Welcome to Contra Costa Plein Air

                    

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 usual mid-week line-up. All paint-outs will be posted here each week to help you with your planning. 

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.

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.

Lafayette Reservoir December 12, 2024

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Thursday, December 12, 10 am - 2 pm

Lafayette Reservoir

3849 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette CA 94549

Lafayette Reservoir :: East Bay Municipal Utility District

Let's go back to the beautiful Lafayette Reservoir. This is a good chance to paint the iconic tower before seismic upgrades change its appearance (construction will start in the spring).

Enter the park at the main entrance at 3849 Mt. Diablo Blvd. and drive up to the main parking lot. In the middle of the parking lot there are ticket machines where you’ll need to purchase a One Day Parking Permit for $7. The machine takes cash or cards. (Note that if the machines aren't working you can buy a parking permit at the Visitor Center.)

From there turn right and drive downhill toward the Visitor Center. Parking at the Visitor Center is a loading zone only, but there’s an all-day parking lot just up the hill that’s convenient. I suggest stopping briefly in the loading zone to drop off your gear, then driving up the hill to park. From there you can walk down a series of steps to the Visitor Center area.

There are also good views from the other side of the reservoir. If you’d rather paint there, you can park in the main lot and set up along the top of the dam or along the trail to the left. I'm attaching a map below to help you get oriented. Day use fee is $7, restrooms are open, rain cancels. I hope to see you there!

Waterbird Regional Preserve, December 8, 2024

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Sunday, December 8, 10 am - 2 pm

Waterbird Regional Preserve

851 Waterbird Way, Martinez, CA 94553

Park website: Waterbird Regional Preserve

Here's a new location for our group, Waterbird Regional Preserve in Martinez. The view is a juxtaposition of nature and industry with a large lake and marshlands, a glimpse of Diablo, and expansive oil refineries in the distance. A fun challenge!

There's a large shade structure, picnic tables and a restroom at the parking lot. Admission is free, rain cancels. I hope to see you there!

Grangers' Wharf, Martinez Shoreline, December 5, 2024

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Thursday, December 5, 10 am - 2 pm

Radke Martinez Regional Shoreline Park

Grangers' Wharf parking lot

101 Berrellesa St., Martinez CA 94553

Park website: Ted and Kathy Radke Martinez Regional Shoreline

Let's paint at the beautiful Martinez shoreline, fanning out from the Grangers' Wharf parking lot at 101 Berrellesa St. If that parking lot is full there's more parking just around the corner at the Norcal Courts sports complex, 360 Ferry Street.

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