Plein Air Tuesday - 4/23/24 - Barbra's

 

Before I start I want to give a very Big Thank You to Barbra for providing the location and being willing to open her home to all of us.

What a beautiful morning!!  Too bad everyone didn't get the time right though.  Did you ever have someone show up an hour early for a gathering at your house?   No, you say, hmmm, well Barbra did.  Unbelievable, after I go through all the effort to make sure all of you get the right time, day and location.  Honestly folks, we have to be more attentive to detail.  You're probably wondering who this Bozo 🤡 was (I realize you have to be from a certain era to recognize this reference and most of us are except for a few of you young ones out there).  

Anyway back to the clown -- it's the one on the left standing next to Barbra.

Me, Barbra

So, it turns out I cut my workout short at the gym needlessly.  Fortunately for Barbra she was already up and painting as she had a workman inside her house.

As I arrived and started waiting around (which I clearly had plenty of time to do), I began to get a bit curious.  It appeared as though no one else was coming.  Then I started thinking about it and decided to check the email I sent.  How about that, I entered the time wrong on my calendar - oops!  Well eventually, another car pulled up.

Bob

Gee, you'd think with all the time on my hands I would've taken a few more photos and that I would've also taken a better one of Bob and also of Nita 2, who showed up next.

Nita 2, Bob

Barbra has really beautiful patios as you can see.  Great sitting areas with fantastic views.

Barb followed by Nita 2

At this point it did look like no one else would be arriving and it also turned out that Barbra had received permission from her neighbors across the street to access an empty lot that had a nice little high point on it where we could paint.  It turned out that we all decided to go there. 

But, just as I was collecting my stuff, this friendly face arrived.

LeAnne

There she is with her always cheerful smile, it's LeAnne.  Good thing we waited around a few minutes, otherwise she never would have found us.  It was 9:43.

Bob wasted no time deliberating, picked up his stuff and walked right on out there.

Bob in his spot

Nita wound up finding a spot in the shade (smart move) and Barbra went back to the house for her comfy chair and then found a nice level spot for it.

(L to R) Nita, Barb

LeAnne came prepared with her chair and other stuff and found a nice spot to settle in.

LeAnne in her spot

The sun was strong, my arms picked up some red stuff to prove it.  Have to remember to start putting on that sunscreen.  Bob was the first to decide that he was done, so he packed up his stuff and that prompted me to do the same.  Since he passed both Barb and Nita on his way toward his car, everyone decided to pack up and head over to find a place to build a gallery.

We found a nice spot with a wall to lean our paintings against and it was in the sun with no cast shadows.  Wow, how ideal!!  Decided not to combine them as there are some really pretty paintings here that became too small when I did combine.  Thought you should get the enjoyment of actually "Seeing" them.

Yes, it's a short one today.  As I mentioned I wasn't on top of doing the photo taking thing, so that left me with little to say except once again, Thanks Barb!!

Till next week!

Cecilia

Plein Air Tuesday - - 4/9/24 - The Place That's Really Pretty When There's Water In It - Day 2

 There are trees and then there are TREES, and apparently this one has Elbows -- at least that's what Robin named them.

As you can see the water is rapidly disappearing from this spot, but at least there was still water in it!

This day brought with it not one but TWO Nitas -- that's right, there's a New Girl Nita, perhaps we'll have to start referring to them as Nita 1 and Nita 2.

New Girl Nita and Barb

So, New Girl Nita found us by way of Kris and Barb, as it turns out all 3 are neighbors.  I know you're thinking that this photo of New Girl Nita isn't the least bit helpful, the only thing identifiable is her ponytail.  Barb was busy looking back and talking to Pat.

Barb, Pat

Well, I waited until the obligatory 9:30 and then headed down to the area we were at last week.  Barb & NG Nita headed there first as you saw and Pat waited with me (thanks Pat).

Barb

Barb wandering in the weeds, she was trying very hard to get a good view of the other side of this tree. But, short of falling in the water, it wasn't going to happen. 

NG Nita (or perhaps we should get used to her being Nita 2) found a spot that didn't require hacking away at weeds or wading in the water.

Nita 2

 Pat picked a spot similar to last weeks I think.

Pat in her spot

I also stayed near the others and not too far off that beaten trail.  That was good, because it meant I was able to capture these two as they headed our way.

Nita and Robin (no Hamilton)

Yes, Nita arrived and this is timestamp worthy for it's timeliness -- as in she wasn't too late.  It was only 9:45

Nita came over to meet Nita -- you can see why I now have to resort to Nita 1 and Nita 2.  But for those in the know, here they are as just Nita and Nita.

Nita, Nita 😊

Robin (no Hamilton) did follow right behind to meet the new girl.

(L to R) Nita, Nita, Robin

Well, we all pretty much clustered together in our spots.

(Zig Zag front to wayyyy back) Robin, Nita, Nita, Barb, Pat 

I do have a slightly better picture of Robin -- this was taken actually as she was leaving -- had to head out to bring Hamilton to get his hair done (in other words -- the groomers).

Robin, behind and to the right is Barb and in the back is Pink Hat Pat

As it turns out, we're probably saying bye to Robin for a while as she heads off to many, many different places -- see you in October Robin.

Robin - bye for now

As you can see from the upcoming photo -- Nita of timestamp fame managed to get herself spread out among the roots of the big tree and actually looks quite comfortable.

Nita

And, what's that I see -- a set of pastels in the foreground on the left???  Yes, as it turns out we have another pastel artist among us, it's New Girl Nita.  Gee, her box looks very pretty and colorful and the pastels look clean - some people are so organized!

So we worked away and most of us (except for Barb & Robin) finished or came close to finishing what we started.  Robin's painting didn't make it to the gallery, I didn't think to get a pic of it, sorry.  But, what I can tell you is that is was mostly masking fluid on paper, so probably wouldn't have shown up to well anyway.  Barb does line work on her paintings and when we were leaving she pretty much only got the paint part done.

But, we used that Tree's Roots and built a gallery with what we had.  As you can see, Nita 1 managed to do a multitude of paintings.

For the grand finale we gathered together at the base of that tree and smiled on 2.

(L to R) Barb, Pat, Nita 1, Nita 2, Me

This seems like a short one as I didn't have to hunt anyone down or fish them out of the water (thankfully) so a relatively quiet and enjoyable morning.  Till next time!

Cecilia

Plein Air Tuesday - 4/2/24 - The Place That's Really Pretty When There's Water In It - Day 1

 

It Really Is Pretty When There's Water In It

Kris, Barb and I arrived to find a surprise. It was Ed!

Kris, Ed and in back Barb

Ed doesn't get to join us often these days (work will do that to you).  But, was really glad to see he made it to this particular location as he was the founder of our painting here starting several years ago.  It's also thanks to Ed that it has such a fun name.

And, another surprise (for me anyway) was that Barb who is technically the "New Girl" knew Ed.  Turns out  she's been taking drawing classes from him even though she actually drew for a living -- guess it's just that thing of dedicating time to do just what you want to do with no interruptions.  

Anyway, after we all chatted for a bit, we decided to just go ahead and head down to the creek.  We also knew that Suzie was there as the old truck was parked there.  But, as we were walking down the path, we found that someone else was there too.

(L to R) Christine, Barb

It was Christine and if it looks like she's heading in the wrong direction, that's because she was -- left her phone in the car - ugh, but fortunately, not too far a walk.

As we continued on I saw that Sophie was already there and just getting set up.

Sophie in her spot

Right after that, Kris made a decision.

Kris found a spot

Kris decided on her spot pretty quickly (wish I could be that decisive in finding a spot).

Just after leaving Kris behind I found Suzie.

Suzie in her spot

Looks like Suzie was picking out a piece of pastel paper to use.  While Barb did a little wandering back and forth.

Barb doing the to and fro thing

 

I finally found a spot near Kris and as I was trying to get started, this person popped up.  It was like magic, never heard her coming, just turned around and she was there.  It was Pat.

Pat

And, if you look in the background you'll see Christine in her spot on the far left and then coming along down the trail are some more artists.

Guess I left that parking lot a little too early as most of this crew didn't know where to go -- but, thankfully,  they found us.  Included in that group were Carolyn, Tecla and Nita.

Carolyn with Tecla hiding behind her and seated is Barb in her spot

(Front to Back) Carolyn, Barb, Christine

Turns out Carolyn did a back and forth thing too, only to wind up right next to Barb and there she is working very intently and so efficiently, gee, you'd think she had 3 hands  😉 

Oh, here's a better picture of Christine in her spot.  Still can't see her face though.

Christine

Here's Tecla in her spot.  

Tecla

This was Pat's spot, across the rocky terrain.

Pat

I never seem to get a close up of Pat in her spot -- not sure why that is,  I'll just have to try harder next time.  I caught Nita through the trees.

Nita

I never did get to see Ed's spot -- he started out and just kept walking.  I do have a better picture of Barb and I have to share it because it also includes those fabulous trees, besides she looks very comfortable and colorful as well!

Barb & fabulous trees -- even the one on the other side

We did all stand there at one point and wonder just how old that tree she was sitting by was - sound like a rerun anyone?  I remember having that same conversation with Sue who left us for Tuscon.

Sue and THE Tree -- she wanted to give it perspective
 --  everyone know who I mean now??

As we were starting to gather, Ed came and found us just with his painting. He left all his stuff behind so he could finish up,  but he knows the drill and wanted to share.  We walked back to the parking area and once again used that pile of rocks (or broken up asphalt as someone pointed out) and built our gallery.

We finally got around to a line up -- we took so long talking that Pat thought we already did it 😊

But, here it is for real, although a little off center -- hey, blame the tripod!

(L to R) Ed, Barb, Me, Nita, Carolyn, Pat, Tecla, Kris

Ok take 1 for that smile on 2 as it was the only one where Tecla has 2 eyes.

Till next week -- same time, same place!

Cecilia