Point Richmond - Canal Street - August 30, 2009

It was a foggy morning but soon the sun came out over Miller Knox Park. By the time I got there about noon, the picnic grounds were fairly protected from the wind but it was still pretty windy and cool by the water. After finding Sergio and Fran settled into their spots, I decided to drive down Dornan Drive to Ferry Point to look for painters. Not seeing any more easels setting up, I headed through Brickyard Cove over the hill to Canal Street near Shipyard #3 where I hoped to be able to paint tugboats. They were working that day and in addition to sailboats and parasails I caught sight of this one coming into the Marina Harbor Channel.


I set up near a very attractive drainage ditch (leave it to me to find a marshy spot with sea birds in all that concrete). It gave me a view of the Harbor Channel on one side and a view toward Mount Tam, and the megaexpensive houses built on piers over the water along Sandpiper Spit, next to the Richmond Yacht Club.

Aside from the occasional Richmond police cruiser, hiker, and tourists on the way to see the Red Oak Victory Ship, most of the traffic was on the water. A very nice day indeed!

Angel Island From The Miller Knox Trail in Richmond, California

Sunday, August 30, 11am - 3pm, Miller-Knox Regional Shoreline Park

We're all set and ready to paint this
coming Sunday in Point Richmond.

Park description
A beautifully landscaped shoreline picnic area, a secluded cove, a fishing pier at a historic site a hilltop with excellent panoramic views of the north Bay Area and a model railroad museum (across the street) - all these attractions are part of 307-acre Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline in Richmond.

The park was named in honor of the late State Senator George Miller, Jr., and for John T. Knox, a Point Richmond resident and former State Assemblyman.

The park is located on Dornan Drive, south through the automobile tunnel from Garrard Boulevard in Point Richmond.

Food & Drinks
Passed the auto tunnel is old town Point Richmond. Plenty of restaurants and small market for lunch.

Directions
From I-580 West in Richmond, exit at Canal Boulevard. Turn left at the light onto Canal. Turn right at the light onto W. Cutting Bl., then left at the stop sign onto Garrard Bl. Proceed through the auto tunnel; Garrard becomes Dornan Drive on the south side of the auto tunnel. The park entrance will be on the right less than 1/2 mile south of the tunnel.

Bathrooms
Yes - can be found at the Miller-Knox Park and Ferry Point parking lot.

NEW: We are on Meetup.com

It's official, we back up and running again. We're excited to announce our new Meetup group: www.meetup.com/north-bay-plein-air

New Meetup Group

Thanks for everyone's patience, we will have the our new Meetup group up and running later this week. It will titled, "North Bay Plein Air".

Another announcement will be made when we are officially online.

Have a great week!

San Francisco Chronicle: Iris Sabre

San Francisco Chronicle, Thurs, Aug. 20, 2009 - Page D3

Artist: Iris Sabre

Art Crawling in Yountville – Napa Valley Art Festival – August 15, 2009

Here's my first contribution. Hang on - it might get bumpy!
It was a great day to travel to Napa - warm and sunny but very comfortable on the grassy area under the tent. The show was in the Pavilion at V Marketplace (plenty of parking on Washington Ave and in the parking lot south of the marketplace).

http://www.wwwpallas.com/ArtFestival
This year’s judges were Kevin Macpherson, Kathryn Stats, and Jean Stern.
The winners of the Artists' Choice, Jurors' Choice andCalifornia Art Club Awards are: http://www.wwwpallas.com/ArtFestival/winners2009.htm
"Afternoon Lines"by Terry MiuraWinner of the Artists' Choice Award
"Granite in Shadow"by Bill ConeWinner of the Jurors' Choice Award
" Turner Road "by Janette JonesWinner of the California Art Club Award

The show had tables and market umbrellas for diners who chose to partake of the barbecue there but there were plenty of wonderful delis and bakeries within walking distance for a quick snack (see list at end). This venue was very nice as you could easily go shopping at nearby Michael Chiarello's Napa Style (where you might catch a glimpse of the cooking star if he’s in town), or cruise the galleries, gift and wine shops or ice cream parlor in V Marketplace. Collectors were out in force with their children in tow and their dogs on leash or stowed away in a pocketbook!

Meeting the Artists was very easy:
(left to right: Douglas Morgan, Bill Cone, Karen Leoni)

Painting Demonstration by Mark Farina:

The Artists were easily approachable and some pretty wonderful images were seen that day. I think most did quite well selling as I saw plenty of red dots on the displays in the early afternoon! Some familiar faces: Kevin Courtier, Bryan Mark Taylor, Kristine Pallas, Kathy O’Leary, Leslie Wilson (one of the Benicia Artists!), Douglas Morgan, Paul Kratter, and pastelists Terri Ford, Kim Lordier, Bill Cone, Ann MacMillan and Clark Mitchell all had some wonderful works on display!

Other places visited in Yountville:

Great sandwiches at Ranch Market Too Deli (on Washington)
http://www.yelp.com/biz/ranch-market-too-yountville

Excellent coffee and pastries at Bouchon Bakery: http://www.bouchonbakery.com/showPlace.php?id=1

Watercolorist Gail Chandler at V Marketplace:
http://gail-chandler.fineartamerica.com/
Check out this link for some of the fine buildings in the area that Gail has painted.

Pastel Artist Steve Gordon http://www.thegordongallery.com/

I had a little bit of time while munching at lunch to do a quick sketch:

Bistro Jeanty (Artist Janice L-H)

150th Anniversary

This past weekend also celebrated the "Mare Island Naval Cemetery 150th Anniversary Commemoration ". I decided to paint something small to submit for the silent auction. Not sure if my painting found a home by the end of the day? But all proceeds will benefit next year's Mare Faire.

Artist: Gerald de Dios

(gouach on watercolor postcard 4" x 6")

Mare Faire 2009

Really fun paintout competition last weekend during the Mare Island "Mare Faire".

"Best in Show"
Artist: Iris Sabre
(oils on canvas)
3rd place
Artist: Gerald de Dios
Titled: "Quarters M4"
(gouache on watercolor board 7"x10")

Artist Sergio Lopez took home 1st and 2nd place - please see below!

Mare Island Paintout

This weekend was the Mare Island Faire paintout in Vallejo. It was pretty cool, the first time I entered into a competition, though very small. Only about 5 participants. Though I didn't win Best in Show, I took home 1st and 2nd place awards! The judge was Ed Bertolet. Iris Sabre won Best in Show, and Gerald de Dios took home 3rd place.

1st Place Winner: Red Tree



2nd Place Winner: Secluded Base









I took reference shots on my cell phone so the pics arent the greatest. You can see the places I chose to paint from.