Category Archives: Walnut Creek

Shadelands Ranch Museum Sketches

Posted on February 7, 2013 by

While I was in Walnut Creek to take photos of an industrial park for a painting commission I stopped at the Shadelands Ranch Museum to sketch. They were hosting a ladies’ tea that afternoon in the downstairs drawing rooms that … Continue reading →

Posted in Building, Drawing, Ink and watercolor wash, Sketchbook Pages, Walnut Creek | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Ruth Bancroft Gardens: Beyond the “Private, No Entry” Signs

Posted on July 10, 2012 by

My plein air group was given the great privilege of being able to go beyond the chained off, “Private Property. No Entrance” signs to explore the property where Mrs. Bancroft and other family members still live. There are old barns … Continue reading →

Posted in Drawing, Gardening, Ink and watercolor wash, Landscape, Painting, Pen and Ink, Places, Plants, Plein Air, Sketchbook Pages, Walnut Creek | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Bad Mood Cloudy Day at Borges Ranch That Ended Well

Posted on March 29, 2012 by

My mind was as cloudy as the skies when my plein air group visited Borges Ranch for a Saturday paint out. I was mad because a beautiful bookcase promised to me on Craigslist sold to someone else. I needed it badly. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bay Area Parks, Landscape, Life in general, Plein Air, Sketchbook Pages, Walnut Creek, Watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Landscape Painting with Coyote Soundtrack

Posted on April 27, 2011 by

Last Saturday my plein air group met at Borges Ranch in Walnut Creek’s Shell Ridge Open Space. It’s a beautiful place that feels far away out in the country, and is surrounded by strange, tall hills covered in a hundred shades … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Bay Area Parks, Coyote, Landscape, Oil Painting, Outdoors/Landscape, Painting, Places, Plein Air, Walnut Creek | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Borges Ranch Painted 3 Times in 3 Years: Seeing Progress

Posted on April 19, 2010 by

It’s springtime in California and those famous “golden rolling hills” are actually a million shades of green right now, thanks to all the rain (which we probably won’t see again until next winter).  When my plein air group went to … Continue reading →

Posted in Acrylic Painting, Bay Area Parks, Landscape, Oil Painting, Outdoors/Landscape, Painting, Places, Plein Air, Walnut Creek | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Borges Ranch, Walnut Creek

Posted on March 27, 2010 by

After waking up way too early and having loads of extra time before I needed to leave for my plain air painting session today, I somehow managed to get late anyway. When I finally got to our meeting place—Borges Ranch … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Birds, Drawing, Ink and watercolor wash, Landscape, Outdoors/Landscape, Painting, Pen and Ink, Photos, Places, Plein Air, Sketchbook Pages, Walnut Creek | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments