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 region, mostly focused on Contra Costa, Alameda and Solano Counties. Our paint-out days, dates and locations are inspired by the weather and members' suggestions. New artists are always welcome, open to all experience levels, no fee to participate, no RSVP's required. Just show up and enjoy!

Jade Fon Painters and Contra Costa Plein Air have merged, so all paint-outs are open to everyone. 

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 have questions feel free to email group coordinator Nancy Roberts at nancyrobertstudio@gmail.com. We look forward to painting with you sometime soon!

And did you know? You can order all kinds of fun and functional products sporting the Contra Costa Plein Air logo.  Click here to browse the collection.

Lafayette Reservoir, August 16 & 23, 2025

Contra Costa Plein Air and Jade Fon Paint-Out

Saturdays, August 16 & 23, 10 am - 2 pm

Lafayette Reservoir

3849 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette CA 94549

Park website: Lafayette Reservoir :: East Bay Municipal Utility District

For the next two Saturdays, August 16 and 23, we'll be painting at the Lafayette Reservoir. Our group usually paints at the area next to the Visitors' Center, but you may prefer to paint the views from the main parking lot area (easier getting your stuff to and from your car).

To get to the Visitors' Center drive down the narrow road at the right side of the main parking lot. Parking at the Visitors' Center is a loading zone only, so you can park briefly to drop off your gear, then park your car in the parking lot that's above the Visitors' Center.

The park entrance is at 3849 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Parking permits are required, $7 for a One Day Permit. There are permit vending machines in the parking lot, but if those are broken you can also buy a parking permit at the Visitors' Center.

I'm attaching a map to help you get oriented. Day use fee is $7, restrooms are open, rain cancels.

Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline Park, August 7, 2025

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Thursday, August 7, 10 am - 2 pm

Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline Park

Bull Valley Staging Area entrance

166 Carquinez Scenic Dr., Crockett CA 94525

Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline | East Bay Parks

Let's go back to beautiful Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline Park in Crockett. This location has a mix of natural shoreline, water vistas and manmade structures old and new.

Enter the park at the Bull Valley Staging area, 166 Carquinez Scenic Drive, Crockett. At the upper level parking lot there are panoramic views of the Carquinez Strait as well as a classic hillside ranch and barn. Or you can drive down and park at the lower level where you’ll find Eckley Pier, great views of the Carquinez Bridge, ruins of an old steamboat and a quiet little beach.

There’s a restroom at the upper level and a port-a-potty at the pier. Bring your own water. Admission is free, rain cancels. I hope to see you there! I'm attaching a map to help you find our spot.

Alvarez 9th Street Park, Benicia, July 26 & August 2, 2025

Contra Costa Plein Air and Jade Fon Paint-Out

Saturdays, July 26 and August 2, 10 am - 2 pm

Alvarez Ninth Street Park

Foot of West 9th Street, Benicia CA 94510

Park website: Alvarez 9th Street Park - Benicia, California

The next two Saturdays, July 26 and August 2, 10 am - 2 pm, we'll be painting at Alvarez Ninth Street Park in Benicia. There's a big parking lot and a public restroom at the foot of West 9th Street. From there it's a short walk out to great views in all directions.

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

Glen Cove Waterfront again -- blooming agaves! July 31, 2025

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Thursday, July 31, 10 am - 2 pm

Glen Cove Waterfront Park

End of Whitesides Drive, Vallejo CA 94591

Park website: Glen Cove Waterfront Park

The blooming agaves at Glen Cove are really quite extraordinary right now! Let's go back and paint them before they're gone (agaves bloom only once, then die).

Glen Cove Waterfront Park is at the end of Whitesides Drive in Vallejo. Park in the small lot or on the street. From the parking lot take the first trail on the left down to the lower level to find spectacular views of the agaves, the beach and the Carquinez Strait.

Please note that there are no restrooms at this park, but there are public restrooms a short drive up the hill at Glen Cove School Park next to the tennis courts at 605 Glen Cove Parkway or you can drive further up Glen Cove Parkway to the Safeway shopping center.

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

East Contra Costa Historical Museum, Sunday, July 20, 2025

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Sunday, July 20, 10 am - 2 pm

East Contra Costa Historical Museum

3890 Sellers Ave., Brentwood CA 94513

Museum website: Home - East Contra Costa Historical Society

Pop-up paint-out! Let's take advantage of the East Contra Costa Historical Museum's special "Third Sunday" public hours this Sunday, July 20th, 10 am - 2 pm. You're also allowed to go earlier if you like and paint in the front yard area. Volunteers open the museum, outdoor exhibits and restrooms at 10 am.

Admission is free, restrooms are open. Always a fun and interesting destination -- hope to see you there!

Glen Cove Waterfront Park, July 17, 2025

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Thursday, July 17, 10 am - 2 pm

Glen Cove Waterfront Park

End of Whitesides Dr., Vallejo CA 94591

Park website: Glen Cove Waterfront Park

Let's go back to scenic and refreshing Glen Cove Waterfront Park! This spot has great views of the Glen Cove shoreline and a sweeping panorama across the Carquinez Strait. Windy weather is always possible at this shoreline area, so be prepared.

The park is at the end of Whitesides Drive in Vallejo. Park in the small lot or on the street. From there you can walk straight ahead out to the lookout area or turn left to take the trail down to the pretty little beach and agave grove.

Please note that there are no restrooms at this park, but there are public restrooms a short drive up the hill at Glen Cove School Park next to the tennis courts at 605 Glen Cove Parkway or you can drive further up Glen Cove Parkway to the Safeway shopping center.

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

Blake Garden, Kensington, July 10, 2025

Contra Costa Plein Air and Jade Fon Paint-Out

Thursday, July 10, 10 am - 2 pm

Blake Garden

70 Rincon Rd., Kensington CA 94707

Website: Blake Garden - UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design

Let's go back to beautiful Blake Garden in Kensington! Owned by UC Berkeley, this forested botanical wonderland is open to the public on weekdays only (Tuesday - Friday, 9 am - 4 pm).

PLAN A: Park in the lot at 70 Rincon Rd., then walk into the garden through the pedestrian gate and start exploring. It’s a gently sloping hillside terrain with gravel pathways. I'm attaching a garden map here.

PLAN B: If the parking lot at Rincon Rd. is full you can drive around to Highgate Rd., park on the street and enter Blake Garden through the pedestrian gate that's across the street from 26 Highgate Rd., Kensington. The gate is well-marked. I'm attaching a street map here to help you find the spot.

Admission is free, restrooms are open. Rain cancels. Hope to see you there!

Dillon Point, Benicia State Recreation Area, June 28 & July 5, 2025

Contra Costa Plein Air and Jade Fon Paint-Out

Saturdays, June 28 and July 5, 10 am - 2 pm

Benicia State Recreation Area

1 Rose Drive, Benicia CA 94510

Park website: Benicia State Recreation Area

For the next two Saturdays, June 28 and July 5, we'll be painting at Dillon Point in the Benicia State Recreation Area. After entering the park drive all the way to the end of Dillon Point Road. There's a small parking lot with a restroom at the top level and a larger parking a short distance downhill. Both parking lots have picnic tables, benches and great views. Or if you pack light you may like to take the trail down to the dramatic, rocky shoreline.

Directions: From northbound Hwy 780 take the Columbus Parkway exit, turn left at Rose Drive to loop back over the freeway, then turn right at the signs for the State Park. For your GPS use the address 1 Rose Drive. (The park brochure says 1 State Park Rd., but some GPS's don't recognize that address.)

There's a kiosk at the park entry where you pay your entry fee. Sometimes the kiosk is staffed, but if not, just beyond it you'll see a supply of envelopes for your money and a slot. Be sure to bring small bills or a check because with the envelope system there's no way to get change.

Park entry fee is $6 per vehicle, $5 for seniors. Restrooms are open, rain cancels. Hope to see you there!

Lake Anza, Tilden Regional Park, June 21, 2025

Contra Costa Plein Air and Jade Fon Paint-Out

Saturday, June 21, 10 am - 2 pm

Lake Anza in Tilden Regional Park

Lake Anza Road off of Central Park Drive, Berkeley, CA 94708

Park website: Lake Anza at Tilden Regional Park | East Bay Parks

This Saturday, June 21st, our group will be painting at Lake Anza in Tilden Regional Park. At the parking lot there's a ramp to the spillway area that's a popular spot for plein air painters, with a flat level area, some shade and nice views of the lake. The event photo is Kelly Bryant's beautiful painting done at Lake Anza.

Park entry fee is $5 ages 18-61, $3 age 62+ or disabled, restrooms are open, rain cancels. 

CANCELLED Pescadero State Beach, June 14, 2025

CANCELLED

Due to large-scale protests scheduled this weekend possibly blocking the Bay Bridge and creating other traffic obstacles.

Contra Costa Plein Air and Jade Fon Paint-Out

CANCELLED  Saturday, June 14, 10 am - 2 pm

Pescadero State Beach

Highway One, California 94060

Park website: Pescadero State Beach

Sycamore Grove Park, May 31 & June 7, 2025

Contra Costa Plein Air and Jade Fon Paint-Out

Saturdays, May 31 and June 7, 10 am - 2 pm

Sycamore Grove Park, Livermore

See addresses below

Website: https://www.larpd.org/sycamore-grove-park

We'll be painting at beautiful Sycamore Grove Park the next two Saturdays, May 31 and June 7. With the summer holidays we can expect some parking challenges, but let's give it a shot. Here are our options:

Plan A: Wetmore Road Entrance, 1051 Wetmore Rd.

Plan B: Arroyo Road Entrance, 5049 Arroyo Rd.

Plan C: Independence Park, 2798 Holmes St., free parking, about a half-mile walk to the Sycamore Grove Wetmore Road entrance

There's a $5 parking fee at both park entrances, restrooms are open, rain cancels. I hope to see you there!

Diablo Foothills Regional Park Orchard Staging Area, May 17 & 24, 2025

Contra Costa Plein Air and Jade Fon Paint-Out

Saturdays, May 17 and May 24, 10 am - 2 pm

Diablo Foothills Regional Park

Orchard Staging Area

1027 Castle Rock Rd., Walnut Creek CA 94598

The next two Saturdays, May 17 and 24, we'll be painting at the Diablo Foothills Regional Park Orchard Staging Area -- a group favorite! 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 the East Bay Regional Parks 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!