I don't often speak about our experience in the Borscht Belt at any length, but talked into this podcast by Patti Posener Daboosh of the Brickman. Lovely young Canadian woman is reviving tales of the Borscht Belt (long before her time, but she's fascinated) and making podcasts.
Mine just aired and is available:
Bart Charlow Borscht Belt Tattler podcast
This time with hot pressed Bockingford paper. Came out more "crayon-y", but it did work fine. More drawing/sketching in nature than painting, though I did use a water brush at the end.
Holiday present of 30 Neocolor II water soluble crayons. Wanted to try the out on something and we got a break today between the raging atmospheric river storms.
On Boxing Day we painted at Redwood City Harbor. Didn't see any stirring scenes in the hazy overcast morning, but found myself fascinated watching an egret or heron fishing. Decided to paint him.
What's odd is that I had seen the heron or egret fishing amidst the rocks by the dock, shot a photo on my phone, and by the time I got set up the tide had covered the rocks and the bird moved on to better fishing. I don't like to paint from photos and thought I had a good composition in my head, so went ahead and painted without reference to the photo. Preferred to be more creative than precise. (Bird is a bit funky, but I'm not an animal painter.)
You won't believe that when you see the photo, to which I referred later at home!
Had a great weekend with Craig at Bodega Bay. We joined Delta Gallery and Contra Costs Plein Air painting/photoing at Inverness at the shipwreck and the Pt. Reyes Cypress Tunnel. I got two and a video.
Pastel on white PastelMat 20x10, watercolor & ink on Arches 4.5x9.75"
Video and photos. Inverness 2022
Two from Crystal Springs Golf Course overlook. 12x9" pastel on Dark Green PastelMat, 9x12" pastel on Sienna PastelMat.
Today's painting at Fort Funston in San Francisco, CA. Was expecting wind and cold, but in fact it was sunny (misty a bit) and nice. Views in all directions. This camera snap does not do the colors justice, but there's only so much Photoshop can correct. 9x12" pastel on light gray PastelMat. B. Charlow 2022
Up in Oregon for a family affair so made sure to take my watercolor and ink mini. Couple of local sights: Multnomah Falls and Haystack Rock in the fog at Canon Beach. About 3.5x5.5 (postcards), ink and watercolor on paper. B. Charlow 2022
In our plein air group I have long maintained that a "vista" doesn't always make a great subject for painting for many, me for certain. Some folks can make an appreciable painting from any view. I find that a "wow" view doesn't always translate that way for me.
We hung our new painting exhibit, "Wild Art", my conception, at State Street Market in Los Altos, CA. State Street is an upscale food hall that is brand new and had never had any exhibitions before, so we broke the ice. Yesterday we had our "Meet the Artists" event with a decent showing, considering zero pre-event publicity, and everyone loved it. Especially the venue owner, who decided on seeing our exhibit that he want to have artists exhibit on a regular basis.
Some nice compliments for my paintings and all the artists. I have only 2 in the show, to be fair to others, because, though I organized it with some help, we wanted to give everyone a shot. There are 34 paintings by 24 of our Burlingame Plein Air Painters group. We're hoping to have more shows in future, and since this one is already laid out, we may be able to move it around a bit before its novelty expires. A LOT of work to do this, though!
Go figure. In my 53 year career I've done hundreds of things deserving of recognition, that remain in obscurity. So this time I get an award and a ton of recognition when I feel the credit really goes to my staff and volunteers. But life is full of ironies (it's actually like a beanstalk, isn't it?)
Out painting at Pebble Beach today with the crew. Good weather, great turnout and paintings. I got mine done early, 20x10" pastel on white PastelMat. "Pebble Beach Headland", Pescadero, CA. B. Charlow 2022
Folks seem to like this one, despite the fact that it feels sort of blah to me. Up at Bell Ranch again. 8x10" pastel on white PastelMat.
From yesterday with our Burlingame Plein Air Painters group at Rodeo Beach in Marin County, CA. 12x9" soft pastel on brown PastelMat. B. Charlow 2022.
Out in Half Moon Bay with the painting group again today. Did a nice one, but kind of darkened and spotted it with the fixative, so lost something. Ah well.
20x10" pastel on white PastelMat.
Having just returned from a long awaited trip back to Italy, I find myself in posession of 9 lovely small line and wash panitings. Still have the touch, and I painted almost daily, something that I am not sure I ever did as prolifically before.
Varios sizes, ink and watercolor on watercolor paper. Sites in Milan, Cinqueterre, Florence, Perugia and Bologna.
Gave one of my pastel paintings to a friend at work. She had it framed and it came out very well. Here it is on her wall with some glads from my garden.
Great day with the Burlingame Plein Air Painters in Marin at Olompali State Park. Historic site for 6,000 years of habitation, including a famous hippie commune in the 60s! Miwok huts too.
Nearly 30 painters at Long Branch Saloon in Half Moon Bay, CA. 4x10" pen on watercolor paper and 9x12" pastel on white PastelMat.
Pearson-Arastradero Preserve in Palo Alto, CA. I got this one of a "Eucalyptus in a Meadow" against a hill and mountain backdrop, with a field of flowers to boot! 9x12" pastel on Sand PastelMat. B. Charlow 2022
