Danville Plein Aire

8x10" oil on canvas  "Waterfront St. Cottage"

This little cottage is located at 212 Front St. in Danville, CA.  It is currently a massage business.  This little cottage sits there with the creek behind it in a row of other old cottages.  They are original dating back to the 1800's.  Sitting there on the water front, the street was named Waterfront St. and the community of Danville was later built up around these cottages.  Years later the name of the street was shortened to Front St.

This piece was painted for the historic Danville Building show celebrating the 150th birthday of Danville.  It is currently being exhibited in the Pioneer Gallery on Hartz. Blvd. in Danville, CA.  I sold this piece before I even had a chance to deliver it to the gallery along with the eucalyptus painting done at Wood Ranch, posted earlier.  The collector was nice enough to allow me to exhibit the 2 works in the show and then deliver them to her after the show closes in about 6 weeks.

I started this piece at the location, and finished it later sitting outdoors at the Pacific Fine Arts Festival last weekend.  The time of day was later afternoon and the warm golden sun was brilliant as it dappled across the roof and kissed the tips of the lavender plant out front.

The Pride Of Danville

18x24" oil on canvas, "The Pride of Danville"

This painting was done for a show celebrating 150 years of Danville, CA history.  The show opens Oct. 3rd at the Pioneer Gallery in Danville on Hartz Blvd.  Saturday night from 5 to 8PM is reception for the show. This 350 year old California live oak stands on Diablo Rd. and serves as the community tree.  They light it every Christmas season.  The citizens post birthday wishes on it.  It truly is the pride of Danville.

There are over 150 buildings on the historical register for Danville.  Because they didn't want every artist painting the same building, a lottery was held assigning various buildings to different artists.  Not being a painter of architectural structures, I tried to beg out of the show once I found out that I wasn't even going to get to pick out my subject matter.  Low and behold I ended up with the community tree! 

This was a scene that I viewed one evening in July when California was having those horrible fires all over the state.  Because of all of the smoke in the air we had the most dramatic sunsets.  The minute I turned off the freeway and on to Diablo Blvd. I knew I had to paint that sky!  Having no camera with me, this scene was painted from my memory of that evening. Gone are the fires and along with it the glorious sunset where the hills appeared to be on fire that night behind the old oak.

Come by and see the show, it really is great.  522 Hartz Blvd., Danville, CA.

Plein Aire @ Wood Ranch, Danville, CA

This morning I went out to the Don Woods Ranch in Danville, CA on Tassajara Rd. to paint with a handful of other plein aire artists. What a wonderful opportunity to be invited to this private property.  I got a personal tour of the property by Don himself. He has lived on that ranch for 73 years.  It has been in his family for a very long time.  It is truly a step back in time.  There are many out-buildings, barns, wagons, windmills, water silos, grain silos, and cabins on the property.  Some really cool dilapidating  old cabins that were used by friends and relatives that would come over for the weekend or week from the big city of San Francisco to spend time in the "country."

Here are a couple photos of me painting the eucalyptus tree and driveway to the property. I will post the painting later when the paint is dry enough to handle and photograph.

Busy Friday

"View From El Pintado"  30x48" oil on canvas

Today I am getting ready for a home show that I am having on the 17th and 18th of May.  I usually do this twice a year. Once in the spring and once near the holidays. Usually in November. Our local hills are rapidly turning gold and the green is getting more faint by the day until there will be no trace of the wet moist grass left.

I am posting one of my favorites, "View From El Pintado" which was painted at my favorite time of year.  Green and lush.  The oaks are just beginning to bud.  This is a large 30x48" oil on canvas studio piece.  I have a few pieces on the easel, but the business of art calls. Invitations, mailings, web site update and ugh!  My merchant account!!!!  The fees have increased over the last 18 months from free to $2.50 a month statement fee, to $2.50 statement fee plus $25.00 a month activity fee, (even if there is activity or even if there is no activity?)  Now, it has recently gone up to $2.50 plus $35.00!!!!!!  Time to get out of this account and check out another venue. All of this is very frustrating, and keeps me from the easel which is upsetting. I tend to stay up late and paint as it is too late to call the bank, clean the house, answer the phone, etc......  Nothing but silence and quiet painting time.  Nice.

Enjoy "View From El Pintado"  taken from a scene I hiked into up off 680 freeway in Danville, CA.  Just up above the El Pintado exit on the East side of the freeway. All private roads and homes up there, but artists are usually not kicked out.  I walked in and started sketching.  The people that did see me were happy to see what I was up to.

Have a great Friday!