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 dates and locations are inspired by the weather and members' suggestions. New artists are always welcome! There is no fee to participate.

Welcome, Jade Fon Painters!  Nice news, Contra Costa Plein Air and the Jade Fon Saturday Painters are teaming up, so starting in January, 2025 we'll be having joint paint-outs on Saturdays in addition to our frequent mid-week forays. All paint-outs will be posted here to help you with your planning. 

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.

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!

Howe Homestead Park, May 10, 2025

Contra Costa Plein Air and Jade Fon Paint-Out

Saturday, May 10, 10 am - 2 pm

Howe Homestead Park

2950 Walnut Blvd, Walnut Creek CA 94596

Website:Howe Homestead Park | Parks | Walnut Creek Arts + Rec

Let's go back to beautiful Howe Homestead Park in Walnut Creek! It's a historic ranch and charming community garden full of blooming color. A group favorite! (Jade Fon Painters please note, this is a change from our originally scheduled Los Vaqueros location for May 10.)

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

Grangers' Wharf, Radke Martinez Regional Shoreline Park, May 8, 2025

Let's paint at the beautiful Radke Martinez Regional Shoreline, fanning out from the Grangers' Wharf park entrance at 101 Berrellesa St. If that parking lot is full there's more public parking at the Norcal Courts sports complex just a few steps away (driveway off Berrellesa next to the train tracks.)

Admission is free, the restroom at the Grangers' Wharf parking lot is open, rain cancels. I hope to see you there!

Radke Martinez Regional Shoreline Park

Grangers' Wharf park entrance

101 Berrellesa St., Martinez CA 94553

Park website: Ted and Kathy Radke Martinez Regional Shoreline | East Bay Parks

Old Borges Ranch, April 26 & May 3, 2025

Contra Costa Plein Air and Jade Fon Paint-Outs

Saturdays, April 26 and May 3, 10 am - 2 pm

Old Borges Ranch

1035 Castle Rock Rd., Walnut Creek CA 94598

Website: Borges Ranch | Open Space | City of Walnut Creek

For the next two Saturdays, April 26 and May 3 we'll be painting at Old Borges Ranch in Walnut Creek. Note that the address is 1035 Castle Rock Rd., but the driveway into the park is actually Elise Court, a side street off of Castle Rock Rd. There's a sign at the turn-off but it's hard to see -- keep your eyes open!

Start by trying the main parking lot at the top of the hill. If that lot is full you can circle back and park at the Patrick Hanna Grove Picnic Area. If both lots are full you may like to skip Borges Ranch and head back down to Castle Rock Rd., turn right and continue a short distance to the Diablo Foothills Regional Park Orchard Staging Area. Another good alternate in the same area is the view across the street from Northgate High School on Castle Rock Rd. as you head back into Walnut Creek, 425 Castle Rock Rd.

Admission is free, restrooms are open, rain cancels.

East Contra Costa Historical Museum, April 20, 2025

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Sunday, April 20, 10 am - 2 pm

East Contra Costa Historical Museum

3890 Sellers Ave., Brentwood CA

https://eastcontracostahistory.org/

Here's a nice little Easter treat! We've been invited to come paint at the East Contra Costa Historical Museum on Sunday, April 20th during their regular third Sunday open hours, 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 but donations are appreciated. Always a fun day -- I hope to see you there!

Eckley Pier, Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline Park, April 12 & 19, 2025

Contra Costa Plein Air and Jade Fon Paint-Out

Saturdays, April 12 and April 19, 10 am - 2 pm

Eckley Pier at Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline Park

Bull Valley Staging Area entrance

166 Carquinez Scenic Dr., Crockett CA 94525

https://www.ebparks.org/parks/carquinez-strait 

For the next two Saturdays, April 12 and 19, we'll be painting at Eckley Pier, part of the Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline Park in Crockett. This location has a beautiful 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, then drive down to the lower level where you’ll find Eckley Pier and shoreline views. Or you may prefer to park at the upper level for panoramic views of the Carquinez Strait as well as a classic hillside ranch and barn.  I'm attaching a map to help you find our spot.

There’s a restroom at the top level and a port-a-potty at the pier. Bring your own water. Admission is free, rain cancels. I hope to see you there!