Plein Air Painting with the CAC

Friends on the Side of a Hill

I know of three different painting groups that all meet on Thursday morning. Why? What's wrong with Tuesday or Wednesday??

Anyway, this Thursday, I met with the California Art Club at King Gillette Ranch. Among the artists were Nita Harper, Marina Fortunati, George Malone, and me, Sharon Weaver.

Every time I have painted at this location a film crew is present and this day was no exception. The reality show "The Biggest Loser" was filming so when we drove in there were people, tents and cars everywhere. Marian and I found a clear spot way in the back by the outdoor boxing ring and set up to paint.

I was struck by the two trees on the hill. Their branches intertwined, they complimented each other. It made me reflect on my friends and how we support and help each other.

We finished around noon and then found the other painters who never made it back to our secluded spot. Sharing lunch and talking about art was great fun and we all enjoyed seeing each others paintings.

To subscribe to my blog enter your email in the box at the right. You will then be notified when I post a new entry. You can purchase any of the paintings featured in my blog. Just click on the title and buy it online through PayPal or Contact Sharon. You can see more of my art at my website at SharonWeaver.com

Laura Wambsgans Opening at Segil Gallery

Laura Wambsgans Painting Available at Segil Fine Art Gallery

It was a great night at Segil Fine Art in Monrovia where Laura Wambsgans was opening her one woman show, "Peaceful Light." Marian Fortunati and I took the night out with our families to attend. As we walked up to the gallery, a group had spilled out onto the street. Among the gallery goers were Tanya Lazar and Lynne Fearman, two of my travelers to the Big Bear paint out a few weeks ago.

Laura with Collectors

Of course, Laura Segil was there to greet everyone with her usual graciousness. Once I said hello to everyone, I had a chance to see Laura's art. It was an impressive show with an emphasis on trees, canyons and the mountains of Southern California. Laura created many new paintings for this exhibit. Her work is filled with exquisite colors, lovely compositions and great shapes that take the viewer along with her on her artistic journey.

Laura Wambsgans and Sharon Weaver at the Reception

Filled with intimate moments, my favorites were the three painted at Walker Ranch, in the morning, afternoon, and evening. This series especially highlighted Laura's talent with color. All painted at the same location but at different times of day, the varied colors from painting to painting were masterful.


So Many Fans of Laura's at Segil Gallery

As we left for dinner another couple was purchasing a painting, adding to the red dots that were scattered around the gallery. Laura's show continues through November 28, 2009, so take the time to go and smell the California flowers.

I will be showing three paintings at Segil Fine Art in the upcoming show, "Seventh Annual Small Works Show" from December 5 to December 31, 2009. The artist’s reception is Saturday, December 5, 5-7pm at 110 West Lime Avenue, Old Town Monrovia, CA 91016, 626-358-5563.

Painting with Oils

Country Road

A week ago I took a long drive to Riverside and entered a few paintings in the annual "Off The Wall" event at the Riverside Art Museum. The premise is a lot of fun. The public can walk into the museum, take the artwork right "Off the Wall," and take it home that night.

Today, I retraced my drive to retrieve the paintings and was happy to find that one, "Country Road," had sold. This painting holds a special place in my artistic journey.

I painted it in February of 2008 and this was the first painting I did after I switched from acrylic to oils. I remember the experience very well. I was using walnut oil as a medium. The slippery texture was very foreign to me and it seemed like I was painting with spaghetti sauce. My brush seemed to have a live of it's own and I struggled to control the paint. As I worked, I had an !aha! moment and realized that I needed to let go and allow the texture of the oil paints do the work. The richness of the colors were a revelation after struggling with the unnatural tones of acrylics. Once I relaxed with the oil paints, I knew I could never go back to painting landscapes using acrylics.

I am very pleased that this painting has found a new home for the Holidays. For another wonderful gift, you can purchase one of the other paintings featured in my blog. Just click on the title and buy it online through PayPal or Contact Sharon. You can see more of my art at my website at SharonWeaver.com

Ernie Marjoram: Demo at the November SFVAC

Life Drawing as Inspiration for Demo Painting

Ernie Marjoram was the demonstrator for the San Fernando Valley Art Club November meeting. Ernie is an accomplished architect, illustrator and landscape artist. Ernie's drawing skills are the foundation for his painting so he took his inspiration from a sketch done during a life drawing workshop. The seated, costumed man had many interesting details and Erie added a few more of his own.


Ernie Blocking in the Shapes with Color

He started by telling us not to be afraid to squeeze out a lot of paint and proceeded to put a third of a large tube on his palette. Someone gasped. Using only red, yellow, blue, black and white Ernie told use he likes to keep his palette simple. He began by priming the canvas with a rich rust red and then blocked in the shapes of the mid tone colors. After that, he went in and added the dark values to each area and last came the highlights. He took extra care with the face since that is the main point of interest.


SFVAC Members talking to Ernie about his Work

His last advise was to go back into the painting and "cut" around certain important shapes, like the face and the skull. The long fingernails and the skull are items added to the actual figure by Ernie for interest. It was a perfect post Halloween subject.


Ernie with the Finished Demo Painting

Everyone was enthusiastic about the demonstration and enjoyed Ernie's informed conversation. His skills made it seem so easy. Thank you Ernie for taking us on your creative journey.

Lucky Day for Painting

"Light on the Lake"

The effects of the freezing cold slowed everyone down the next morning. With the temperature hovering around 30, we all were waiting and hoping for it to warm up. Leave it to Lynne Fearman for a great idea. She called over to the privately owned lake nearby to see if we could paint there. The news was wonderful. The retreat didn't have any events planned and we were welcome to drive into the lake and paint. What a coup. During the summer we never would have gotten permission.


From the Other Side of the Lake

We rushed to pack our gear and us into the cars and headed out. I walked to the sunny side of the lake and set up my easel looking back toward the road. As I painted into the afternoon, the sun warmed me enough to unzipped my jacket. Watching the light reflect off the lake, smelling the pines in the clean air, I was revived and had a wonderful time painting the scene. I felt so relaxed and content that I hated to stop.


Art Painted at Big Bear

Meeting back at the car, we had an impromptu viewing of the art right there, by the lake. I was impressed with the results of our two days. Everyone handled the challenging weather with good humor and produced great paintings despite frozen finger(see the previous post).


Tanya Lazar, Lynne Fearman, Mary Jane Klune, Linda Brown, Sharon Weaver and Ruby the Dog

Friends, art, painting, food and fun. Who could ask for more? Thank you Lynne for organizing this paint out and inviting me along. It was great fun and I look forward to our next adventure painting plein air.

Painting with Frozen Fingers

Autumn Path

Driving up the mountains, I knew the mild weather was about to change into cold winter. I was hopeful that the group of artists heading to Big Bear would still find the autumn colors we all wanted to paint. As Linda Brown and I drove into the driveway of the secluded cabin, Mary Jane Klune pulled in right behind us. Lynne Fearman and Tanya Lazar who came up the night before, where just completing paintings they had started that morning.

The cabin was luxurious, cozy and stocked with lots of goodies. We unpacked and headed out to explore our surroundings. The trail near the cabin was lined with yellow/orange trees and every turn revealed another great scene begging to be painted. Just a short hike farther was a fantastic view of the lake. As the sun tucked behind the mountain, I found the perfect spot to paint in the morning.

Big Bear Lake

That night, the wind kicked up and the temperature plummeted. We were all up early, looked out expectantly to find that the sun was bright but the thermometer read 21 degrees. The wind was still blowing too. We decided to stay near the cabin so when we got cold we could run in and warm up.


Yikes!!! Linda is braving the COLD

I walked back to the spot I had seen the day before and set up. With the wind chill factor it was about 15 degrees and standing still doesn't help either!!! I painted as long as I could before running back to warm up next to the heater. Some hot chocolate helped to get the chill off too. I did another stretch of painting before calling it quits and back to the cabin for a late lunch. I was so glad I had brought my thermal Long Johns and gloves. It was bitter cold all day only reaching 26 degrees by noon. Yikes!! Despite the cold, frozen fingers and the wind, I successfully completed "Autumn Path." What I do for my art.

For a wonderful holiday gift, you can purchase one of the paintings featured in my blog. Just click on the title and buy it online through PayPal or Contact Sharon. To see more of my art go to SharonWeaver.com

Painting in Ventura

Monterey Pine

I received an invitation to paint in Ventura with a group of artists. Marian Fortunati and I carpooled to Terry Supple's lovely duplex which is right near the ocean. It was a fantastic day, warm, sunny and loaded with great painting spots. I set up to paint a perfectly shaped Monterey pine tree that was on a point of land jutting out into the harbor.

The twisted trunk and dark shadows were a stark contrast to the bright sunlit edges of the foliage. Because the tree was the focal point, I softened the colors of the harbor in the background. I used dark purples, browns, blues and greens throughout the tree for the shadows. Painting a Monterey Pine reminded me of my participation in the Carmel plein air Art Festival this past May.

Marian Painting in Ventura

The group met back at Terry's condo to show our mornings efforts and have a little critique. Thank you Terry for including me in the group and allowing me to explore the Ventura area. It was great fun.