Day 2: Color Blocking

Another HOT day! Fighting the paint as it wanted to dry and skin up from the heat, but I won :) Great progress with some large shape color-blocking. Feels good to see it begin to take shape.

Let the Color Begin

Up early to beat the heat! Taped all the hinges and locks so they will still function and got the background color covered. Working in shifts since it's already 91! #SJartbox #utilitybox #sanjose #citymural

Plein Air Mondays

Keeping it local this week, we painted in Los Gatos. It was a very HOT morning - I'm definitely going to have to invest in a better sun umbrella! (I've heard good things about Bestbrella)
#pleinair #losgatos #saramordecai #glenridge #toohot #landscapepainting

American Treasure: Gregory Kondos

Everyone should know his name, recognize his paintings. Gregory Kondos.

I took a week long Plein Air painting workshop from him last summer. I was blown away at his work and he was a very good constructive teacher.

Today I made a pilgrimage to Sacramento's Crocker Museum. (Which is a fantastic museum! HELLO?! San Jose! Come on, we can do better!)

Ok. The Crocker's current special exhibition is a Kondos retrospective. From across the room many of his paintings look like photos, realistic. Up close they are alive, dancing, juicy and expressive. Color, design, energy; each landscape is breathtaking.

GO! Show ends May 19.

Plein Fierce

Check us out! 700+ Plein Air painters all along the coast near Asilomar. Later, we became "Extreme Painters" when the wind picked up something fierce!

I always wonder if I've chosen the right view, the right spot to paint. Well not today! I arrived to the location a little early, walked around until something caught my eye, set up my gear and started in.

When I was nearly finished and took a look around me for the first time, I saw Randy Sexton, Camille Przewodek, Brian Blood and Jeremy Lipking were painting right next to me. I guess I picked an OK spot!

I have a Problem... Still

My dream palette/pochade arrived! Open Box M, 11x14. I had a piece of glass cut to fit and am ready to break it in! She's so lovely and smells really good too!

Day 2, Monterey Plein Air

Most beautiful day! A choir of barking seals, abundant sunshine and envious views. Lucky me, I'm here painting!