WATERBABY'S CIRCUS

I had to pick up two watercolors this morning from the California Watercolor Assn. Gallery Concord. Since the day was young and the weather sunny, I thought I'd detour a bit on the return trip and visit the little town of Port Costa . Hadn't been there in several years, and I'd been thinking for some time that it would make a great plein air site for my El Cerrito Art Assn. group. It's a funky old bay side port town with an excess of scenic charm, and lovely vistas of water. Well, lo and behold. I pulled into the gravel lot and there right in front of me were a couple folks I knew who were painting with a Martinez Adult School plein air class. Although the class was already winding down, I decided to stick around awhile and scout out possibilities for future painting. As I rambled around, I discovered a humongous old fig tree down by the railroad tracks, loaded down with ripe luscious purple fruit, there for the taking. I guess in itself this wasn't a great find, ex

Today was a plein air day. I met up with some other members of the El Cerrito Art Assn. at a garden nursery in San Pablo called Annie's Annuals . Tho I'd driven by before, today was the first time I actually went in and was hugely rewarded for my efforts. Just tons of plants to look at and buy, but what I liked most was the planted areas. If only I could transform my square of dirt that I generously call my yard into something like these. I painted for a couple hours in my sketch book. Then went searching for some plants. Although there are literally thousands of plants and flowers to choose from, I eventually narrowed my purchases down to 4 or 5. My criteria are tough: must be able to withstand drought conditions (cuz you won't get much water from me); be able to survive severe to total neglect; have a natural repellant that discourages weeds, snails, slugs, and hopefully raccoons; and ideally, be self-pruning and gorgeous. I know, I demand a lot. But there are a few thi

While digging around in some reference photos this afternoon, I came across some taken a few months ago on a plein air session on the Benicia shoreline. That day was miserably cold, overcast and made worse by a nasty wind cutting in off the water. I woulda bailed, but someone else was driving. I don't do well in temperatures much lower than around 70. I snapped a bunch of possibly painting-worthy shots, but as far as actually painting, not much, my fingers were freezing. I did a fast and small sketch to finish later. I later worked on it, but it was not one of my more succesful attempts. Rather gray and dismal, and the wave of swamp grass was too unmanageable, so I turned it into some water, only the shape was rather boring. Then I foto'ed it outside under more cloudy skies, so it appears even grimmer than it really is. I might return, but the weather will have to be considerably warmer.

I checked out Oakland Art Assn's online gallery today, and found my latest painting. Sorry about the watermark, but this is the only copy I have - I painted it, matted and framed it so fast I didn't get a chance to have it decently copied. I'll do that in a couple of months when I get it back.

This is 'So You Think You Can Blog' in action. I delete the good stuff and save the trash. Does anyone know of a good blogskin that looks like and actually works like a real actual Journal? With tabs for different stuff? That you don't need a doctorate in html to figure out how to use? Oh well - doesn't hurt to ask. In the meantime this will have to do.

So. Anyway, as I started to say: Today was my turn to gallery sit at CWA's Gallery Concord (California Watercolor Assn.) Just a few people passing through, and fewer sales, which is a shame because the displayed work is really pretty good, if I do say so. It's just in a poor location, with minimal foottraffic, and apparently, not much in the way of PR. Hmmmmm. Afterwards, stopped by for the regular Friday afternoon pigout at Dee's place in Berkeley. She hosts (hostesses?) our little group of artists, mostly watercolorists, and we compare notes about shows, sometimes we actually produce some art. While there, I picked up my painting "China Camp, July 2008", which was just taken down from the Oakland Art Assn's Chamber of Commerce show. Award of Merit. Woo Hoo! Still later, I cruised over to El Cerrito's Third Stockton Avenue Art Stroll. This little event is really taking off! There are now sixteen art venues with over seventy local artists. Mosied and munch