Paint-Out June 15, Martinez Shoreline again

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Thursday, June 15, 10 am - 2 pm

Martinez Shoreline 

Ferry Point, north end of N. Court St., Martinez CA 94553

Radke Martinez Regional Shoreline

The Martinez Shoreline was so beautiful last week -- let's go back!

Park at the Ferry Point Picnic Area at the north end of North Court Street on the left, then fan out to find your spot. It's a short walk out the trail to find views of the Carquinez Strait, marshlands, boats and bridges. Park restrooms are nearby, and I'm told there's also a restroom in the Harbor Master's building. This is part of Radke Martinez Regional Shoreline Park. I'm attaching a map to help you find us.

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

Paint-Out June 9, Martinez Shoreline

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Friday, June 9, 10 am - 2 pm

Martinez Shoreline

Ferry Point, end of North Court St., Martinez CA 94553

Radke Martinez Regional Shoreline

Let's go back to the beautiful Martinez Shoreline! Park at the Ferry Point Picnic Area at the end of North Court Street on the left, then fan out to find your spot. It's a short walk out the trail to find views of the Carquinez Strait, marshlands, boats and bridges. Park restrooms are nearby, and I'm told there's also a restroom in the Harbormaster's building.

This is part of Radke Martinez Regional Shoreline Park. I'm attaching a map to help you find us.

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

Paint-Out May 27, Diablo Foothills Orchard Staging Area

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Saturday, May 27, 10 am - 2 pm

Diablo Foothills Orchard Staging Area

Large parking lot just beyond Castle Rock Arabians, 1350 Castle Rock Rd., Walnut Creek CA 

(NOT at 1700 Castle Rock Rd., the address listed on the website)

https://www.ebparks.org/parks/diablo_foothills/

Let's go back to one of our favorite spots, the Diablo Foothills Regional Park Orchard Staging Area. This will be a joint paint-out with the Jade Fon Painters. We were there last week and it's looking beautiful, still green with hints of summer gold on the way.

The best views are from the large parking lot. There's a good chance the driveway gate will be open, so drive on in to park, then set up your easel in the clear area around the perimeter. If the gate to the large lot is closed you can park across the street in the overflow lot. I'm attaching a map to help you find us.

Important directions: Please note that this location IS NOT at 1700 Castle Rock Rd., the address listed 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 at 1350 Castle Rock Rd. The entrance has a big East Bay Regional Park sign and a driveway gate.

Heads-up, it's tick and rattlesnake season, so be prepared and aware. Best to stay out of the tall grass. There's a port-a-potty that's always open. New restrooms are under construction but not open yet. Admission is free, rain cancels. I hope to see you there!

Paint-Out May 16, Brentwood City Park again!

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Tuesday, May 16, 10 am - 2 pm

Brentwood City Park

Corner of Oak St. and 2nd St., Brentwood

Brentwood City Park was so beautiful today -- let's go back tomorrow! 

City Park is in downtown Brentwood at the corner of Oak St. and 2nd St., in front of City Hall and the Community Center. You can use the Community Center's address to find it, 35 Oak St., Brentwood CA 94513. There's plenty of parking along Oak Street and more spaces on the cross streets, 2nd and 3rd. The park has an old-fashioned gazebo, an arched entry trellis and a big rose garden in full bloom right now.

Restrooms are available in the Community Center and in the Brentwood Library across the street. Admission is free, rain cancels. I hope to see you there!

Paint-Out May 15, Brentwood City Park

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Monday, May 15, 10 am - 2 pm

Brentwood City Park

Corner of Oak St. and 2nd St., Brentwood

The roses are blooming like crazy at Brentwood City Park! Let's paint there this coming Monday, May 15th, to catch them in all their splendor. City Park is in downtown Brentwood at the corner of Oak St. and 2nd St., in front of City Hall and the Community Center. You can use the Community Center's address to find it, 35 Oak St., Brentwood CA 94513. There's plenty of parking along Oak Street and more spaces on the cross streets, 2nd and 3rd. There's an old-fashioned gazebo, an arched entry trellis and a big garden full of roses, with lots of little paths where you can set up inside the garden.

Restrooms are available in the Community Center and in the Brentwood Library right across the street. Admission is free, rain cancels. I hope to see you there!

You're invited! CCPA show at aRt Cottage

You are cordially invited!

Our Contra Costa Plein Air group show is up at the aRt Cottage and it looks fantastic! Please join us to celebrate at the reception on Saturday, May 13, 2 - 4 pm. Tour the collection, chat with the artists and enjoy refreshments and live music in this charming cottage setting.

And if you can't make the reception please feel welcome to come another day to enjoy the show at your own pace. Shops and restaurants nearby make for a nice day out with friends. The gallery is open Wednesday - Saturday, 11 am - 5 pm, and the CCPA show runs through June 23rd. Hope to see you there!

Congratulations to the participating artists!

Irene Bee Kain, Andrea Bishop, MaryLou Correia, Becky Davies, Warren Dreher, Mary Frazier

Kathleen Gadway, Linda Geniesse, Renaye Johnson, Roswitha Kress, Lori Larks, Hamil Ma

Heather Martin, Debbie Mattison, Samantha McNally, Peter McNeill, Patrice Newell, Kristen Ockert

Nancy Roberts, Iris Sabre, John Tullis, Lorraine Wells, Mary Young

Paint-Out May 11, Lafayette Reservoir

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Thursday, May 11, 10 am - 2 pm

Lafayette Reservoir

3849 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette CA 94549

Lafayette Reservoir :: East Bay Municipal Utility District (ebmud.com)

Let's go back to the beautiful Lafayette Reservoir! The forecast is mostly sunny so it should be a nice day.

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’s a ticket machine where you’ll need to purchase a One Day Parking Permit for $7. The machine takes cash or cards. From there turn right and drive uphill 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 popping into 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. Do the same in reverse when you’re ready to leave. We can all help each other keep an eye on our stuff. (It's a very safe area.)

There are also great views from the other side of the reservoir. If you’d rather paint there you can just park in the main lot and head to the left. I'm attaching a map to help you find our paint-out spot at the Visitor Center.

Day use fee is $7, restrooms are open, rain cancels. I hope to see you there!

Paint-Out April 27, Los Vaqueros Watershed

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Thursday, April 27, 10 am - 2 pm

Los Vaqueros Watershed

North Entrance at 121 Walnut Blvd., Brentwood CA 94513

Visit Los Vaqueros | Contra Costa Water District, CA (ccwater.com)

Los Vaqueros is looking beautiful and green right now! We'll be painting at the north side of the park (Brentwood area) where you'll find nice views of Diablo with oaks, buckeyes and grassland in the foreground.

Enter through the North Entrance Gate at 121 Walnut Blvd., Brentwood, and pay your parking fee ($6 standard, $5 seniors, $4 Diablo Water District customers). Turn right into the first parking lot and park at the north end of the lot for the best Diablo views. The signs say Equestrian Parking, but the ranger has allowed us to park and paint there in the past as long as we're courteous to the equestrians. I'm attaching a little map to help you find our spot.

BTW, don't be put off by the alert on the website about trail closures. Our location is fine. Restroom is open, rain cancels. I hope to see you there!

Paint-Out April 23, Sycamore Grove Park

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Sunday, April 23, 10 am - 2 pm

Sycamore Grove Park

1051 Wetmore Road, Livermore CA 94550

Sycamore Grove Park

Let's go back to beautiful Sycamore Grove Park! We'll be parking at the Wetmore Road entrance at 1051 Wetmore Road. There is a $5 parking fee, payable at the kiosk. The machine accepts credit cards or cash (small bills only.)

Park in the lot, then fan out to find your spot along either of the two main trails. The Sycamore Trail runs alongside a vineyard and has views of sycamores, hill country and vineyards. The Arroyo Del Valle Regional Trail passes through large groves of sycamores and out into open grassland with more views of hills, vineyards and winery buildings. I love both areas, so I won't know until I get there which way I'll go. I may have to flip a coin!

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

Paint-Out April 20, aRt Cottage Gardens

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Thursday, April 20, 10 am - 2 pm

aRt Cottage

2238 Mt. Diablo St., Concord CA 94520

www.artcottage.info

It's Super Bloom at aRt Cottage! Gallery owner and fellow artist Frogard Schmidt has invited us to come paint in the charming gardens, patios, pathways, nooks and crannies surrounding the cottage, all in glorious, technicolor bloom right now. Fro says we're welcome to eat our lunch in the garden and there are restaurants nearby with good take-out food for a picnic. She'll even have some lemonade for us. Park on the street then come on in through the front gate. Admission is free, bathrooms will be available. Should be fun -- I hope to see you there!

Paint-Out April 13, Markham Nature Park

Contra Costa Plein Air Paint-Out

Thursday, April 13, 10 am - 2 pm

Markham Nature Park and Arboretum

1202 La Vista Ave., Concord CA 94521

Website: http://markhamarboretum.org/visit/

Let's go back to beautiful Markham Nature Park in Concord! The creek should be full and the trees and gardens coming to life with fresh spring growth.

Park in the lot at the end of La Vista Avenue, then head out on the paved trail along the creek. I'm posting a map below to help you find us. Please note, there are NO RESTROOMS in this park, but shopping centers are a short drive away. Admission is free, rain cancels. I hope to see you there!

Call for Plein Air Artists, entry deadline April 21

Contra Costa Plein Air Group Show

at the aRt Cottage in Concord

May 3 - June 24, 2023

Hey everyone, our show at the aRt Cottage is coming right up! The deadline for submitting your entries online is Friday, April 21st, and bring your work to the gallery on Saturday, April 22nd between 9:00 and 11:00 am. You'll find all of the details in the attached flyer. 

If you plan to enter will you do me a favor and email me to let me know? Nancy Roberts, nancyrobertsstudio@gmail.com. I'd like to give gallery owner Frogard Schmidt an idea of how many artists and paintings she can expect.

This was an awesome show last year -- let's do it again!

Here are links for entering online:

Start at gallery website: artcottage.info

From menu click on Artist Submission Form

From that page click on Click Here to Register for a Call

CCPA Show at aRt Cottage May-June