Felt very lucky last week to have two plein air painting days in a row, both at China Camp.  I warm up for the plein air workshop this week.  Beautiful days and I'm happy with both efforts, although not qutie done. Here are my second day painting partners Tim and James, and a glimpse of what China Camp has to offer.  Such a great place for painting, hiking, picnicking, just being.

 This is the painting I was working on the first day.  The colors are more intense in this photo...and the image is a little skewed...I took it with my iphone, and I've done a little more work on it.......but basically this is it.  I'll post both paintings when they are actually finished, soon.  I love this building, an old shrimp shack. China Camp is an old fishing village, now a historical park and a favorite of plein air painters, and the bay area community.  There were huge clouds in the background but sunny in our spot.  You could see rain falling in the distance.  I wish it would rain here but happy for California to get any rain any where.  

The Shrimp Shack

8 x 10

Oil on Board

Open Studios is wrapped up and was a great experience.  Lots of interesting, interested people, laughter, good connections made and an all around success.  Look forward to next year.  In the meantime moving forward with networking, although I am too late to enter the fair, again.  Today is the final day and I'm not ready!  Too much going on the last few weeks to pull it together.  Ah well.  I do believe I will join Marin Art Society, have already started the process, and show in their gallery.  Tuesday was the last critique group day until the fall.  I hadn't been for awhile and was so glad I went.  Always informative, helpful and fun.  A great group of people.  Feeling fortunate.  Next Monday is the meet and greet for the Tim Horn workshop that I am assisting with.  Tuesday we meet at China Camp and that starts four days of plein air in beautiful Marin.  We'll start with  China Camp,  then two days at an incredible ranch past Nicasio, and then the town of Nicasio itself.  Great places to paint with a favorite instructor and painter.  If you are unfamiliar with Tim's work I suggest you visit his web site....www.timhornart.com.

Blue Green Dream

10 x 8

Oil on Board

$200 UF

I really enjoyed painting this little bird, and was very happy with the results.  Especially the eye.    All of my paintings are either plein air, arranged still life, or from photographs that I have taken.  I am particularly drawn to birds and walk in several bird sanctuaries frequently.  Lucky to have such diversity in Marin.  Can you tell I love where I live?