Alvarez 9th Street Park, Benicia, June 6, 2024

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Thursday, June 6, 10 am - 2 pm

Alvarez Ninth Street Park

904 W 9th St, Benicia CA 94510

Alvarez 9th Street Park - Benicia, California

Let's beat the heat and go to the beach! This coming Thursday we'll be painting at Alvarez Ninth Street Park in Benicia. This scenic shoreline location is always refreshing with cool breezes coming in off the Carquinez Strait. You'll find great views within steps of the parking lot.

Admission is free, there is a public restroom. I hope to see you there!

Arata Ranch at Black Diamond, May 30, 2024

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Thursday, May 30, 10 am - 2 pm

Arata Ranch at Black Diamond Mines

For GPS use the address 4546 Somersville Rd., Antioch CA 94509

Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve | East Bay Parks (ebparks.org)

Arata Ranch is the first ranch you see when you're driving into Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve from Antioch. It's technically part of the park but it's not open to the public, so we're only allowed to paint it from the road. We'll be parking and painting along the shoulder of Somersville Road. For your GPS you can use the street address 4546 Somersville Rd., Antioch CA 94509. I'll attach a map to help you find us.

There's no shade and be prepared for ticks. It's also rattlesnake season, so just be aware. The good news is that there's a nice new restroom just up the hill at Black Diamond in the lower parking lot. Also, Plan B -- if for some reason we can't park near Arata Ranch you can continue up to Black Diamond Mines and paint there.

Admission is free, restroom is nearby, rain or extreme heat cancels. I hope to see you there!

Diablo Foothills Orchard Staging Area again, May 25, 2024

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Saturday, May 25, 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 the Diablo Foothills Regional Park Orchard Staging Area before the summer heat kicks in. A high of 65 is forecast, perfect plein air weather! Just watch out for snakes (not kidding).

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!

East Contra Costa Historical Museum, May 19, 2024

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Sunday, May 19, 10 am - 2 pm

East Contra Costa Historical Museum

3890 Sellers Ave., Brentwood CA 94513

East Contra Costa Historical Museum

Let's go back to the beautiful East Contra Costa Historical Museum in Brentwood! We'll be painting during the museum's regular Third Sunday open hours, 10 am - 2 pm, but you can also go earlier if you like and set up in the front yard for views of the historic house, windmill and rose garden. The gate to the outdoor exhibits opens at 10 am. All kinds of cool stuff to sketch and paint!

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

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.