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.

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!

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!