Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Art Show feat. artist Alfredo Tofanelli - March 5


Reception: March 5, 2010 - 5:30 - 7:30
Exhibition dates: March 5 - April 18, 2010
Museum web site: http://www.napavalleymuseum.org

Napa Valley Museum
55 Presidents Circle
Yountville, CA

Petaluma artist Alfredo Tofanelli will be exhibiting over 50 original oil paintings at the Napa Valley Museum between March 5 and April 18.

On exhibit will be paintings painted en plein air from around the state as well as from around the country. Portrait and figure paintings will also be on exhibit as well as larger studio paintings. The majority of work has been painted within the last three years with a few pieces dating back almost thirty years.

Some of the paintings may be viewed at: http://www.tofanellistudio.com

Galleries:
Pelican Art Gallery - Petaluma, California
The Link Gallery - Cheyenne Wyoming
American Visions Art Gallery - Folsom, California

Monday, February 22, 2010

Art Show feat. artist Sergio Lopez - March 7th




Christopher Queen Galleries

The Frugal Collector

A Collection of Recent Contemporary Paintings Under $2000

Champagne Reception
Sunday, March 7th, 2010
1 PM to 3 PM

Music by Jerry Thompson
Show Ends April 25th

Ray Carpenter
Sergio Lopez
Jack Cassinetto
Terry Miura
Thomas Creed
Tom Rissacher
Christine Crozier
Rodolfo Rivademar
Allen Figone
Dave Sellers
Ronald Goldfinger
Bart Walker
Paul Kratter
Wanda Westberg
& F. Michael Wood

Christopher Queen Galleries
P.O. Box 28 - #4 John Orr's Gardens
Duncan Mills, CA 95430 (707) 865-1318
www.christopherqueengalleries.com

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Artist: Wen Chien Hou

Wen recently sent us some wonderful photos from his recent paintouts in Hualien County (Eastern Taiwan). Here's one of his pastel illustrations. And just below is an oil painting before sunset. More of Wen's paintings here and here.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

11th North Bay Plein Air - February 28th


Hopefully we are lucky enough to have clear skies that weekend. Our next destination will be at the St. Mary's Church, Nicasio CA. The group painted here back in May. If it begins to rain, there's minimal coverage.

Plenty of hills, large rocks, old buildings, church and large reservoir to paint.

The location is very easy to get to, it's just off Hwy 101. Exit St. Lucas Valley Road. After driving 20 minutes, make a right onto Nicasio Valley Road. Drive about 5 more minutes to the destination. Plenty of parking by the church and general store.

1 Old Rancheria Rd
Nicasio, CA 94946

11:00 - 11:30am - We'll meet briefly at the General Store and we'll discuss areas to paint.

11:30 - 2:30pm - Let's Paint!

2:30 - 3:00pm - Let's meet back at the front of the church to share our findings, techniques or just to chat

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Save the Granada Theater - Morgan Hill (Feb. 27th)


17440 Monterey Rd, Morgan HillCA 95037

A call has be made for our help ... that is, for plein air painters ... you can make a difference in enriching a culture of a local community, by saving an historic theater for a future multi-purpose performing arts theater.

The city will make their decision at the end of March ... and are leaning toward demolishing the theater to bring in multi-use development that is becoming commonplace (and boring) throughout California.

The group "Save the Granada" is a serious group with a strong, thought out alternative plan to renovate the theater into a multi-purpose performing arts center (live theater, music events, Hollywood movies). The last owner of 50 years was planning such an approach before she died of cancer.

So what do we need to actually do? Only what we know best how to do ... paint historic landscapes. They are asking that we travel to their town of Morgan Hill on Feb. 27th to paint the historic theater's street scene ... in other words, a Paintout!

In addition, we can show our plein air work of the theater in the community center, receive some press, and have a chance of selling a painting or two (15% to the cause). Representatives from the local community graciously offered to bring back unsold artwork to a central location in our area.

Immediate positive response has been received from accomplished East Bay plein air groups. Saturday, Feb 27th has been chosen for our paintout date. Rain cancels the paintout and March 6 will be the back up date.

(invite originally written by Sue Wilson)

Next day, Feb. 28th will be the 11th North Bay Plein Air paint out at St. Mary's Church, Nicasio CA. More details to follow this week.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

10th North Bay Plein Air - Results

(photos by: Janice L-H)


Artist: Joe Jaqua

Artist: Joe Jaqua
Artist: Jocelyn


Artist: Len Brandt
Artist: Len Brandt



Artist: Cheryl Cruz

Artist: Cheryl Cruz
Artist: Stephen Tang
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(originally posted by: Jason Courtney)

I've been thinking for awhile now that I should to get back to doing some landscapes. I've been finding it harder to go out on my own lately, and much more inclined to work in groups, meaning most of what I've been doing has been life drawing. But this means lately I've been doing practically nothing else aside from that, and I've been feeling like it's become a somewhat unbalanced practice. Fortunately I came across a painting group (accidentally, through a google reference search in fact), and spent yesterday in the idyllic grounds of St. Vincent's Church in Marin.

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(originally posted by: Janice L-H)

I met the North Bay Plein Air Painters in Marin County this last Sunday. They returned to St. Vincent Church on an initially overcast day. Later the sun decided to show its face and all 11 of the painters were glad for it, I think. The artists worked in oils, watercolor and pastel (me).

We all found different subjects to paint: the church, the courtyard fountains, the arched doorways and corridors, the surrounding countryside and gardens.


12"x18" pastel (Artist Janice L-H)



"Past the Wall at St. Vincents Church"

Below: (photos by Janice L-H)

Entrance road lined with giant Eucalyptus trees.


St Vincent's Church - marvelous stained glass interior


I loved the stone wallwork surrounding the area -
need to paint this! I will return...

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(originally posted by: Sergio Lopez)

These plein air paintings were done at St. Vincent's Church in San Rafael. Our Meetup group got together to paint as we do every month.
This first one I did in about an hour and a half, which I thought I'd spent a lot less time on it. The second one I did in about 45 minutes.


I went with a different approach on this piece. I've found that it's really hard to start with a more muted palette and end on a bright note. I instead started with my brightest primary color and mixed to a more natural tone.

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(originally posted by: Cameron Chun)

My last painting of January at Saint Vincent's Church in San Rafael. I meet up with some pals and other North Bay Plein Air Painters, it was a good turn out with about eleven artist. The day started out very gray and heavy fog, as you can see the sun came out and I ended up with a very different painting than when I started.