Los Gatos Plein Air Art Show and Sale

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.

Plein Air in Los Gatos

Another fabulous Monday with the Los Gatos Art Association’s Plein Air Painters! This time we were painting on the home turf of artist David Stonesifer with it’s extensive gardens and gorgeous historic architecture.

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Roof Top- photo Marie Cameron 2016

 

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Cast Rooster on the Wall - photo Marie Cameron 2016

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer : Arzie - Cast Rabbit in the Succulents - photo Marie Cameron 2016

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Artichoke Fluff - photo Marie Cameron 2016            LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Fountain - photo Marie Cameron 2016             LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Wheel Barrow - photo Marie Cameron 2016

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - David Stonesifer Painting- photo Marie Cameron 2016

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Al Shamble - photo Marie Cameron 2016             LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer :Azrie - Nancy Takaichi - Marie Cameron 2016             LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Hershel Abelman- photo Marie Cameron 2016

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Rick Guidice - photo Marie Cameron 2016

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie  Micheal Baggett and Bonnie Joy Sedlak - photo Marie Cameron 2016

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Wall - photo Marie Cameron 2016             LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Floral Niche - photo Marie Cameron 2016             LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Urn - photo Marie Cameron 2016

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer :Azrie - In the Garden- Marie Cameron 2016

I have been to several of David’s wonderful open studios in years past, so I was a little familiar with the grounds, enough to know that I wanted to make a bee-line for the bee boxes in the orchard!

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Bee Boxes- Marie Cameron 2016

 

This is the view I settled on as I liked the way the overlapping trees in the foreground led the eye into the focal area of the bee boxes on a beautiful diagonal.

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Bee Box Orchard View- photo Marie Cameron 2016

 

After I set up my easel (still getting the hang of it – I feel like a cross between a brain surgeon and an acrobat) I sketched in my composition over what should have been a colored ground.

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Keeping Bees in the Orchard (WIP)1 - Marie Cameron 2016

 

For me, I’m not keen on blocking in values as I’m afraid it will muddy the color. This time I chose a 16 x 20 inch canvas, hoping that the larger scale would keep my painting more free and gestural. I concentrated on anchoring the scene with the darkest shadows in purples and blues and dark greens. Working dark to light is usually the best way to go with oils! I also wanted to nail some of the subtle color that was being reflected into the usually cool shadows of the bee boxes by the intensity of the yellow flowers and green grass in that morning light before it changed.

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Keeping Bees in the Orchard (WIP)2 - Marie Cameron 2016

 

It was a good start and I still consider this to be an underpainting that I would finish up later I had to break for lunch and a crit….

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Keeping Bees in the Orchard - oil on canvas 16 x12 inches - Marie Cameron 2016

 

Must say, I  looked a  lot like a mushroom in my sun hat, which I would have lost if there was any kind of breeze!

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Marie Cameron, with hat - photo Nancy Takaichi 2016

 

OK, that’s better…

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer - Arzie - Marie Cameron - photo Nancy Takaichi 2016

 

David Stonesifer and Larry Arzie generously hosted for a delicious lunch inside…

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Lunch - Marie Cameron 2016

 

…and outside on the terrace…

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Lunch - photo Marie Cameron 2016

 

….with the bunnies and clementines.

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Lunch Bunny - Marie Cameron 2016

 

My bowl of fabulous homemade Spanish Stew with Chorizo from Lèon and Chicken Meatballs from Adelle’s was even garnished with a drifting quince petal.

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Spanish Stew with drifting Quince Petal - Marie Cameron 2016

 

After lunch Will Maller ran a crit  so we could all learn from each other’s work.

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Deep in Thought  - photo Marie Cameron 2016

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer - Arzie - Will Maller- photo Marie Cameron 2016

 

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Sam Pearson - photo Marie Cameron 2016

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Will Maller crit  for Annette Haines- photo Marie Cameron 2016

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - David Stonesifer - photo Marie Cameron 2016

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Will Maller crit  for Hershel - photo Marie Cameron 2016             LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Will Maller crit  for Nancy Takaichi- photo Marie Cameron 2016             LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Will Maller crit  for Rick Guidice - photo Marie Cameron 2016

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer : Arzie - Hellen Yang, Rebecca White, Carole Rafferty, Kathy Kleinsteiber - photo Marie Cameron 2016

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Rebecca White (painting) after Jeff Owen (sculpture) - photo Marie Cameron 2016                  LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer - Arzie - Lisha Wang - photo Marie Cameron 2016                 LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer -Arzie - Will Maller crit  for Kathy Carlquist - photo Marie Cameron 2016

LGAA - Plein Air Painters - Stonesifer - Arzie - Will Maller -crit - photo Marie Cameron 2016Really great critique…. I even got a little applause from Will for my painting – though maybe it was really for the bravery of coming out and working so ambitiously large for my second time out with the group (being a studio painter)!  I’m still kind of befuddled as the painting doesn’t feel finished to me.  Will said it should physically hurt when you’re pushing at the edges of your comfort zone and growing as a painter. I guess I’m growing then because I promised him I wouldn’t touch it (yes it’s hurting) and I would do a second, separate painting of the same subject if I had to work out the vision in my head! The challenge will be to find a balance of the freshness and spontaneity of this painting with the finesse and polish in my mind’s eye…. apparently a good place to start will be with a colored ground.

How fortunate I feel to be working with this great group of artists, in these spectacular locations with all this great advice and company!

 

Los Gatos Plein Air 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.

Plein Air 2015 - viewing- photo Marie Cameron 2015

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!).

Plein Air 2015 - Art Docents - photo Marie Cameron 2015

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!

Plein Air 2015 - Carole Rafferty - photo Marie Cameron

Congratulations to Carole Rafferty who was awarded Best in Show!

Plein Air 2015 - Caole Rafferty, BEST IN SHOW - photo Marie Cameron 2015.

Plein Air 2015 - Carole Rafferty, Golden State - photo Marie Cameron 2015

Plein Air 2015 - David Stonesifer - photo Marie Cameron 2015

David Stonesifer.

Plein Air 2015 - David Stonesifer, View of LG from Olive Grove - photo Marie Cameron 2015

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

Plein Air 2015 - David Stonesifer, the piece I shot him working on- photo Marie Cameron 2015

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

Plein Air 2015 - Will Maller - photo Marie Cameron 2015

Will Maller.

Plein Air 2015 - Will Maller, Morning Walk Vasona - photo Marie Cameron 2015

Will Maller‘s oil, Morning Walk Vasona.

Plein Air 2015 - Ed Lucey - photo Marie Cameron 2015

Ed Lucey.

Plein Air 2015 - Ellen Howard - photo Marie Cameron 2015

Ellen Howard.

Ellen Howard  - oil painting -  LG Plein Air 2015

Ellen Howard‘s oil painting.

Plein Air 2015 - 2nd place Greg LaRock - photo Marie Cameron 2015

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

Plein Air 2015 - Honorable Mention- Erich Neubert, A Walik in the Park - photo Marie Cameron 2015

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

Plein Air 2015 - Kim VanDerHoek - photo Marie Cameron 2015

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

Plein Air 2015 -Honorable Mention  - Kim VanDerHoek- photo Marie Cameron 2015

 

Plein Air 2015 - Lorraine Lawson - photo Marie Cameron 2015

Lorraine Lawson.

Plein Air 2015 - Susan Elwart Hall - photo Marie Cameron 2015

Susan Elwart Hall.

Plein Air 2015 - Susan Elwart Hall , Pentouse View- photo Marie Cameron 2015

Susan Elwart Hall‘s Penthouse View.

Plein Air 2015 - Susan Elwart Hall, the piece I shot her working on - photo Marie Cameron 2015

I shot Susan painting this piece on Overlook Road.

Plein Air 2015 - Sylvia Dahlgren - photo Marie Cameron 2015

Sylvia Dahlgren painting away.

Plein Air 2015 - Sylvia Dalhgren, Point Lobos - photo Marie Cameron 2015

Sylvia Dahlgren‘s oil, Point Lobos.

Plein Air 2015 - Yong Hong Zhong- photo Marie Cameron 2015

Yong Hong Zhong.

Plein Air 2015 - Yong Hong Zhong, Hiding From the Sun - photo Marie Cameron 2015

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

Plein Air 2015 - Anton Pavelnko - photo Marie Cameron 2015

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.

Plein Air 2015 - meeting with an artist- photo Marie Cameron 2015

Plein Air 2015 - Elvis and gentleman companion - photo Marie Cameron 2015

Elvis and his gentleman companion taking in the art.

Plein Air 2015 - Mira and Me - photo Marie Cameron 2015

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

Plein Air 2015 - Nancy MacDonald, title unavailable - photo Marie Cameron 2015

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

 

Art Walk

A little wine, a little walk, a lot of art…once a month downtown Los Gatos has been holding an art walk where merchants hosting local artists sport orange and while balloons. I caught it last night, (as a guest, not a participant) it was a lot of fun and a great success!

Julia Watson was featured at Cover Story exhibiting her floral oil paintings.

Julia Watson at Cover Story - Art Walk

Julia's Roses - Art Walk

Julia's Hollyhocks - Art Walk

 

Jeanne Tillman was at Harvest with her paper cast bows and leaves.

Jeanne Tillman at Harvest  - Art Walk

Jeanne Tillman at Harvest - Art Walk

 

Carol Bower was showing acrylic and Pastel paintings at Harvest.

Carol Bower at Harvest - Art Walk

Carol Bower's Pastel at Harvest - Art Walk

 

Tom Yacoe‘s serene landscapes were featured at Jco’s Place.

Jco's Place - Art Walk 2014

Tom Yacoe at Jco's Place - Art Walk

Marie Cameron and Tom Yacoe at Jco's Place (Smedt, Yacoe, di Pietro, Owens)

 

Will Maller did a beautiful oil painting demo at the Los Gatos Museums Gallery.

Will Maller LGMG Art Walk

 

I even came away with a lovely painting of Carol Bower’s that I could’t resist!

Potted Plant 4 - Carol Bower


Potted Plant 4 by Carol Bower

There were lots of other artists and shops that I didn’t get to  but there’s always next month!

Plein Air Party

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- photo Marie Cameron 2012


Calero Creek meandering along in the morning light of a Californian winter.

Plein Air Painters - Photo Marie Cameron 2012


Plein air artists setting up to paint along the creek.

Artist Hershel Abelman - Photo by Marie Cameron 2012


Artist Hershel Abelman blocking in his values with a persimmon underpainting.

Artist Rebecca White - photo Marie Cameron 2012


Artist Rebecca White ready with her palette knife!

Artist Kathy Carlquist  - photo by Marie Cameron 2012


Artist Kathy Carlquist adding the last touches to her view of the Calero Creek.

Artist Diana Leone (portrait) - photo Marie Cameron 2012


Artist Diana Leone laying in her color. Visit her website at www.dianaleone.com

Artist Cynthia DeBenedetti - photo by Marie Cameron 2012


Artist Cynthia DeBenedetti  capturing the moment.  www.cdebenedettistudio.com.

Artist Ellen Howard - photo by Marie Cameron 2012


Artist Ellen Howard setting up her easel. Visit her website www.ellenhowardart.com.

Artist Will Maller - Photo by Marie Cameron 2012


Artist Will Maller setting up for plein air.  His website is willmaller.com.

Artist Will Maller's Set Up - photo Marie Cameorn 2012


Will Maller has sketched in the work with persimmon orange, start with a spark!

Will Maller's Paints - photo Marie Cameron 2012


Will Maller’s paints could be a great painting too.

Persimmons and Sky - photo Marie Cameron 2012


The Leone’s Hachiya Persimmon tree was dripping with ripe fruit.

Marauding Starlings - photo Marie Cameron 2012


Flocks of marauding starlings liked them too!

Sitting Under the Persimmon Tree Painting - photo Kevin Kasik 2012


Working on my persimmon painting under that big beautiful tree.

My Inspiration - photo Marie Cameon 2012


This view was the inspiration for my painting.

Fresh Persimmon Painting - photo Marie Cameron 2012


And the result before I let Kevin have the tree.

Kevin Kasik Persimmon Harvesting - photo Marie Cameron 2012


Artist Kevin Kasik harvesting persimmons on high.

Kevin Kasik Out on a Limb - photo Marie Cameron 2012


Kevin Kasik out on a limb.  See his work at www.kevinkasikart.com

Kevin Kasik Tossing a Persimmon - photo by Marie Cameron - 2012


Kevin Kasik tossing persimmons to artists below.

Kevin Kasik in Persimmon Tree 1- photo Marie Cameron 2012


This is my favorite one of Kevin Kasik in the persimmon tree with the tub ready below.

Tub of Persimmons - photo Marie Cameron 2012


One of two tubs filled with very ripe fruit – someone is going to be busy!

Lava - photo Marie Cameron 2012


Keep it clean party favor – best soap ever! Thanks Diana!