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.

CAC Paintout at Cavallo Point Lodge

Yesterday was one of those perfect days by the San Francisco Bay.  It was time once again to gather the Northern California members of the California Art Club for their quarterly chapter paint-out.  

This time we met at the absolutely beautiful Cavallo Point Lodge where Rochelle Bernet (program manager) greeted us at one of their posh outdoor seating areas. Kay and Michelle, our CAC organizers served coffee and bagels as we basked in the sun and gazed at the bridge with a slight wisp of fog overhead.  Rochelle then gave us a personal tour of the converted former Fort Baker site on one of their six seater carts.  The views there are spectacular with some of the most iconic of the City, SF Bay and the Golden Gate.

Christin and I painted from seperate locations on the grounds but returned a couple of hours later to the outdoor seating area to relax and marvel once again.  We were even treated to a glass of Cabernet by some young couples gathered at the same spot with their young kids.  Life couldn't be any better. Christin had a gallery opening at Holton Studios in Emeryville from 4 to 7 pm, so sadly we had to leave a bit early while the other artists continued painting from their scattered locations.  A few of the painters took advantage of the adirondack chairs that were strategically placed on the fescue meadows. (see photo)  

What a great thing to be part of a historic club like the CAC and to have access to these kinds of situations with other artists.  My hope is that other events and gatherings in our northern part of the state will take place more often.

California Art Club - San Francisco Chapter Growth

Elaine Adams, Executive Director of the 100 year old California Art Club, came up to the bay area yesterday with Lisa Cavelier the Managing Director.  Their purpose was to discuss how the CAC could help with the growth and development of the SF chapter. Several bay area members met with them at The South Food & Wine Bar for a mixer and discussion of future goals.  

In attendance were Eric Rhoads (publisher of Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine) and Chapter Chairs Michelle Jader and Kay Young.  Artists and members Christin Coy, Richard Lindenberg, Kim Lordier, Krystal Allen, Pam Powell, Chris Adessa and Carolyn Lord also participated.

Clearly the Bay Area is an enormous potential resource for the CAC.  Many of the Artist members and Associate members of the influential club live in the northern part of the State, but most of the activities, exhibits and gatherings take place in and around Pasadena in the South.  As a result of a recent grant for the purpose of chapter development, the club can contribute more of their time and resources to aid in the SF chapters growth.  Much excitement was generated by the gathering and there will be great things to come soon to the Bay Area. On June 6th, the SF chapter will hold their quarterly paint-out at Cavallo Point Lodge, just below the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands. 

If you are interested in becoming a member of the California Art Club or for further information on the quarterly paint-out, please follow this link to their site.   www.californiaartclub.org

MALT - an artist's journal continued

All of my paintings for this weekends "Ranches & Rolling Hills" show have been completed, titled, photographed and signed. My job is done now! Tomorrow the paintings will be delivered to the capable hands of Elisabeth Ptak and Cindy Jordan at the MALT offices where the next phase of the event continues.   Elisabeth and Cindy have had multiple responsibilities to coordinate over the past months and weeks that will come to an exciting finish this weekend.

For me, there is the Friday night MALT reception to enjoy, the Collector's brunch Saturday and the opening for the general public on Saturday and Sunday.  Having been a show admirer over the years, it should prove to be quite a different experience as a participating artist.

One of my goals since becoming a Marin painter has been to become a part of this show... now that it has happened, I am just thrilled and look forward to seeing each and every one of you there.

MALT New Artists Dinner

This past Tuesday evening... Krystal Allen - Kristen Garneau - Davis Perkins and Richard Lindenberg, the four MALT "Ranches & Rolling Hills" artists that were inducted for the 2009 show, met for dinner.  The purpose of the gathering was to forge a bond to carry forward into this years show and the future.

We asked each other such questions as "Are your paintings finished yet?", "how many paintings were you showing?", "How was you first experience of painting for MALT?", and even "What are you wearing at the opening?".  We had some wine, some laughs and some art conversation. 

There are only two more weeks until the show and we are all very excited and honored to be part of this years event that takes place on May 16 (2-5pm) and May 17 (10-4pm) and is free to the public. 

Travels with "ARTIE"

For the past few years, it was my dream to be able to travel further on painting trips and see more of our beautiful state and country. It seemed as though retirement was the logical time to consider adventuring out like this... but then one day I thought "why not now"?  

Suddenly this simple thought set into motion a series of events.  I started looking seriously on Craigslist in the RV section.  For more than a year became familiar with the types of vehicles and the prices by scouting on a regular basis.  Since my price range was in the lower echelon, we looked at some real clunkers until one day January of 2009 we came across a vehicle that was made in 1989 but only had 13,000 miles.  That day we set up a meeting and by nightfall it was ours. I guess it's true that having a goal can help one focus on achieving success.  

We named him ARTIE because he was our artmobile.  He needed the roof sealed, new tires, a new stereo (of course), but basically he only needed a cleaning. 

We planned our first trip in late January and headed to the Mendocino, Ft.Bragg area.  It was a beautiful week and we painted some real winners.  Artie performed admirably.  After a couple of weeks at home, we headed out again for a longer trip to Southern California to see the William Wendt show at the Laguna Beach Museum of Art and then due east to Arizona. It was a magical two week trip and we have thousands of photos and some paintings too.  We even connected with the Windrush Gallery in Sedona, AZ that now represents both of our work.

We now have a new dimension added to our lives... just because of a dream to travel more.