WATERBABY'S CIRCUS

Blake Garden in Kensington is a popular spot for plein-air freaks like me, with over ten acres of ever-changing gardens to paint. The water lilies are really beautiful right now, and I'm afraid I didn't do them justice. Above is a piece of a watercolor that began ambitiously enough, only to suffer a severe cropping when things didn't go as planned, what with some paths leading nowhere, a planted terracotta pot smack in the middle of the piece, and a vague tree-like presence looming above it all. I often fall into the trap of including everything I see in front of me while I'm painting plein-air. Need to develop the discipline of more preliminary sketches.

Photo Courtesy of Dunsmuir Historic Estate Gazebo at Dunsmuir House Watercolor, 11"x14" Last week's plein-air setting was the Dunsmuir House and gardens in Oakland. Even though I'd grown up in East Oakland, this was the first time I had been to see this beautiful estate since it hasn't been open to the public until fairly recently. The house, I should say mansion, is spectacular, and the grounds are just beautiful. You can almost imagine how it may have been 100 years ago if you can manage to block out the sound of the 580 freeway just over the hill. While we were there, friendly ducks came looking for handouts, and a flock of wild turkeys strolled leisurely through. I even spotted three deer. I chose to paint the gazebo, thinking it would be easier than tackling the mansion. Well, it might have been easier, but it wasn't easy.

Lake Anza, June 14, 2009 Sunday at the lake seemed a perfect opportunity to try out my new Moleskine Watercolour Notebook. The weather was sunny, if a bit windy, and I found someone sitting still for a while. Compared to the rough, unsized paper in my last sketchbook, the Moleskine is a dream and I look forward to using it.

Lake Anza Watercolor, 5"x8" I have been coming to Lake Anza for as long as I can remember. It is part of Tilden Regional Park, just east of Berkeley. Though this small beach looks deserted now, once school is out for the summer it will be jampacked with kids and parents. Probably even more than usual, since California will be closing most State Parks due to slashed budgets. Tilden, as part of the East Bay Regional Park District will not be affected. But for right now, the ducks and minnows, dogs and their walkers, and the occasional painter can all enjoy the calm of a foggy morning.

Last week my plein-air group went to this funky old yacht harbor, located to the northeast of San Francisco Bay. Although the skies were overcast and the breeze was nippy, it was a good day. I liked this old barge stuck in the mud, so I thought I'd give it a try. Here's what the Center for Land Use Interpretation has to say about San Pablo Yacht Harbor: "A remote, scrappy residential marina on Point San Pablo. Off the coast of the yacht harbor is the hulk of an old steamer, sunk for the filming of the John Wayne film Blood Alley in 1955 (the film also shot at China Camp, across the bay). The breakwater protecting the marina was made by sinking six schooners and a ferry boat." I'll have to check out that movie!