Heart K Paint Out

The barn and outbuildings at the Heart K Ranch

And, to finish the month out, another paint-out and an opportunity to do plen-aire painting in an even more beautiful place.  This time, we were in the Genesee Valley, in Plumas County.  Genesee is this magical place, tucked away in the Sierras, a long way from the noise of traffic and busy city life.  Here, the Feather River Land Trust has purchased a tract of land, called the Heart K Ranch, to preserve and protect in perpetuity.  In order to procure the land, the Trust had to borrow quite a bit of money, so they are trying to raise the funds to pay off the loan.  As far as I know, this was their first paint-out.  Several artists arrived at 8 am to start painting, and by 2 pm, there was a crowd gathered to view and buy the art, as well as several other auction items.  Volunteers, I assume residents of the valley, put together a fabulous lunch, even serving barbequed oysters! There was music, Maidu drummers and a “nature walk” where local experts shared about how the land was used when the Maidu Tribe occupied the Genesee Valley. 

My painting of the barn at the Heart K Ranch, which sold at auction for $300.

The artists donated their time and their proceeds to the Feather River Land Trust.  It was really fun to have people come along, appreciate what you were doing, and then to buy it, especially to benefit such a great cause.  The red barn is the first fully restored building on the Heart K Ranch. 

I painted with oils here at the Heart K.  I discovered the challenges of doing that plen-aire…the oils weren’t dry when people were ready to take the paintings away…and wet paint gets all over people who handle the paintings!  Now, I know you’re not supposed to handle wet oil paintings, but in this circumstance, it was unavoidable.  I finished the first painting above, and because I had more paint, I turned and looked out over the valley and painted the second one below.

Genesee Valley, oil painting, sold at silent auction at the Heart K Ranch.

We left the gathering and drove back on a dirt road, which took us around the other side of Genesee Valley…what a treasure of a place it is.  Another surprise of the day was re-connecting for a brief moment wtih Vicki, who I used to work with at Seneca District Hospital.  We were both OB nurses.  She was my Vanna for the auction!   It realy was a very special day.  Rob and I are in love with yet another place on this beautiful earth!

Petaluma Paint Out

The next painting opportunity was September 20…the first Petaluma Paint Out.  Several artists gathered around the Petaluma Turning Basin to paint all day.  At the end of the day, we all showed our paintings at the Theater District Square.  I chose to paint watercolor on specially prepared canvas, my second attempt to do watercolors on canvas.  This particular canvas took the color slightly better than regular canvas.  Here I am sweating away (not really) at my painting…what a gorgeous day!

You can see some of the other painters across the Turning Basin.

I’ll show you this painting…I still need to make some adjustments…

The Petaluma Turning Basin

Painting with watercolor paints on canvas is challenging because, unlike paper, the canvas refuses to absorb the paint.  It’s a mixed blessing.  You can make changes easily and you can change the painting too easily!  

Adding to the pleasure of the day was the sound of Taiko Drummers in the background, helping to celebrate the opening of the new Petaluma Art Center.  At one time, I was very involved in creating that Art Center.  Mary Dooley, a local architect, donated her time to design the center, which is at the Petaluma Train Depot…she did a beautiful job.  I hope it will become a true communal center for people to find creativity in their lives.

Ghost Ranch

It’s been a busy month of painting.  The first week in September I spent the week at Ghost Ranch, in Georgia O’Keefe country…I’ll never forget driving over the hills just before Ghost Ranch and feeling, “I can’t believe it!  I’m in the middle of a Georgia O’Keefe painting!”  The cliffs, rocks, sky, vegetation in this part of New Mexico is so awesome!  The workshop was very well run and taught by Gail and Ken McDaniel.  I’ll show you a few pieces that are still in process.

Watercolor painted plen-aire alongside the Chama River, northwest of Ghost Ranch.

Gail taught several techniques, including one using a tool to spray paint onto the paper.  The natural materials, including the cottonwood leaves drifting off, were gathered around Ghost Ranch.  One day we walked out into the desert to Georgia’s home (the former home of Arthur Pack)…it was really hot, dry…but the colors were amazing.  You may remember the red hills of her paintings, the ochre slides of clay and volcanic rocks sitting out in the middle of nowhere.    

The beginnings of a painting using found objects and spray on watercolor paint...these are the colors of the desert at Ghost Ranch.

Pedernal…the mountain that Georgia O’Keefe says was promised to her if she painted it enough…   

Rob and I at Ghost Ranch...Pedernal in the background

The White Place, across the valley from Georgia O’Keefe’s home in Abiqui…my heart expanded as I hiked into the canyon where Ms. O’Keefe no doubt dragged her paints and canvases.   

The canyon where "The White Place in Shadow" was painted.

I helped to teach the portion of the workshop on mandalas.  We worked on our mandalas all week long.  Most people produced very refined and beautiful mandalas.  I found myself working with texture (using masa paper and sumi ink) and, again, the desert colors to make a mandala called “Earth in Turmoil”.  I tapped into my grief around the deterioration of our beautiful earth (interesting that I should be so aware of that in the midst of the wilderness of New Mexico…) The dark spot you see can be an opening into the depths where we all find healing.   

My mandala...the earth is my body.

It was a profoundly enjoyable week and I brought home rocks, as usual, to remind myself of the connection to the earth which I felt so intensely in this beautiful place.

On our hike into the Ghost Ranch desert. Look at that sky!!

End of July musings

We’re nearing the end of summer, which in Petaluma means that we have cold mornings and very wam days.  I’m hoping to do some plen aire painting this weekend.  Here is my latest plen aire oil painting from Schollenberger Park in Petaluma.  (I’ve not yet mastered the art of photographing oils…The original is brighter.)

Peaceful Morning