the result before I let Kevin have the tree.
Artist Kevin Kasik harvesting persimmons on high.
Kevin Kasik out on a limb. See his work at www.kevinkasikart.com
Kevin Kasik tossing persimmons to artists below.
This is my favorite one of Kevin Kasik in the persimmon tree with the tub ready below.
One of two tubs filled with very ripe fruit – someone is going to be busy!
Keep it clean party favor – best soap ever! Thanks Diana!