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!