Friday, August 7, 2009

Plein Air at Cooper-Garrod Winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains

"Fine Aging at the Winery"
14" x 10"

Yesterday I painted with the plein air group of the Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society at the Cooper Garrod Winery on Mount Eden Road. What a fascinating old winery. It's not all dolled up and spiffed up. There are many old buildings and barns with stables. Horse classes were in progress while we were there - they have a very active and large stable.

I was very taken by this old Ford convertible with rumble seat parked under the cover attached to the old winery tasting room. The air long gone from the tires, parked on a tilted surface, the old car was doing some fine aging. I sat with Dick, a very accomplished artist who sells his work in a Campbell gallery. Later we compared images. How different -- mine is pretty close up with the car as the focal point and Dick's is a wonderful scene showing the building and the car. I think of Mike Bailey -- it's not about the subject, it's about the design. I would love to see Dick's finished piece. I had to finish mine last night while painting with the South Side Art Club at my home. What a nice time we always have on Thursday evenings. We've painted together since the mid-nineties.

Tonight I will be participating in the Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society's "Anything Goes" show at the Elizabeth Norton Gallery in the Pacific Art League Building on Ramona Street, just one block off University Avenue. I wrote about hanging this show in an earlier post. The pieces are truly high quality and I recommend the show to all in driving distance. There are 48 artists with three pieces of art each, so you have much to see while enjoying wine and nibbles. We are also part of the Friday Night Art Walk, so come by if you can.

I've received a couple blog awards and due to a hectic schedule have not had time to thank both Claire McFeeley and Mhega Chhatbar for their thoughtfulness.


4 comments:

Nancy Eaton said...

Great painting, Mary! I so envy you all the great painting "things" you get to be involved in where you live!

Claire M said...

Mary - I really enjoyed the art show this evening, and seeing your finished picture. Very nice! It was interesting to hear about your outdoor art adventure when we were talking -- and then come home and find your post with the image from the winery visit and your description. Sounds like a lot of fun.

Mary Paquet said...

Nancy, I am very fortunate to live in an area where there is such a large and active art community.

Claire, it was great visiting with you and your husband at the show. We had such a wonderful turnout. The gallery is truly a great venue. I hope you had some of the refreshments that Janice Faulstich personally made herself. What a feast.

Barbra Joan said...

Wonderful Mary. That area of Ca. has so much inspiration, you can't help but want to paint verything. And your work shows it! BJ