Call for Artists: CCPA Group Show at the aRt Cottage

All members of Contra Costa Plein Air are invited to enter our upcoming group show at the aRt Cottage in Concord, running July 6th through August 26th, 2022. Enter by submitting your work online, then bring your work and entry fee to the gallery on June 25th. Entry fee is $20 per piece. You'll find all of the details in this flyer. Click on the image to enlarge.

Paint-Out June 15, Eckley Pier

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Wednesday, June 15, 10 am - 3 pm

Eckley Pier, Crockett

Carquinez Strait Regional Park

Bull Valley Staging Area

166 Carquinez Scenic Dr., Crockett CA 94525

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

Let's go back to 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 (see map below, click on the image to enlarge), then drive down to the parking lot on the lower level where you’ll find Eckley Pier and shoreline views. Or you may prefer to park in the first parking lot at the top of the hill and paint the panoramic views of the Carquinez Strait. There’s also a good view of a classic old barn from the top level.

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!

Paint-Out May 28, Diablo view at Northgate HS

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Saturday, May 28, 10 am - 2 pm

Across the street from Northgate High School

425 Castle Rock Rd., Walnut Creek CA 94598

Let's paint the Diablo view from the trail across the street from Northgate High School in Walnut Creek. Street parking, no restrooms. Be prepared for hot weather. You may even decide to start early to beat the heat.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Nancy

Concord Plein Air Event, May 13 - 15

The Concord Art Association's "Colors of Spring" Plein Air Paint-Out is coming up this Friday, May 13, with the follow-up exhibit on Sat & Sun, May 14-15. The focus is on historic buildings around town. Lots of good stuff -- should be fun! Note that the participation fee is $20 and you can pay when checking in if you haven't pre-registered. Here are flyers with more info, and you can also find all of the details on the CAA website, https://www.concordartassociation.org/calls-colors-of-spring

I hope to see you there!

Upcoming Plein Air Events

It's plein air event season!

Here's what's coming up in our area (San Francisco East Bay). These are events where you go out and paint for a day or two, then bring your finished work for a show with sales and awards. They all require fees to participate, and some require pre-registration. Click on the links for complete information.

Dublin Paint-Out

April 30 – May 1, 2022

Hosted by the Dublin Arts Collective, paint in the Dublin area

Pre-registration not required, pay fee when checking in

Open to all artists

Entry fee: $20

Find details at https://dacarts.org/dublin-paint-out/

Colors of Spring Plein Air Paint-Out, Concord

May 13 – 15, 2022

Hosted by the Concord Art Association, paint historical locations in Concord

Register online by April 30, or in person when checking in on May 13

Open to all artists

Entry fee: $20

Find details at https://www.concordartassociation.org/calls-colors-of-spring

Third Annual Paint Livermore Plein Air Competition

June 3 - 5, 2022

Hosted by the Livermore Art Association, paint in the Livermore area

Register by mail by May 27, application form on website

Open to all artists

Entry fee: LAA and PAL members $25, Non-members $35

Find details at https://livermoreartassociation.org/events

Paint Pleasanton

September 17 – 18, 2022

Hosted by the Pleasanton Art League, paint in the Pleasanton area

Open to all artists

Details will be online soon at https://www.pal-art.com/exhibits-events/call-artists/

Photo:  Jaime Rinehart Smith at Paint Livermore 2021

Paint-Out April 16 in Locke

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Saturday, April 16, 10 am - 2 pm

Town of Locke

Host: Lockeport Grill and Fountain, 13959 Main St., Walnut Grove CA 95690

Let's go back to the beautiful historic Delta town of Locke! There's plenty of great stuff to paint along Main Street, or you may prefer the adjacent residential area with houses, gardens and farm buildings. It's all a short walk from the Public Parking Lot on Locke Road.

Martha Esch, artist and owner of the Lockeport Grill and Fountain will be our host and will be allowing us to use her restroom. She'll also have lunch combos available for purchase (place your order with her in the morning and she'll have your food ready around noon). And as an added treat Martha is offering us artists a 20% discount to stay at her charming Locke B & B. Call her at (916) 776-1000 for info and reservations or e-mail her at aeroplane88@hotmail.com.

The Public Parking Lot is on Locke Road, a side street off River Road at the north end of Walnut Grove. The address of the Lockeport Grill and Fountain is 13959 Main St., Walnut Grove CA 95690.

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

Paint-Out March 31, Old Borges Ranch

 

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Thursday, March 31, 10 am - 2 pm

Old Borges Ranch

1035 Castle Rock Rd., Walnut Creek CA 94598

Borges Ranch | Open Space | City of Walnut Creek (walnut-creek.org)

Let's go back to beautiful Old Borges Ranch in Walnut Creek! It's a historic ranch with lots of interesting old buildings, farm equipment and animals in a pretty valley setting in the Mt. Diablo foothills.

Plan to park in the main parking lot and fan out to find your spot. If the main parking lot is full, you can drive a short distance back down the road and park at the picnic ground where you'll find some nice views of a pond and surrounding landscape.

Be aware that although the park's official address is 1035 Castle Rock Rd., it's actually on Elise Ct., a side road off of Castle Rock Rd. It's easy to miss the turn onto Elise Ct., it's not well marked. If you get to the Castle Rock Trail parking lot you've gone too far.

Restrooms are open, rain cancels. I hope to see you there!

Paint-Out March 18, Blooming Cherries in Brentwood

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Friday, March 18, 10 am - 2 pm

Cherry orchard on Eureka Avenue in Brentwood

Just past Seko Ranch farm stand, 487 Eureka Ave., Brentwood CA 94513

The cherry trees on Eureka Avenue in Brentwood are in bloom! Let's catch them while we can.

We'll meet just beyond the Seko Ranch farm stand at 487 Eureka Avenue. Heads-up, there's a house near the beginning of Eureka that is also marked "487", but that is not our destination. Keep going until you reach the farm stand with a big sign that says Seko Ranch, and then drive just past it.

We'll be parking and painting along the wide dirt shoulder of the road. There are plenty of great views from there. Please don't go into the orchard as it is private property and we want to be respectful.

There are no restrooms, but you can drive a short distance to places like Starbucks and Safeway. Rain cancels. I hope to see you there!

Paint-Out April 9, John Marsh House

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Saturday, April 9th, 10 am - 3 pm

John Marsh House

Marsh Creek Road in Brentwood

Address will be given to registered participants

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED

We've been invited to Arts Day at the historic John Marsh House in Brentwood, a special artists' access event sponsored by the John Marsh Historic Trust in partnership with Delta Gallery and Contra Costa Plein Air.

The park is not normally open to the public, so this is a nice opportunity to get up close to the historic stone house and explore the grounds. The house is boarded up and in the process of being restored, but some of the beautiful stonework details are visible and the overall silhouette of the mansion is impressive against a backdrop of grassland and hills. There's a working ranch on the site, too.

Please note: Space is limited, and REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED to attend this paint-out. To register e-mail Delta Gallery director Robert Ashin at robert@deltagallery.com. Robert will give you the address and tell you about parking and anything else you need to know. Admission is free. Onsite parking and a portable restroom will be available for registered participants. Bring everything you need for comfort including water, shade, seating, sturdy shoes and insect repellant (tick country).

Learn more about the historic John Marsh House at https://www.johnmarshhouse.com/ 

Should be fun! I hope to see you there.

Paint-Out March 9, Ruth Bancroft Garden

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Wednesday, March 9, 10 am - 2 pm

The Ruth Bancroft Garden

1552 Bancroft Rd., Walnut Creek CA 94598

https://www.ruthbancroftgarden.org/

Let's go back to the Ruth Bancroft Garden! Should be beautiful with lots of plants in bloom. After parking, pay your entry fee at the kiosk ($10 regular, $8 seniors) then walk into the garden to find your spot. They just ask that we don't block any pathways. There are a few tables, chairs and benches and some shade, but also plenty of sun. Best to bring an umbrella if you have one.

The garden opens at 9:00 am, so you can start early if you'd like. Restrooms are open, rain cancels. I hope to see you there!

Paint-outs Feb 25 and 27, Oakley Orchards

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Outs  -- Double header!

Friday, February 25, 1 pm - 4 pm
Sunday, February 27, 10 am - 2 pm

Blooming orchards in Oakley
Marsh Creek Regional Trail where it crosses Delta Road
750 Delta Rd., Oakley CA 94561

The orchards are blooming in Oakley! Let's go paint them before the blossoms disappear. This is a double-header with paint-outs at this location on both Friday, February 25, 1 pm - 4 pm and Sunday, February 27, 10 am - 2 pm.  (Please note the 1 pm start time on Friday. You're welcome to go earlier if you like, but I won't be there until around 1 pm.)

We'll paint along the Marsh Creek Regional Trail just south of where it crosses Delta Road. There's a cherry orchard with the creek in the foreground and Mt. Diablo in the distance, and an almond orchard right next to the trail for great close-up views of the trees.

The address you can use to find our spot is 750 Delta Rd., Oakley CA 94561. Parking is along the shoulder of Delta Road. Marsh Creek Regional Trail is a wide, paved trail with plenty of room to set up our easels along the sides. You can find some nice views close to the road or walk in further along the trail to get closer to the almond trees.

Please note, there are no facilities at this location. Rain cancels. I hope to see you there on one or both days!

Paint-Out Feb 23, Big Break Regional Shoreline

Let's go back to beautiful Big Break Regional Shoreline on Wednesday, February 23rd, 10 am - 2 pm. This is a joint paint-out with the Concord Art Association so you may see some new faces. Welcome, everyone!

Park in the lot, then walk out the paved trail to get to some pretty shoreline views. You can even set up on the Fishing & Observation Pier for sweeping views of the San Joaquin River and back toward the shoreline and kayak cove.

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

Big Break Regional Shoreline
69 Big Break Rd., Oakley CA 94561
https://www.ebparks.org/parks/big-break

Paint-Out February 12 at Round Valley

 

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out
Saturday, February 12, 10 am - 2 pm
Round Valley Regional Preserve
19450 Marsh Creek Rd.
Brentwood CA 94513
https://www.ebparks.org/parks/round-valley

Let's go back to beautiful Round Valley on Saturday, February 12th, 10 am - 2 pm. There are plenty of good views within steps of the parking lot, or you can walk up the trail for more vistas. This is a joint paint-out with the Jade Fon Painters so you may see some new faces. Welcome, everyone!

Be aware that this is a very popular park on weekends so the parking lot may be crowded. Arriving by 10 am (or even earlier) is your best bet. Admission is free, restrooms are open, rain cancels. Hope to see you there!