Plein Air Day in the Ventura Keys!

2016 was kicked off by the Pastel Society of the Gold Coast with a wonderful day of plein air painting and socializing at the home of member Sydney Kopeikin! 

The morning started a bit windy and overcast but being the coastal town Ventura is, the weather can be ever changing! The morning gave the members who arrived with their plein air supplies in tow, a chance to enjoy some visiting, along with coffee, fruit and pastries!

Next step as the wind died down ... find a spot to paint!

Yep, this was a fabulous view across the Ventura Keys! Up goes the tripod and pastel box!

Lucinda Keller starting with a vibrant watercolor underpainting ...

... before adding adding layers of pastel and details to the houses and boats on the water.

Little visitors!

Kale Starbird with her set-up looking across the channel ...

Lori Corradi, above sketching in her composition from a smaller field sketch, and working in her pastels below.

Judy Klement, finding inspiration in the beautiful boat across the way ...

Judy sketching in with pastels and pastel pencils ...

Donna Vis, going in close on a sailboat ...

It's wonderful to see what inspires us, and how we all choose differently, what to paint and how to paint it! It makes each artist unique and different.

Judy Klement's Field Sketch ...

What a gorgeous and fantastic day! Thanks Sydney Kopeikin!!!

Photography in the Ventura Keys by Lucinda Keller

This write up, below, talks about our connection with Camarillo Hospice.

And, just around the corner we will have members doing demos for the Spring Garden Tour! If you are in the neighborhood, check it out! It will be a beautiful afternoon!

For me, a landscape does not exist in its own right,

since its appearance changes at every moment;

but the surrounding atmosphere brings it to life - 

the light and the air which vary continually. 

For me, it is only the surrounding atmosphere 

which gives subject their true value.

~Claude Monet

PSGC Plein Air Day at the King Gilette Ranch

What art offers is space ~

A certain breathing room for the spirit.

~John Updike

Santa Monica Mountains by Lynn Simon

Last fall Pastel Society of the Gold Coast had a wonderful day of plein air at The King Gillette Ranch, in the Santa Monica Mountains. What a beautiful place to create art and spend the day!

Above, a view from a little hike, down to the Ranch below.

The artists scouted the beautiful ranch, taking photos and getting inspiration for an afternoon of creating art! The morning was beautiful but windy, but it all worked out, as the afternoon was lovely and perfect for plein air.

After some visiting and an early lunch, they settled into their locations ...
Below, Lori found a beautiful spot!

Donna Vis' lovely view of the bridge ...

And a wonderful, colorful path by Nelda Gruenthal ...

A watercolor underpainting of the old 1920s stables (now visitors center) by Lucinda Keller ...

And then, pastels over the top!

Below, Donna Vis, Patrish Kuebler, Emily Goldfield, Lynn Simon, Lori Corradi, and Nelda Gruenthal. What fun!

For more information on the King Gillette Ranch, please click here.

For information about the visitors center, click here.

If one really loves nature,

on can find beauty everywhere.

~Vincent van Gogh

Pastels at the Chumash Indian Museum

Field sketch by Donna Vis

On January 5, 2014, six of our members, headed over to the beautiful Chumash Indian Museum, for a beautiful day of plein air pastel painting. 

The museum is open to the public, Thursday through Sunday, from noon to 5pm. It's in the Thousand Oaks area, surrounded by acres of beautiful land, and wonderful old oak trees.

From the Chumash Indian Museum Website:

The Chumash Indian Museum is a historical site and living history center.

This museum is dedicated to restoring and preserving an awareness of the

Chumash people and their historical, cultural, material and present-day

influence as well as the natural environment and historical significance

of this site.  Through exhibits, events and educational programs the

Chumash Indian Museum serves as a gathering place for a partnership

with the native and non-native communities  connecting the past with

the present to continue our shared future.

Off to find the perfect spot!

In this photo, below, Donna has found her spot. With lovely light and shadows to work from, She'd already begun her field sketch ...

Green is the prime color of the world,

and that from which its loveliness arises.

~Pedro Calderon de la Barca 

Another field sketch …  this one, a lovely grove of trees, by Lori Corradi.

Come forth into the light of things,

let nature be your teacher.

~William Wordsworth

The photographs in this post were taken by, Lori Corradi, Donna Vis and Lynn Simon. Thanks Ladies!

Twisted Sister, by Judy Koenig

Lori Corradi, Emily Goldfield, Donna Vis, Lynn Synn Syrne Simon, and Judy Koenig out among the oak trees!

Another shot of a few of the ladies, along with Morgan Alexandra Kari (in the glasses) who was also able to make the "paint out." Looks like it was a lovely day, ladies!

For more about the Chumash Indian Museum, visit their website, here.

It is not so much for its beauty 

that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts,

as for that subtle something,

that quality of air that emanation from old trees,

that so wonderfully

changes and renews weary spirit.

~Robert Louis Stevenson

Chumash Indian Museum Grounds by Lynn Byrne Simon