April 1, 2013 (Monday) South Meadows Parkway, Reno

This is the first time in a while that a paint-out is being scheduled!  Yesterday Monika, myself, and a new art friend Lisa painted at this location and we enjoyed it so much that we are coming back next Monday.  Right now the forecast for April 1 is high of 65, 10% chance rain, winds 12 mph (usually in the afternoon), and cloudy.  But we all know spring weather is variable.  At least no big storm is due then!

Date:        April 1, 2013
Time:        10:00 am or soon thereafter
Place:        The very end of South Meadows Parkway (the east end) in Reno
Parking:     Plenty of street parking at the dead end
Amenities:  None.  But there is a paved walking path that follows Steamboat Creek where people ride bikes and walk dogs

What to bring:

• camera
• painting gear
• drinking water
• plein air umbrella if you have one - just in case
• grocery bag to weight your easel or tripod with available rocks - just in case!
• hat
• sunscreen

Painting subject matter:  Looking west, the view of Slide Mountain and Mt. Rose are beautiful this time of year with snow still on them.  Looking east, you have Steamboat Creek and reeds and grasses.  On the other side of the creek were a herd of wild horses.  Looking north, you have Rattlesnake Mountain and a pond with reeds and grasses.

Directions:  From downtown Reno area, take 580 south, exit at South Meadows Parkway.  Go left (east) on South Meadows Parkway to the dead end.

Twaddle Historic Ranch Paint-Out

Carol & Emma

It was a gorgeous day and warm enough in the sun to paint at the Historic Twaddle Ranch yesterday.  Carol, Emma and I had lots of views to choose from to paint - Emma did two paintings!

To get there:  From Reno, take the new 580 south, take the Bowers Mansion Turn-off, Turn left on Old US 395, about a mile past the Bowers Mansion, make a left turn on William Brent Road, then take the first left on Susan Lee Circle Road.  The old ranch property is on the right, next to Wilson Commons Park.

Me  (Carolyn)

Paint-Out to Hope Valley, and WHY I wasn't there!

Michael and Emma

While I was on a trip to Newport Beach, California for a week's vacation, Carol, Michael and Emma went to Hope Valley, California to paint!  I am so envious - I love that area.  But, there will be other times...

Michael

Carol's painting in progress

Lake Tahoe/Sand Harbor and top of Mt. Rose Hwy Paint-Out

Monika

Monika, Carol, Emma and I met at Sand Harbor/Lake Tahoe on the Nevada side, for a paint-out.  Carol and Emma were on the other side of the beach park, so I didn't get any photos of them.  (Carol just sent me her picture of her painting in progress - here it is:

Carol's rock study

My new oil painting set-up!

Since Monika and I had a head-start and finished our first paintings, we drove up to the top of Mt. Rose Hwy to the "Meadow" and painted.  Although the snow was icy and packed, I thought I'd try out my new gear that fits in a backpack and snow shoe out into the meadow - to see if I could do this....yep!  Passes the test!  I'll write about gear in another post.  I'm going to ask my friends to do a little description of their art gear for me so I can post their ideas too.

Paint-Out in Virginia City, Nevada

Sugar Loaf Mountain

Carol, Emma and I went to Virginia City to paint.  Emma set right up and started her piece, while Carol and I drove around and "scoped".  She later set up near the old train station, and I went on to check out 6-Mile Canyon - a road that goes down a canyon.

I took many pictures, but it was late in the day and I didn't paint.  Emma and Carol did not send me any paintings to post here, so this will be a Kodak-Moment post....of Virginia City in winter....

The last two paint-outs: variety!

The last two paint-outs were sunny and clear skies.  We had another artist, Emma, join us.  We are growing!   On Jan. 8 we met at an historic cattle ranch "park" outside of Carson City, called Silver Saddle Ranch.  Here are some pictures showing the views.  It is amazing that calves are being born in this frigid weather.

On Jan. 15 we three met on Mt. Rose at the ski school location of Sky Tavern when it was closed for skiing.  It was warmer ---- a toasty 37 degrees!  I have a new set-up for my oils - an old paintbox mounted on a tripod.  Much easier and lighter than the french easel!  I actually needed to snowshoe where I painted because the snow was not packed down there and was quite deep.

Last-minute paint-out .... 24 degrees F !

As much as I'd like to schedule a paint-out for other to attend, this time of year and this location makes it almost impossible unless it is last-minute - so it is between people who know each other and telephone or email to get together.

To keep everyone thinking about going out to paint, I will "share and tell" last-minute paint-outs, and maybe you will try some of these locations on your own when you can.  I am also thinking of posting various plein-air kits that people have in different mediums, and lists of weather-specific items you must bring.  That will be in a later post.

Carol G. and I went to the south end of Washoe Lake at the parkinglot where it is called the Wetlands and there is a boardwalk that goes out over the marsh with a wildlife viewing platform.  It was about 10:30 am on New Years Day....and it was sunny and clear (a little hazy due to inversion) and it was about 24 degrees when we got there!  Carol says  "meeting the challenge of painting outside on a stunningly beautiful winter day in Nevada; the air is cold, crisp  and light at the Washoe Lake Wetlands, intense!"

Carol chose to walk out on the boardwalk to the end to capture the marshlands and Slide Mountain.  I chose the parking lot where there was a beautiful view looking southwest.  (I also enjoyed the back hatch of my subaru for a place to put things and have hot tea out of a thermos (with a shot of something else in it to ease a scratching throat!).

One thing I recommend (I heard some other artists do this) is to premix a palette of color at home.  I knew where we were going, I knew the sun would light up the snow and the snow in shadow would reflect the clear blue sky, and I knew there would be reddish and brownish willows and trees and ochre colored grass poking through.  This REALLY helped!  I finished an 8 x 10 in a record 1-1/2 hour!  I also left my french easel partially assembled in the back of the subaru so that all I had to do was extend the legs.  That really helped because you need fingers to tighten those pesky wingnuts - and my fingers got real cold being out - so it was great to have that part of it done already.

We wore what people would wear to go snow shoeing or skiing - long underwear, wool socks, big boots with tread, a wool hat or ear covers are a must, Big Poofy Jacket of some kind, sweaters, T-necks, mittens or gloves, and sunglasses!!!!  Must protect from snow blindness!  Maybe you will be surprised how your painting looks at home without the glasses - but better that then damage your eyes!

It was a beautiful and and we are so glad we went out!  It IS DO-ABLE in the winter!