plein air

Painting Old Monterey

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At first I thought it would be a good challenge, a little out of my comfort level, but maybe some fun.  Later on, wondered what I might be getting myself into! 

I volunteered to paint with the Monterey Bay Plein Air Painters at the Old Monterey Foundation Downtown festival in conjunction with the Monterey Museum of Art Block Party and  the Monterey History and Art Association’s Jo Mora Day, yesterday, April 15th.   Downtown Monterey is checkered with old buildings, adobes, and secret and not-so-secret gardens, some centuries old.

We were supposed to paint around Old Town Monterey, and then display the paintings in the afternoon at the block party.  Architecture, buildings, etc. is not usually what I paint, nor do I consider my self proficient at it.  As a son once said many years ago, “Dad, your buildings suck, but you are getting better”.  As we got closer to the event, the instruction sheet says they will assign us a location to paint!  Uh-oh!! I don’t even get to choose where to paint!!!

Arriving for check-in on a cloudy morning, my assigned spot was Casa del Oro Garden.   I had actually not been to this garden, but as it turned out, there were several spots appealing to me to paint.  I chose the old adobe wall and gate behind the Pacific Hotel, and close to Debra Nichols, Membership Chair of MBPAPA.  About 15 MBPAPA artists were participating.

Since it was overcast, but supposed to clear, I took my time the first few hours, painting everything but sunlight until the sun came out, and then finished the painting in a little over 3 hours.  They also opened the gate, showing the inside garden, which I decided to paint in, and enhanced the piece.  It was probably too late to start another painting, so left it at that.

The festival coordinators didn’t specify if we should frame the paintings or not, but I only had one frame in the studio for the size of the canvas, so framed it. As it turned out, the painting and frame seemed to really go together, and later on a number of spectators remarked as such.

Dropping off the piece at the festival for display, it was quite an active event!  The downtown block party was jammed with people, display booths of all sorts, food galore, and live music.  

My piece won first place, and also sold! Maybe I should start painting more architecture!

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Stupendous!!

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The greatest meeting of land and water in the world.

–Landscape artist Francis McComas
Carmel Highlands, 8×16, oil on board

Point Lobos is not too far from my new home in Marina.  Considered the crown jewel of California’s coastal state parks, the views are endless and I could spend a lifetime painting just there.  Although I have painted there more times than I can count, it had been awhile!

The Monterey Bay Plein Air Painters were meeting there, so joined in.  Usually these paint-outs are as much a social event as creating great paintings.  Today, I wanted to do a good piece for possible upcoming shows, so went early, prior to the 10 o’clock meeting time, arriving before 9 am.   I was astounded being the first car in the parking lot!  Usually it’s full and congested all day long.  Although the artists were scattered over a wide area, my guess is about a dozen showed up for the paint-out.

The surf was still high from recent storms, and the biggest I have seen in the preserve.  WOW!!  Waves were pounding and crashing the rocky coast, sometimes splashing, as a guess, over 30 feet high.  You could feel the thundering surf on your chest!!  Stupendous!!

I took a little hand trolley to haul my equipment, hiked around to the south part of the preserve and painted a scene looking south.  The coast along this area is called Carmel Highlands, with a number of mansions clinging over the rocky cliffs.  The famous photographer Ansel Adams lived there in his later years, and Clint Eastwood and other Hollywood luminaries  own quite a bit of property there.  His production company, Malpaso Productions is named after a creek there.  The Eastwood movie “Play Misty for Me” was mostly filmed there, among many, many, others.

Spending a little over two hours, got a ‘keeper’.  Although I was painting from Point Lobos State Preserve, actually, none of the preserve is in the painting!  As usual, I might touch it up a bit. Simplifying the surf a bit, and add a few more strategically placed rocks, might help, but doesn’t really need much.

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The Sea Otters Realm

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It has been raining seemingly nonstop since Christmas and with my son in town for the holidays, there has been no time to paint. Today was the first day out painting since the new year. I joined the Monterey Bay Plein Air Painters at Lover’s Point in Pacific Grove, CA.

The surf was still high from the recent storms, so we had quite a bit of wave action on the rocks. Here’s a few photos of the day—

I painted a little over an hour of the rocks at Lover’s point, it turned out OK. With a little touchup, it’s probably a keeper!

It was a sunny and glorious day. As we painted, I could see a few sea otters just offshore enjoying the sunshine and their fresh caught seafood.

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Kathleen Dunphy

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Considered one of the top traditional artists in California, Kathleen Dunphy has always been on my list of favorite artists.  The California Art Club was sponsoring a demo by Kathleen in Pacific Grove, and I was anxious to attend.  At first it was a little iffy if it would happen as quite a few rainy weather fronts had been coming through the area.  The location of the demo in Pacific Grove is a familiar place for artists in the area.  About every artist I know, including me, has painted there many times.

The weather was very misty on arrival, but cleared up enough for Kathleen to do her demo.  Due to the weather, rather than painting something larger, she chose a small 6×8 canvas size.  Frankly, I was surprised there wasn’t a large crowd.  With Kathleen’s reputation, I expected a large group, but only about 8 showed up.  I also expected a lot of anxious newby artists, but just about everyone there was an A-List professional.  Perhaps it was the inclement weather.  

Kathleen painted and talked for about two hours and the painting turned out great. Like she said, her demos are how to start a painting!

It was an enjoyable, intimate morning, and glad I attended.  A few techniques Kathleen used, I plan on trying soon in my never ending endeavors in the art world.

Below are a few pictures of the event…

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2022 Magnificent Miniatures Holiday Sale

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Looking for a totally unique custom gift for the holiday season which will last a lifetime? These little paintings make great holiday gifts. This year I am also including notecards and books on sale. This is the biggest discount I ever sell my paintings, up to 70% off. Most prices are for unframed originals, however if the frame is shown, it is included. Shipping is free in the continental US. If you are interested, just email me at donald@donaldneff.com.

Just click on the link to see what’s available…

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Let’s Do It Again!

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The California Art Club was having a paint out at Garrapata State Park on Saturday, November 5. This was the same group, and same location as last January when I painted a piece which eventually got a first place in a MBPAPA show. So, why not join in again!

It’s only about half an hour drive from my home, and I took off a little early as parking can get full. Besides being a scenic place, it is the jumping off place for a number of trails going into the Big Sur Wilderness.

A good sized group showed up, maybe not quite as many as last January. I painted for a couple hours, and quit a little before I was completely satisfied with the piece as the wind was starting to kick up, and I had other items on the agenda that afternoon,…

Below are a few pictures of the day…

Before I started painting
Paul Kratter
Around the time I quit

After a little touchup in the studio, the finished piece is shown below. I think it’s a keeper.

Garrapata Cliffs, 9×12, oil on panel, plein air

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The 7th Hole, Pebble Beach

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7th Hole, Pebble Beach

The 7th hole on the famous Pebble Beach Golf Course is one of the most iconic in the world.  The par 3 hole probably shouldn’t exist, is the shortest on the PGA TOUR at just 106 yards, and considered one of the most beautiful spots on the planet. 

The Knights of the Vine chapter in Monterey for the past 30 years have had a party on the Sheltered Cove pier by the Beach & Tennis Club in Pebble Beach, CA.  I was invited to sit and paint during the party after a long time collector, Sue, recommended me to the current chapter Command, Richard Kehoe. 

After several false starts on the best place to set up on the pier, I started the painting around 11.  The event was to begin at 12, and I had until about 2 to finish.  I decided to paint Arrowhead Point overlooking Sheltered Cove.  Partway through the painting, some of the golfers told me it was the famous 7th hole, hence the title. 

It’s totally unpredictable how a plein air painting might turn out, and in this case, thankfully, even though it was overcast all day, it turned out pretty good.   So well, in fact, there was a bit of a bidding war among the attendees, and sold fresh off the easel.

Here are few pictures of the day.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get a great picture of the painting, which I also framed for the collector.

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Carmel’s Scenic Drive

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Carmel Scenic Drive winds around the beach and bluffs in Carmel, CA with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, Carmel Beach, Pebble Beach Golf Course, Point Lobos, and other sights.  It’s actually a pretty busy place with locals and non residents alike walking and jogging along the adjoining pathway.  Dogs are ever-present since Carmel Beach has been designated a ‘dogs off leash friendly’ beach.  Along the drive prominently stands the Clinton Walker House designed by Frank Loyd Wright.  I have painted here a number of times over the years, especially while participating in the Carmel Art Festival.  

The Monterey Bay Plein Air Painters had a paint out along the drive today, and I joined in.  It was a nice sunny day, and at least a dozen showed up painting the beach, Monterey Cypress, and other sights.  Every turn in the drive is a different perspective and potential painting, and right by my car was as good a view as any.

I worked on it for a little over 90 minutes, taking a little artistic license to add more early morning shadows on the beach. I also didn’t finish the foreground, but added a few color notes for later. I might add the Clinton Walker House on the point, but didn’t really have time to paint it at the time.

I think it may be a keeper after I finish it in the studio.

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Honored

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I was honored last night with First Place in the Monterey Bay Plein Air Painters Member show, “Coastal Passions” at the Pacific Grove Art Center, Pacific Grove, CA. The show was quite strong, with a lot of great paintings, and it was the first time I have shown with this group. I painted the piece during the California Art Club paint out last January. You can read about it here, plus a video with some great drone shots of the California Coastline.

The show runs until October 27. Please stop by!

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Asilomar

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Asilomar, 8×10, oil on panel

Asilomar is a derivation of the Spanish phrase asilo al mar, meaning asylum or refuge by the sea.

I hadn’t been out painting in awhile, so went out with the Monterey Bay Plein Air Painters yesterday to Asilomar State Beach.  It was a foggy, very misty morning.  I used to always chase the light when looking for painting locations, but over the years have come to embrace the moody foggy landscape and seascape.  I even started a ‘Misty’ series you can see here.  Looking back, I think collectors like them also, as most of these have gone to a permanent home!

This morning, however, the air was thick enough that everything was getting wet.  Although oil paints won’t absorb water, the water can muck up your paints, and lift them off the canvas.  After about an hour of this, it did clear up enough and the sun broke out occasionally.

I did a simple scene of just the water and rocks.  It turned out pretty good for a 90 minute color study, so might keep it.  Below are a few pictures of the day.

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