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.