Plein Air Paintout in Winters, CA

I just returned from Winters, CA, where I painted Weds thru noon Saturday with a group of extremely talented artists who had gathered for the 4th annual Brigg's Plein Air paintout that involved alot of the town of Winters.  We had green green and more green because spring was bustin' out all over... blooming nut and fruit trees, redbud, and barns, farms, gorgeous scenery.  here are some of my paintings for your enjoyment!!!

Here I am about finished with the following painting of an oak tree.

This is the underpainting.  I had white Wallis paper, and put down some pinky-orangey pastels and squirted on some rubbing alcohol that I then mushed around with an old paintbrush.  Once this was dry, I began to add layers of the greens that made up most of this scene.  It was a beautiful day!

Big Oak, dry pastel, 9x12, $375

This was the first painting I did on Wednesday of the old silo at the Turkovich farm.  The workers were tractoring out debris from some recent flooding of the creek below.

I painted Stormy Creek  from inside my rv since the wind was so fierce it would have blown me over!  I turned around and saw the barn below and got permission to drive out closer to capture The Good Earth seen here:

This creek at Nicholson Ranch was just lovely and I painted it after the Big Oak.  I think the finished piece is hanging in the Winters Visitor Center.

The third painting on Thursday was this orchard in bloom with tractor tracks filled with water.  I found it on my way back to the gallery when I thought I couldn't paint another thing that day and couldn't resist capturing the light here.  I brought this one back to Mendocino.

On Friday we went to Berryessa Gap property and I painted this little vineyard scene with a Redbud bush and creek both using my artistic license.  This painting is at the Berryessa Gap tasting room in downtown Winters and is also for sale.

This is the pizza oven for Putah Creek Cafe, and my effort during a "quick-draw" event on Saturday morning from 8-12.  The restaurant owner offered to give me $200 in food trade, but since I don't live there, I just laughed and then this painting sold right after it was hung in the Briggs Gallery. 

Paint The Town!  Shaunie Briggs put together a really fun paintout with artists from Tahoe to Mendocino!  Great weather, good friends, lots of creativity!

My next adventure is San Diego for the Art Walk show in Little Italy end of April-May 1.  Please come see me there!