California Art Club Painting Retreat at Limantour Beach

Friday Oct. 30, 2009 finally arrived and the California Art Club Limantour Painting Retreat had begun.Fourty artists gathering at the Pt. Reyes Hostel for two nights and three days of painting, eating, conversation and fun. After four months of preparation, people drove up from San Diego, L.A., San Luis Obispo and from all around the San Francisco Bay area.

Three days prior to the weekend all the weather channels were predicting showers, but it turned out to be spectacular fall weather with totally sunny skies during the days and a small amount of shore fog in the mornings. It was absolutely glorious each day.

After a day of painting on Friday, Christin and I checked in and gathered for a pot-luck dinner with the others. Everyone provided an enormous amount of food. We drank (moderately) and engaged in group conversations with stories, laughter and good cheer. It was great to meet some new people and learn more about the lives of other serious artists. Turning in for the night proved to be a bit of a challenge with the women in two dorm rooms with 5 bunk beds each and the men in an out building dorm also with two rooms and 5 bunk beds. Naturally, everyone wanted a lower bunk, but it all seemed to work out. In the morning I heard some horror stories of loud snoring in one of the womens dorms, but not a big problem in the men’s area.

Saturday morning began with a Bagel, Salmon and cream cheese breakfast before heading out. We all stood around the kitchen area toasting bagels, making coffee and sharing areas to paint for the day.Some went to Pierce Point Ranch, some to Drake’s beach, some to Tomales Bay and we all scattered and followed our instincts. Returning home later, we again shared a Barbeque dinner with more good cheer and stories. Another beautiful day in paradise. After dinner, about 15 of us took a 3 mile Halloween night MoonWalk out to the beach without need of any flashlights. Saw a low flying owl, a glistening ocean and glowing trees with eerie shadows that could be hiding all sorts of night creatures.

Sunday morning we ate breakfast and then we all set out our paintings on the outdoor picnic tables so we could experience the various styles and techniques. It brought us closer once again to see each others work. Sennelier Artist Oils graciously provided two sets of Oil Paints for the winners of the random drawing. We checked out at 10am and said our goodbyes. Local artists scattered about and painted on Sunday too.

I don’t know how everyone felt about the paintings they produced over the weekend, but I do know that such events hold a special place in each of our heats and will be a memory that lasts in our history as artists. We’ll surely plan another one again soon.

Note: This event came about as a result of the combined efforts to bring more CAC events to the Northern part of our state. Our local chapter, headed up by Michelle Jader and Kay Young, has been working closely with the CAC Executive Director Elain Adams, Managing Director Lisa Cavelier along with a chapter volunteer steering committee. I was very happy to have administered this event on their behalf. If you're not already a CAC member, you too can join...http://www.californiaartclub.org/home/join.shtml

Photos and Movie Below:

Plein Air Poetry - Introduced at SLO Plein Air Festival

At the recent San Luis Obispo Plein Air Festival... I was introduced to "Plein Air Poetry".  It is a common form of poetry where the author experiences something while outside and jots down the poem. The name originated at the SLO Poetry Festival.

One night, Kevin Patrick Sullivan (an exuberant man and producer of the SLO Poetry Festival)  hosted a group of local poets that read some of thier creations at the Art Center to a crowd of painters and poets.  In fact... two of the poets tagged along with two of the painters at the event and wrote about their experience. Poet Paula Lowe gave me a gift of her groups book "Poems for Endangered Places" and Kevin gave me "The Space Between Things". I was so moved by the work and their generosity that it inspired me to create my own poems that come from my personal painting experiences.  Here is my first work titled "Morning at Pelican Point".  There are sure to be more.

"Morning at Pelican Point"

Sun backlights

this enormous remnant

of coastline past,

while the pelicans sleep 

camouflaged on its

sharp decline to the sea.

Part shade

part sun

sometimes fog

The iconic monolith watches

blue horizon

creamy dunes

the long intruding pier

and amazing birds...

just as it does every day.

10/2/2009

Associated Painting:  Pelican Point - Pismo Beach

copyright 2009 - Richard Lindenberg

NORTH TAHOE PLEIN AIR - a week in heaven

A week at Lake Tahoe, when the tourists are gone, is food for the soul.  Christin and I just returned from the week long North Tahoe Plein Air event.  There were 38 artists who spent three days painting the lake and its surroundings for the show on Saturday and Sunday at Northstar Village.  The daytime weather was perfect with bright sunny skies and cool shade which made for a painter's dream. 

We were the guests of Lois and Andy Skaff for the week who are also the organizers of the event which was put on in association with North Tahoe Arts and the 24th annual Autumn Food and Wine Festival. Each day we ventured out to different locations that Andy and others recommended.  Emerald Bay, Blackwood Canyon, the Truckee River and the Lake shores itself.  Simply endless beauty to paint.

     

Paul Kratter, Zee Zee Mott and Craig Mitchell were the judges for the event.  I was fortunate to have won the coveted "Artist's Choice" award (image below) and Andrew Bolam won "Best of Show". Andy Skaff, Carole Gray-Weihman, Randall Stauss and Bonita Paulis won the other awards.  Sennelier Artist Oils provided several of the winner prizes. Many of the unsold paintings from the event are for sale at North Tahoe Arts, 380 North lake Blvd., Tahoe City until October 18th.

"WEST MARIN WILD" - Art Show at Pt. Reyes Ntl. Seashore Red Barn

Every two years, the Environmental Action Committee of West Marin (EAC) organizes the "West Marin Wild" art show and sale on Labor Day Weekend at the Pt. Reyes Visitor Center Red Barn.  It's a fundraiser for their non-profit organization that is a tenacious grassroots group founded in 1971 to protect West Marin's natural environment and rural character.

This year's show was a huge success with 38 artists exhibiting more than 160 pieces.  More than 50% of the artwork sold and their sales topped the previous high of two years ago.  Quite a testament in this struggling economy.  

Christin and I helped greet the visitors during the 3 day event and we were pleased to have had 9 of our paintings find new homes.  Sherrie Stanton and Jane Kriss, along with the other volunteers did a magnificent job organizing everything and we were so pleased to be part of the show once again.

      

Artist's in the Back Country - Sierra National Park

Christin and I have recently returned from our summer vacation.  We took Artie (our RV) on a road trip for ten days.  First to Tuolumne Meadows for 4 days of painting and hiking.  We drove next to Sequoia National Park where we were part of an invited group called "Artist's in the Back Country" that was assembled by the Sequoia Parks Foundation for the purpose of gathering painters, poets, photographers, scientists and other creative people to produce images, poems and prose about the place and the experience.

Tuolumene Meadows is one of my favorite spots on earth.  It has high mountain air, clear nights, a beautiful river, extraordinary hiking trails, privacy and spectacular mountain scenery.  What more could a painter ask for.  Each day we did a morning painting, came back to Artie for lunch and rest, then out to the river or meadow to paint the late day until sundown.  

       

We left Yosemite's high country and drove to Sequoia National Park.  We congregated at a Boy Scouts of America Camp with 3 other painters Paul Kratter, Bill Cone and Jeff Horn - a poet... Bill Keener, a writer/photographer... David Robertson, a photographer... Bob Watters, the former Chief Park Ranger at Sequoia... Bill Tweed, our organizer, former park ranger, photographer and development head of UC Merced... Armando Quintero, Laurie Hoyle... SPF board member and three chefs... Anna Lisa, Tya and Sally... our camp host... Margie and various other guests dropping in for a visit during the trip.  This was the 4th year of the ABC trip.  It's purpose is to gather distinguished creative people together for a future promotional project that was yet to be determined.  The idea came from the old days of pioneering the area where photographers, painters, preservationists and like minded people documented the Sierras and petitioned congressional leaders to establish a National Park system.  We were honored to be part of the group.  Conversations ranged from sensitive artistic discoveries, to political assesments of our government's agenda to simple humor.  What a wonderful bunch of people.  We ate and drank like royalty.  I know we have made new friends that surely will pop up in our lives from time to time.

    

A Week at the Frank Bette Alameda Plein Air Paint-Out

Last week I spent five days painting on the island of Alameda which borders Oakland, CA.  It was the 4th annual event and is the primary fundraiser for the Frank Bette Art Center.  Debra Owens, the director of the center coordinated a fantastic week for the artists.  

Alameda is an extraordinary place with hundreds of old restored Victorian houses, an old Navy Air Field with many colorful old buildings, sail and power boats galore, a large beach overlooking San Francisco and interesting downtown shopping districts.

During my stay there I was hosted by Dr. Laurie Chaikin on her incredible 47ft Catamaran Yacht the Charleete II. Each day there were organized events for the artists.  We had an opening day artists party with sushi and assorted other goodies, portrait sessions, garden set-ups, house paintings and more.  One of the more memorable events for me was held at the Rock Wall Winery which occupies a huge old aircraft hangar at the now defunct Alameda Naval Air Station.  They hosted some artists with glasses of their fine wines while I painted from inside the hangar through the gigantic 8ft thick hangar doors that they opened for the occasion to reveal a sunset view across the bay to San Francisco.

Silvio Silvestri won Best of Show and the other award winners were equally terrific.  We couldn't have had nicer weather and the results were spectacular.

CAC Painting Retreat at Limantour Beach set for October

The Northern California chapter of the California Art Club has planned a fantastic event for this fall! We can paint, eat and laugh together at the CAC Painting Retreat from Friday, October 30 through Sunday, November 1. 

Accommodations will be at the Point Reyes Hostel at Limantour Beach in Point Reyes National Seashore. The cost is nominal and it will be gorgeous out there at that time of the year. Plan to paint all day with each other, moonlight hike, barbecue and hang in the comfy living room!

Some members have stayed at the hostel before and it is a "bunk-bed kind of place" with a full kitchen, living room area, outside picnic area and dorm room bunkhouses with showers and bathrooms. Though it is not fancy, it is an amazing place to have a painting retreat. 

There is space for a minimum of 20 CAC members and up to 40 total (ghosts & vampires o.k.). Space is limited, on a first-come/first-reserved basis, so please reserve a spot right away! For more information, email me at richlindenberg@gmail.com.