east bay painting classes
Plein Air Fridays Session 8
The cell phone as a tool of the landscape painter. Revising from photos. This magic lake features dozens of shaded “nooks” for plein air painters to discover. A cart or a backpack will be necessary, to traverse the five minutes of stairs, paved and dirt paths to the lake’s edge. There are bathrooms and a drinking water fountain close by. Directions To Lake Anza No exact address is provided by Tilden Regional Park, but the lake is located at the end of Lake Anza Rd. The exact GPS Coordinates are 37.89700°N / 122.25359°W If coming from Richmond, el Cerrito, Berkeley or Albany: Go to the intersection of Arlington Blvd and Boynton St. Get on Boynton, go uphill until you see Colorado Ave. Continue going uphill until you hit Michigan Ave, then Spruce. Turn left on Spruce. You&#...Read More
Plein Air Fridays Session 4
Topic Selecting pigments for a Bay Area landscape. Limited palettes. Directions to Crest Ave From Berkeley, take 580 towards Marin and get off at Gerrard. Get off on Castro St exit and make a left on Castro Street. Go under the freeway and you will end up on Tewksbury Ave. Make a left on Tewksbury and continue along the freeway until you hit Washington Ave. Make a right on Washington and go to the small plaza with a statue. The road forks. Stay on your right continue up the hill on Washington. Pass Scenic St. and make a left on Crest Ave. Park at a small lot near the end of Crest Ave, by the trailhead. Please park parallel and close to other cars to leave parking space for everyone. From elsewhere, just take Richmond Parkway west all the way past the dump, and get off toward the end, on C...Read More
Plein Air Fridays Session 3
Topic How to begin a landscape painting, part 2. Directions to Crest Ave From Berkeley, take 580 towards Marin and get off at Gerrard. Get off on Castro St exit and make a left on Castro Street. Go under the freeway and you will end up on Tewksbury Ave. Make a left on Tewksbury and continue along the freeway until you hit Washington Ave. Make a right on Washington and go to the small plaza with a statue. The road forks. Stay on your right continue up the hill on Washington. Pass Scenic St. and make a left on Crest Ave. Park at a small lot near the end of Crest Ave, by the trailhead. Please park parallel and close to other cars to leave parking space for everyone. From elsewhere, just take Richmond Parkway west all the way past the dump, and get off toward the end, on Castro St. North. Fol...Read More
Plein Air Fridays Session 2
Topics How to begin a landscape painting part 1. Safer painting practices. Directions If coming from highway 80, go up Solano to Arlington Blvd and turn left. Or take the Central Ave exit, go up Central and turn left on Ashbury until you hit Moeser, then go up the scary hill and turn right on Arlington Ave. If you are coming from El Sobrante, Richmond or El Cerrito, just take Arlington Blvd and turn right at Rincon Road. From Berkeley, take Arlington Blvd from Marin and turn left on Rincon. Watch carefully for the inconspicuous entrance and sign on Rincon Rd. park in their parking lot, which is next to a convent, then find your way to the reflecting pool, where we will spend the first hour. If you want, arrive early to scout painting spots.
Blake Garden Did Not Disappoint
Yesterday was our first Plein Air Fridays session at the Blake Garden. The day was beautiful and the temperature, perfect. This Berkeley garden did not disappoint those of us who were hoping for an afternoon free of cold wind and overcast skies. Everybody was on time and we met near the reflecting pool, where dappled light dotted the grassy area around it. After a demo on how to use a viewfinder and how start an acrylic painting, the students dispersed and I began making rounds. I forgot how much walking is involved when students are spread out. The Blake Garden spans ten acres! There are two spaces left in this class. Registration ends June 30.