No Paint-Out Dec. 1 - AND - How to Paint Water

Hello my painting friends,

These storm fronts moving in and the daily changing forecasts for Monday Dec. 1, 2014 make for a good day to paint in the studio.

Last week a painter and I discussed the challenge of painting water.  I remembered reading a blog post about this subject by a fine California artist Terry Miura.  I invite to you click on this link to read his informative post:

http://terrymiura.blogspot.com/2014/10/transparent-water.html

This post was so informative that I printed it out for myself for reminders.  He has other helpful posts.  You may want to subscribe or follow his blog.

Happy painting!  Hopefully the next week we will have fair weather and can paint the great outdoors!

Carolyn

November 24, 2014 Paint-Out near Wedge Parkway

Since there is a storm predicted on Saturday, if we get a dusting of snow on Mt. Rose and Slide Mt. and the sun comes out, here is a place where the view of these mountains is very good.  This is an old ranch property that is open to dog walkers, people who fly remote controlled planes, etc.  There are some old cottonwood trees with character too.  Plenty of parking and you can drive around as well.  This area is right across the street from South Meadows Library - the big mustard-colored building.  Also close is Starbucks, Raleys, and McDonalds at the intersection of Wedge Parkway and Mt. Rose Hwy.

Date:          November 24, 2014 (Monday)
Time:         9:30 to 10:00 - depending on how cold the morning is
Place:         The old ranch - open lot - at the corner of Wedge Parkway and Whites Creek Lane
Amenities:   The library is across the street, Starbucks, Raleys and McDonalds down the street

Note:  I don't think we will get so much precip that it would be muddy, but if it is, you can park across the street at the library.  Signs on Whites Creek Lane say no parking.

There are some homes and power poles in some of your views, but that is what is so great about being an artist --- we can eliminate those!

You can also see Peavine and the Virginia foothills from here.  It is just a nice wide-open area.

DIRECTIONS:  From I-80 and 580 intersect:

• South on 580
• Exit 59 - Damonte Ranch Parkway
• Turn Right on Damonte Ranch Pkwy, it turns into Arrowcreek about where the intersection of Virgina Street is
• Continue on Arrowcreek Parkway - stay left 
• at about .8 miles turn left on Wedge Parkway
• First right turn at about .3 miles on Whites Creek Lane
• Immediate right into dirt parking area in the old ranch

PS: HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

November 17, 2014 Let's Paint Dunes! Washoe Lake Paint-out

All this pictures were taken at 3:00 in the afternoon and it was overcast

Have you painted the dunes with iceplant along the Monterey coast?  Well, if you miss that, you must try painting our own Nevada dunes with sagebrush and rabbit brush and other native plant life growing on it!

Date:          November 17, 2014
Time:          9:30 am
Place:          Washoe Lake State Park - the North Boat Ramp Entrance
Meet:           In the above-mentioned parking lot
Amenities:    Bathrooms, picnic tables, dog-friendly
Fee:              $5.00 Nevada residents, $7.00 out of state - per car
Fees required year round

Washoe Lake may be dried up quite a bit, but it is still a nice area to paint.  This particular entrance has dunes close to the parking lot.  There are also sandy beach areas with grasses here and there.  There is also a wonderful view of Slide Mountain in the background.  So there is lots to choose from and your dog will love it.  It is off season so there is no one there - hardly.

The sign at the entrance off of Lakeshore Drive

Endless beaches since the lake is so dried up

Directions:
From Reno Downtown 80/395/580:  Take 580 south, Exit 47B for old 395 South/Virginia Street.  Continue on old 395 going south (Virginia Street) (don't go to Virginia City)about 6.8 miles.  At the top of a hill, get in the left-turning lane.  Turn Left on East Lake Boulevard.  Go about 2.1 miles and turn right on Lakeshore Drive.  If you miss this turn, just turn at any other street and it will take you the same road - Lakeshore Drive - which follows the edge of the lake.  Continue about 1.8 miles until you see the sign (pictured above) and turn right.  Go to the end and meet in the parking lot.

Links:  http://parks.nv.gov/parks/washoe-lake-state-park/

November 10, 2014 Silver Saddle Ranch, Carson City Paint-Out

Date:          November 10, 2014
Time:          10:00 am
Place:          Silver Saddle Ranch, Carson City, NV
Parking:       Parking area .6 miles down their gravel ranch road see above
Amenities:    bathroom, hiking trails, bird watching, picnic area, working cattle ranch, barns and caretaker house, hiking and horseriding trails
Meeting Place:   the parking area.  Painting areas in walking distance.

Directions:    
From Reno, take 580 south
Take exit 38 for Fairview Drive, keep in left lane
Turn Left at the light onto Fairview Drive
At the round-about, take 1st exit onto East 5th Street
Turn Right on Carson River Road
Follow Carson River Road for 1.4 miles to the entrance at a bend in the road.
Picture above shows their sign on Carson River Road
Follow their gravel ranch road .6 miles to the parking area near the hay barn and ranch buildings.

Links, pictures and trail maps:  
Friends of Silver Saddle Ranch  http://fossr.org/

Silver Saddle Ranch  http://www.silversaddleranch.info/ssr-carson-about.htm

http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/carson_city_field/blm_programs/recreation/silver_saddle.html

What to bring:

• camera
• painting gear
• carts will work here - level ground
• drinking water
• hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, umbrella
• lunch or snacks
• folding chair if you wish
• bug spray (where there are cattle....there are flies)

What you can paint:

• cattle (maybe - they do move around)
• ranch and pasture vistas
• some sagebrush and cottonwood trees
• nearby Carson River if you choose to drive down the road
• Ranch buildings