March 30, 2015 (Monday) Repeat paint-out at Sun Valley Regional Park

Sun Rock Trail is easy and only .5 miles

Last Monday three of us went here despite the wind.  Two of us huddled in the shelter of the rock formations on the leeward side and did sketches or watercolor, and one sketched the rocks from her car. I sketched the puffy clouds for study. This place has a lot of fun things to paint on a good (non-windy) day, so I am repeating this location since the forecast looks great - 70 degrees or so!  Maybe some clouds.  Hopefully no winds....

Date:          March 30, 2015 (Monday)
Time:          10:00 am
Place:        Sun Valley Regional Park (free)
Meet:          Parking area at the end, near covered picnic pavilions
Amenities:   bathrooms, picnic tables, lots of bench seats and various view spots and boulder stacks, easy trails near parking lot

What you can paint:  This is a great place to practice rocks!  There are interesting rock formations everywhere - even one right in front of your car.  Also trees, hills and views.  If there are clouds this day - it is high up and should have great views of clouds.

What to bring:

• art gear
• camera
• cell phone (service is great)
• art umbrella
• appropriate clothing (check forecast)
• bag to put rocks in to weigh your tripod down in case of wind
• good walking shoes
• food and drink

Directions: 
From the spagetti bowl (I-80 and 395):

• Go north on 395
• Take the 2nd exit - Clearacre Lane (exit 70B)
• Go north-east on Clearacre Lane
• It changes name  to NV 443 and also to Sun Valley Blvd which is now heading north
• Turn Left on 7th Avenue
• First Right turn onto Sidehill
• Go to the end.  Bennett Elementary School is on the right, and the entrance to the park is on the left
• Note:  you will pass through a run-down area, but the ranger tells me the park is very safe.  The people I saw there had nice cars and trucks and I felt completely safe

Links:

http://www.washoecounty.us/parks/parkdetails~pkid=100

http://renotahoe.about.com/od/hikingtrails/a/Sun-Valley-Regional-Park.htm

March 23, 2015 (Monday) Sun Valley Regional Park Paint-Out

Sun Valley Regional Park overlooks Reno, Sparks and Spanish Springs

I scoped out a new painting location and was very impressed!  This park is new, clean, safe (I talked to the ranger), free, easy to get to, lots to paint right from your car or a short, easy walk.

Date:          March 23, 2015 (Monday)
Time:          10:00 am
Place:        Sun Valley Regional Park (free)
Meet:          Parking area at the end, near covered picnic pavilions
Amenities:   bathrooms, picnic tables, lots of bench seats and various view spots and boulder stacks, easy trails near parking lot

Note:  drinking fountain for people and dogs are stilled turned off for the winter.  This park has a disc golf course and there are always people around and people walk dogs.  They are supposed to be on leash, but some are well mannered and off leash.  No motorized vehicles are permitted, however they are next to BLM land and some might wander in by accident.

What you can paint:  This is a great place to practice rocks!  There are interesting rock formations everywhere - even one right in front of your car.  Also trees, hills and views.  If there are clouds this day - it is high up and should have great views of clouds.

What to bring:

• art gear
• camera
• cell phone (service is great)
• art umbrella
• appropriate clothing (check forecast)
• bag to put rocks in to weigh your tripod down in case of wind
• good walking shoes
• food and drink

Sun Rock Trail is easy and only .5 miles

Have your lunch while enjoying a view

Lots of bench seating near views and rocks

Or, paint right from your car

You can see Mt. Rose from here too

Directions:
From the spagetti bowl (I-80 and 395):

• Go north on 395
• Take the 2nd exit - Clearacre Lane (exit 70B)
• Go north-east on Clearacre Lane
• It changes name  to NV 443 and also to Sun Valley Blvd which is now heading north
• Turn Left on 7th Avenue
• First Right turn onto Sidehill
• Go to the end.  Bennett Elementary School is on the right, and the entrance to the park is on the left
• Note:  you will pass through a run-down area, but the ranger tells me the park is very safe.  The people I saw there had nice cars and trucks and I felt completely safe

park entrance

Links:

http://www.washoecounty.us/parks/parkdetails~pkid=100

http://renotahoe.about.com/od/hikingtrails/a/Sun-Valley-Regional-Park.htm

March 16, 2014 (Monday) Sand Harbor Paint-Out

the beach at the boat lanch

WEATHER PERMITTING

Date:          March 16, 2014 (Monday)
Time:          10:00 am
Place:          Meet at Sand Harbor - the boat launch parking lot beach
Fees:            there is a fee envelope slot
Paint:           wherever you wish!
Amenities:   Restrooms
Host:          None, but this is so popular, if the weather is good there will be painters!

What to bring:

• painting gear
• camera
• Nevada State Park Auto Pass or cash for fee
• food/drink
• appropriate clothing - check forecast
• hat, sunglasses
• art umbrella

Directions:

From Reno:  Take the Mt. Rose Hwy(431) to Incline.  Turn left at Country Club Drive (there is a sign that says "Sierra Nevada College" - that is the turn).  At Hwy 28 (the road that goes along the lake) turn left.  Go south on this road about 3 miles.  Sand Harbor is on your right.  The boat launch parking is the first turn.  The main entrance for people without boats is the next entrance.  

From South Lake Tahoe - take HWY 50 towards Carson City.  At the summit get in the left turning lane and turn left on Hwy 28.  Go about 10 miles towards Incline.  Sand Harbor will be on your left before you get to Incline Village.

ttp://parks.nv.gov/parks/sand-harbor/

March 9, 2015 (Monday) Repeat of River Fork Ranch, Genoa area

Last Monday the weather may have scared away painters, but three of us passed through Carson City's snow flurry and were rewarded to a sunny, mild morning at River Fork Ranch near Genoa!  We liked it so much, we thought we'd go there again - and the weather forecast looks like it will be nice and warmer!

view looking north

Date:          March 9, 2015 (Monday)
Time:          10:00 am
Place:          River Fork Ranch
Amenities:  Whit Hall Interpretive Center is at the Preserve is not open and there are no bathrooms.   Genoa is down the street maybe less than a mile - food and bathrooms are in the town.  Genoa Country Store is a good place to visit
Parking:      There is a large parking lot - free - open daily year-round
Restrictions:  No dogs

River Fork Ranch is located at 381 Genoa Lane, Minden, NV 89423 near the historic town of Genoa in the Carson Valley.

Directions from Carson City:  Drive south on 395 for 8.7 miles
Turn Right onto SR 206/Genoa Lane and continue for 2.4 miles
The preserve and parking area will be on your left and is well marked with a sign.

What is there:  hiking trails, wildlife viewing, interesting woven flood plain control, wetlands, Carson River

To get to the views of the river - walk around the deck of the Interpretive Center and you will see a trail head.  It follows the river going south and goes for 2 miles.  The pictures I took above and below were the closest distance from the Interpretive Center.  Parts of the trail were a little muddy, but next week should be drier and easy for carts.

What to bring: 

• camera
• art gear
• cart or backpack
• art umbrella
• lunch and drink
• good walking shoes or boots
• jacket?
• Hat, sunglasses

view looking south

More info: 
River Fork Ranch:  http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/nevada/placesweprotect/river-fork-ranch.xml
Visit nature.org/nevadaarthttp://nature.org/nevadaart

an icy pond on the other side of the trail