Welcome to Contra Costa Plein Air

                    

Contra Costa Plein Air is a friendly group of artists who get together to paint at scenic locations all around the Bay Area and beyond. Our paint-out schedule is random, usually weekdays, with dates and locations inspired by the weather and members' suggestions. New artists are always welcome! There is no fee to participate.

Upcoming paint-outs will be posted here on this blog. You can also visit Contra Costa Plein Air on Facebook to see upcoming paint-out events as well as photos of past paint-outs and helpful posts from members about plein air opportunities and topics of interest.

If you'd like to receive paint-out announcements by email contact Nancy Roberts, nancyrobertsstudio@gmail.com, to join the group. We look forward to painting with you sometime soon!

Now you can order all kinds of fun and functional products sporting the Contra Costa Plein Air logo.  Click here to browse the collection.

Diablo Foothills Orchard Staging Area, May 18, 2024

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Saturday, May 18, 10 am - 2 pm

Diablo Foothills Regional Park Orchard Staging Area

For GPS use 1027 Castle Rock Rd., Walnut Creek CA 94598

Let's go back to one of our favorite spots, the Diablo Foothills Regional Park Orchard Staging Area! The best views are from the large trail staging parking lot. If the large lot's driveway gate is open drive on in and park. If the driveway gate is closed you can park across the street in the overflow lot or along the shoulder of the road. There are great views from the parking lot and the adjacent trails. I'm attaching a map to help you find us.

IMPORTANT DIRECTIONS: For your GPS you can use the address 1027 Castle Rock Rd., Walnut Creek. (Please note that our location IS NOT at 1700 Castle Rock Rd., the address that EBRP's website lists for Diablo Foothills Regional Park.) Our spot is a big parking lot on the right side of Castle Rock Rd. just after you pass Castle Rock Arabians. The entrance has a big East Bay Regional Park sign and a driveway gate.

Admission is free, restrooms are open, rain cancels. I hope to see you there!

Los Vaqueros Interpretive Center, May 11, 2024

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Saturday, May 11, 10 am - 2 pm

Los Vaqueros Interpretive Center

Park entry gate address for GPS: 121 Walnut Blvd., Brentwood CA 94513

Los Vaqueros Interpretive Center

Let's go back to beautiful Los Vaqueros! We'll be parking at the Los Vaqueros Interpretive Center and painting the views from that area. Enter the park from the Brentwood side, address 121 Walnut Blvd., Brentwood, pay your entry fee at the gate, then drive straight ahead all the way up to the end of Walnut Blvd. to the interpretive center parking lot. You can't see the reservoir from this vantage point (unless you want to hike up to the top of the dam) but there are lots of pretty views of the hills and valley. There's also a small pond, benches and a shade structure along the paved trail that starts at the parking lot and heads in the direction away from the dam. I'm attaching a map to help you find our paint-out location.

Park entry fee is $6 standard, $5 seniors, $4 Diablo Water District customers. There's a restroom at the Interpretive Center parking lot and also inside the building. Rain cancels.

Plein Air exhibit opening reception, May 4, 2024

Contra Costa Plein Air Group Show

Opening Reception Saturday, May 4, 2 - 4 pm

aRt Cottage, 2238 Mt. Diablo St., Concord CA 94520

artcottage.info

The Contra Costa Plein Air Group Show is up and it looks fantastic! Please join us to celebrate at the opening reception this Saturday, May 4th, 2 to 4 pm. Meet the artists, tour the show and enjoy refreshments and live ukelele music in the garden. Should be a delightful afternoon!

Howe Homestead Park, May 1, 2024

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Wednesday, May 1st, 10 am - 2 pm

Howe Homestead Park

2950 Walnut Blvd., Walnut Creek CA 95696

Park website: Howe Homestead Park | Open Space | City of Walnut Creek (walnutcreekca.gov)

Howe Homestead Park should be looking pretty with lots of spring color in the community gardens! The group will be painting there this coming Wednesday, May 1st and Kathy Palmer Brokaw will be the paint-out host. Admission is free, the restroom is open, rain cancels. Enjoy!

Please note, it's 2950 Walnut Boulevard, not Walnut Avenue -- a common source of confusion when navigating Walnut Creek! 

Martinez Shoreline, April 18, 2024

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Thursday, April 18, 10 am - 2 pm

Radke Martinez Regional Shoreline Park

Ferry Point area, North end of North Court St., Martinez CA 94553

Radke Martinez Regional Shoreline

Let's go back to the beautiful Martinez shoreline! We'll be painting around Ferry Point in Radke Martinez Regional Shoreline Park. I'm attaching a map to help you find our location. Park at the Ferry Point Picnic Area at the North end of North Court, then fan out to find your spot. It's a short walk out the trail to find panoramic views of the Carquinez Strait, marshlands, boats and bridges.

Admission is free, park restrooms are nearby, rain cancels. I hope to see you there!

aRt Cottage Garden, April 11, 2024

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Thursdays, April 11, 10 am - 2 pm

aRt Cottage

2238 Mt. Diablo St., Concord CA 94520

aRt Cottage (artscottage.blogspot.com)

It's Super Bloom at the aRt Cottage! Gallery owner and fellow artist Frogard Schmidt has invited us to come paint in the charming gardens, patios, pathways, nooks and crannies surrounding the cottage, all in glorious, technicolor bloom right now. Fro says we're welcome to eat our lunch in the garden and there are also restaurants nearby with good take-out food for a picnic.

Park on the street then come on in through the front gate. Admission is free, the bathroom will be open, rain cancels. Always delightful!

Town of Locke, April 6, 2024

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Saturday, April 6, 10 am - 2 pm

Town of Locke

Our host: Lockeport Grill and Fountain, 13959 Main St., Locke (Walnut Grove) CA 95690

Website: https://www.facebook.com/LockeportGrillAndFountain/

Let's go back to the historic Delta town of Locke! There's plenty of great stuff to paint along Main Street, or you may prefer the adjacent residential area with houses, gardens and farm buildings. It's all a short walk from the Public Parking Lot on Locke Road. Martha Esch, artist and owner of the Lockeport Grill and Fountain will be our host and will be allowing us to use her restroom. There are public restrooms at the parking lot, but they're usually locked.

The Public Parking Lot is on Locke Road, a side street off River Road at the north end of Locke, just up the road from the town of Walnut Grove. For your GPS you can use the address of the Lockeport Grill and Fountain, 13959 Main St., Locke (Walnut Grove) CA 95690 to find us.

Admission is free, rain cancels. I hope to see you there!

Reminder, CCPA show entry deadline April 26

Just a reminder that our Contra Costa Plein Air group show at the aRt Cottage in Concord is coming right up! The show will run May 1 - June 27, and the deadline to submit your entries online is April 26. You'll find all of the details in this Call for Artists flyer. 

I hope you'll participate! Feel free to email me if you have any questions, Nancy Roberts, nancyrobertsstudio@gmail.com. Cheers!

Diablo Foothills, March 28 2024

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Thursday, March 28, 10 am - 2 pm

Diablo Foothills Regional Park Orchard Staging Area

1027 Castle Rock Rd., Walnut Creek, CA 94598

Let's go back to one of our favorite spots, the Diablo Foothills Regional Park Orchard Staging Area! It will be spring break so we'll avoid the usual high school traffic on Castle Rock Road and rain is not in the forecast, so we should have a nice day.

The best views are from the large staging area parking lot. If the large lot's driveway gate is open, drive on in and park. If the gate is closed you can park across the street in the overflow lot. There are great views from the parking lot and several trails that connect with it. I'm attaching a map to help you find us.

IMPORTANT DIRECTIONS: For your GPS you can use the address 1027 Castle Rock Rd., Walnut Creek. (Please note that our location IS NOT at 1700 Castle Rock Rd., the address that EBRP's website lists for Diablo Foothills Regional Park.) Our spot is a big parking lot on the right side of Castle Rock Rd. just after you pass Castle Rock Arabians. The entrance has a big East Bay Regional Park sign and a driveway gate.

The new restroom is probably open, but if not there's a port-a-potty that's always open. Admission is free, rain cancels. I hope to see you there!

Forest Home Farms again, March 23, 2024

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Saturday, March 23, 10 am - 2 pm

Forest Home Farms Historic Park

19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd., San Ramon CA 94583

Website: About the Farm - City of San Ramon (ca.gov)

Forest Home Farms was so fun, let's go back! We're into warm, sunny weather now so be sure to wear a hat and bring an umbrella if you have one.

The park driveway gate opens at 10:00 am. Enter the driveway at 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd., then go left and park in the bark/dirt parking area. Parking or driving is not allowed in any of the paved areas. If the dirt lot happens to be full there is more parking available just down the road at 20503 San Ramon Valley Blvd. in a paved lot across from the Glass House Museum.

Restrooms are located next to the gift shop near the parking lot. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. Rain cancels. I hope to see you there!

Forest Home Farms Historic Park, March 16, 2024

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Saturday, March 16, 10 am - 2 pm

Forest Home Farms Historic Park

19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd., San Ramon CA 94583

Website: About the Farm - City of San Ramon (ca.gov)

Let's go back to beautiful Forest Home Farms! This is always a great place to paint with vintage ranch buildings, farm animals, gardens, tractors, a restored Victorian house and more, all nestled into a wooded hillside setting.

The park driveway gate opens at 10:00 am. Enter the driveway at 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd., then go left and park in the bark/dirt parking area. Parking or driving is not allowed in any of the paved areas. If the dirt lot happens to be full there is more parking available just down the road at 20503 San Ramon Valley Blvd., across from the Glass House Museum.

Restrooms are located next to the gift shop near the parking lot. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. Rain cancels. I hope to see you there!

New date: Heather Farm, March 9, 2024

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Saturday, March 9, 10 am - 2 pm

Heather Farm Park near the Equestrian Center

390 North San Carlos Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598

Heather Farm Park | Parks | Walnut Creek Arts + Rec

We were rained out today (March 2nd), so let's try again! This coming Saturday, March 9th, we'll be painting at Heather Farm Park in the area near the Equestrian Center. The Equestrian Center is located at 390 North San Carlos Drive at the north end of Heather Farm Park. Park in the dirt and gravel lot, then explore to find your spot. There are some nice views of Diablo and a lake.

Please note that there is no public restroom at this location, but park restrooms are nearby. Admission is free, rain cancels. I hope to see you there!