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EAFA 2010 Plein Air
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Welcome to EAFA Plein Air! Everyone is invited to join us, so please bring all of your friends who paint, even though they might not be members. We will be meeting at various sites on Tuesdays throughout the summer, starting on May 18th. We also will have three Saturday venues, each a month apart for those who requested some weekend sites. Please check in with me, Eva Butler, or one of the committee members, so we know of your presence. Paint with others nearby for security. There will be restrooms close by, most on site.
The person hosting the session will get there at about 9:30. You are welcome to come earlier or later than that. We will be meeting for lunch at 12:30, so bring a sack lunch. At that time we will also be looking at all the paintings, talking about what we were trying to accomplish in our compositions. This "Show and Tell" part of plein air is as much fun as the creative part because it's not only a learning experience, but a confidence and ego booster.
We will be having a plein air show October-November at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse. It will be unjuried and open to all EAFA members. We will also be having a plein air show at Eastside Daniel Smith in December. When you sign the attendance sheet, please make sure I have your e-mail address or phone number at least once this summer (if it's not in the EAFA phone book) so I can let you know the particulars.
The directions are very general, so please use a map or Google the way to the site, if you need something more detailed. Look for fellow artists to share rides. The contact person for all venues is Eva Butler (206) 325-4676. Please call rather than email.
Some of the venues will have different committee members hosting. You will know them because they will be taking over hosting lunch and "Show and Tell" if I'm not there. (If you need to get in touch with them, please look in the EAFA phone book). The committee members are:
- Eva Butler (206) 325-4676
- Helen Todd (main backup) (425) 922-2935
- Linda Allen, Rick Stiles, Nancy Farrar Coughlin, Joanne Rathburn, Farida Hakim, Mary Jane Dunlop, Richard Schultz.
Dress in layers for the weather. Bring sun block and insect repellant. Be sensitive to the environment. Please do not dump solvents, paint, or soiled water into ponds and other ecologically sensitive areas, schlep it out. Leave the site in as good or better condition than you found it. Above all, have fun!
Remember, everyone is invited. You don't have to be a member. You don't even have to paint!
Eva Butler
EAFA Plein Air Sites & Driving Directions - 2010
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Date
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Driving Directions (download PDF Version here)
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1
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5/18
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Bellevue Downtown Park:
From 405, take exit for NE 8th St heading west. Turn left on 100th NE heading south. Park is across the street from Bellevue Square Parking Garage. Park on either eastside of the park or on the south. At noon we meet on the south side of the pool.
Features: Pool with waterfall, City of Bellevue skyline
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2
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5/25
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Juanita Bay Park, Kirkland:
From 405 take N 85th exit heading west. 85 eventually becomes Central Way. At Kirkland's Moss Bay, thruway turns right heading north along Market Street. Entrance to park is on the left in approximately 1.3 miles where Market St becomes 98th.
Features: stately poplars, willows, views of bay boardwalk into marsh and lagoons, flowering trees.
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3
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6/1
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Kubota Gardens, Seattle: Renton Ave S & 55th Ave S. On I-5, exit at Pacific Highway South/East Marginal Way, Exit 158.Turn left toward Martin Luther King, Jr. Way; continue up the hill on Ryan Way. Turn left on 51st Avenue South. Turn right on Renton Avenue South. Turn right on 55th Avenue South to parking lot
Features: Japanese formal arrangements, ponds, 2 red lacquered bridges, one an arched moon bridge, stream, waterfall and much more.
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4
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6/8
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Phantom Lake Park: Belleview, 2005 156th SE
From 520 take the 148th Ave SE heading south for approximately 2.5 miles. Turn left onto SE 16th Street heading east about 1/2 mile turning right (south) onto 156th Ave SE going about 3/4 block, turning left into parking lot.
Feature: Beautiful gem of a lake at bottom of grassy field.
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5
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6/15
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Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center: 1625 118th SE, Bellevue
From 405 take the SE 8th exit heading west. Turn left onto 118th SE, heading south. After crossing freeway, (warning: 118th South is the same street on the left as 114th S is on the right.) Environmental Center is on the right in less than 1 mile. Parking just below, north of the center.
Feature: Wetlands; building with dramatically high decks for viewpoints.
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6
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6/22
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Flower World, Snohomish: 9322 - 196th St SE, Snohomish From Hwy 520, take I-405 north for 8.5 miles. At exit 23, merge onto WA 522 heading north for 5.7 miles. Turn left on Paradise Lake Rd (Hwy 524) for 0.2 mile. Continue to follow WA 524 which goes north, straight into Yew Way for 0.3 mile (Paradise goes West). Yew Way then becomes Broadway Ave. Turn right onto 136th St SE for 0.1 mile, enter Flower World on the right..
Features Commercial Nursery with a park with pond, tall geyser, waterwheel, chickens, geese
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7
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6/29
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Ollallie State Park: North Bend
From eastbound I-90, take exit 38 and turn right at stop sign. Drive 1/2 mile to park entrance on left.
Features: Cascade foothills, 2 waterfalls, cliffs, fish weir, old growth forest, beautiful clear river, boulders.
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8
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7/6
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Farrel McWhirter Park, Redmond 195 NE Redmond Rd:
Take 520 east past downtown Redmond until it joins Avondale Rd. Exit onto Avondale heading northeast, on it for just a little under a mile. Take the right V onto Novelty Hill Rd. for about 1/4 mile. Take the first left onto NE Redmond Rd. This will become NE 102nd Place. The park will be on the left. If you go to NE 108th Pl., you will have gone too far.
Features: meadows, barns, paddocks, animals, woods, horse back riders
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9
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7/13
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Bassetti's Crooked Arbor Gardens: Woodinville 18512 NE 165th St (425-788-6767)
From 405 heading north take exit 25 onto Hwy 522. Go 1/2 mile on 522. Take exit 195 (Woodinville-Duvall Rd) heading east for about 3 1/2 miles . Turn right at Safeway to Avondale Road NE heading south or about 1/2 mile. Turn right onto NE 165th. Go for about 1/2 mile turning right into gate, parking by barn parking area.
Features: picturesque barns and smaller outbuildings, sculptures, rustic garden decor, fantastic plantings, and art with espresso for sale (One of the best locations I have ever painted--EVB)
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10
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7/20
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Beaver Lake-Issaquah Plateau: SE 24th Street @ 244th Ave SE
From I-90 take exit 17 heading north for less than 1/2 mile to SE Issaquah-Fall City Road. Turn right (heading northeast). After 1+ miles turn left onto Issaquah Lake Road SE heading north. In 2 miles turn onto SE 32nd (going east). After 3/4 miles, turn left to 244th SE heading north (You should be across the road from Klahanie Park). Go 1/2 mile until SE 24th. Turn right heading east. Keep to roads going to the right. Turn right into the park in about 1/2 mile.
Features-2 lakes, 2 totem poles, rustic cabin, fields, huge covered area with a fire place. Very rustic (50's to 60's summer camp feel)
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11
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7/27
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Snoqualmie Railroad Station: Snoqualmie 38625 SE King St. (Meet here 12:30 for lunch and show and tell) Take I-90 East. At exit 27 turn left under the freeway and then take a right onto North Bend Way. Turn left at Meadowbrook. At Railroad Ave SE turn left again. Park near RR station.
Features--Quaint old buildings, trains, river in Sandy Cove Park across the street over one block, Snoqualmie Falls 1-2 miles northwest at foot of Mt Si. (Feel free to go paint elsewhere in Snoqualmie area, like the falls, but please do so together with at least one other person and return here for lunch and show and tell)
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12
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8/3
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Marymoor Park-Redmond:
Take 520 to Redmond to W Lake Sammamish Parkway NE. Turn right onto parkway. Go for about 1/4 mile. Turn left into park. Pay $1 parking by buildings of "Willowmoor Farm"
Features-Windmill, mansion with garden, river, lake, fields, paint anywhere. Lunch west side of mansion.
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13
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8/10
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Washington Park Arboretum, Seattle: 2500 Arboretum Dr E From 520 West (Evergreen Point Floating Bridge), take the first Seattle exit (Lake Washington Blvd. S). At the stop sign before the road curves to the right, turn left into the Arboretum. Follow it for about 1/8 of a mile. Park by lake.
Features: Lagoons, water lilies, marsh, birch forest.
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14
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8/17
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Kirkland Marina Park:
Park is in downtown Kirkland waterfront at the foot of Market Street and Central Way. We'll lunch and
show and tell in covered pavilion at 12:30
Features- Three B's-beach, boats and buildings (wonderful restaurants nearby)
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15
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8/24
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Master Garden at Lake Hills Greenbelt:
From 520 take the 148th NE exit, turning south. Go 2 1/2 + miles to SE 16th and turn left. Go approximately 1 mile east. Garden will be on the left (before 164th Ave SE)
Features-Swaths of flowers, interesting plants, nice building.
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16
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8/31
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Snoqualmie Point Park (Mt Si Overlook):
Take exit 27 from Eastbound I 90 going east, turn right at the exit and proceed up Winery Road following the left hand roads all the way to the end at the top.
Features: Fantastic 180 degree view of mountains, Mt Si dominating. Unusual structure serves as shelter.
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17
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9/7
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Bellevue Botanical Garden at Wilburton Park: Bellevue: 12001 Main St. Take I-405 to the NE 8th St exit in Bellevue heading east by downtown Bellevue. Go east for 1/2+ mile and turn right (south) onto 124th Ave NE. It makes a sharp right and becomes Main St. The Garden entrance will be on the left side at the top of the hill (about 3/4 miles from NE 8th).
Features: Dahlias, perennials, sculptural plantings, flower borders, bridges, pond, stream, tea house.
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18
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9/14
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Mercer Slough: Westside; Blueberry Farm and Winters House
Take 405 to SE 8th St exit . Follow main arterial. It will become 112 Ave SE in less than 1/2 mile. Follow to Bellevue Way SE turning left. Spanish style Winters house will be on the left within 1/2 mile. Right afterward, the Blueberry Farm will be also on the left.
Features: Blueberry Farm, nicely landscaped Spanish style house, Boardwalks into slough. I'm hoping the blueberry leaves will have started to turn red - it might be a little early.
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WEEKEND VENUES (as requested) on Saturdays
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6/19
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Bellevue Botanical Garden at Wilburton Park, Bellevue: 12001 Main St. Take I-405 to the NE 8th St exit in Bellevue heading east by downtown Bellevue. Go east for 1/2+ mile and turn right (south) onto 124th Ave NE. It makes a sharp right and becomes Main St. The Garden entrance will be on the left side at the top of the hill (about 3/4 miles from NE 8th).
Features: Irises should be in bloom, bridges, pond, stream, water cascades, tea house--Plethora of plantings.
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7/17
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Museum of History and Industry, 2700 24th E, Seattle.
Heading west across 520 bridge (Evergreen Point Floating Bridge) take 1st Seattle exit. Turn right after stop heading west along Lake Washington Blvd. E. In less than 1/2 mile, turn right onto E Park Drive, crossing a bridge to the museum. Park below.
Features: To the east: waterside trail to Foster Island, Views of Union Bay, lagoon with water lilies, marsh, reflections of freeway columns, stadium
To the north: Lake Washington Canal, University, Montlake Bridge, totem poles
Bathrooms free in museum.
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8/28
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Farrel McWhirter Park, Redmond 195 NE Redmond Rd
Take 520 east past downtown Redmond until it joins Avondale Rd. Exit onto Avondale heading NE, for just under a mile. Take the right V onto Novelty Hill Rd. for about 1/4 mile. Take the first left onto Ne Redmond Rd. This will become NE 102nd Place. The park is on the left. If you go to NE 108th Pl., you will have gone too far.
Features: meadows, barns, horse corrals, animals, woods
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Plein Air: Some Thoughts on Materials and Equipment
In the studio, we tend to paint what we know. We may have a photo, but the camera captures much less detail, light, and color nuances than the eye perceives. We can better understand how the light effects the local colors, values, and shapes through direct observation and we can also better remember it for the future by physically acting on it, by actually painting it on site in plein air.
We want to have to schlep as little of the studio to locations as we need, so it’s better to limit our paint, tools, etc, and keep things light. We do not want to struggle with heavy equipment or have to make several trips to the car.
The most popular media for plein air is watercolor. It’s lightweight, can be compactly packed, it dries fast so it’s not messy to transport. It doesn’t need an easel. You can record fast changing atmospheric effects quickly with it. A pre-stretched paper (or watercolor book or sketchbook), some tubes of color with a plastic palette (or a set of pan colors), 2-3 brushes, and a water container, and you’re set to go.
 Oil paints are a little more cumbersome. They are less fluid; because of the friction of the canvas, they are slower to manipulate. But the paint is more easily controlled, so there are fewer happy (or unhappy) accidents. You want to keep your canvas or panel small (16x20 or less) because it’s easier to cover in 2-3 hours. You may want a French easel to box your paints, brushes, panel, palette, etc. It has telescoping legs and easel for canvas support. On the other hand, you may just want to throw a limited number of tubes, brushes, and closed small containers of solvents into a bag. With a
small canvas or panel, disposable palette, and an easel with a shoulder strap, you’re all set. A friend of mine takes no tubes, puts her palette into a sealed plastic box (like for watercolors), throws everything into a large bucket, which she uses later to sit on as a stool. You can buy flat carry boxes to carry out a finished painting, but most people I know just lay oil paintings flat in the car trunk on cardboard.
For acrylic painters, my advice is the same as for oil. They are less messy because they dry fast, and when you learn to handle them, you can make your work look like an oil or a watercolor. It is necessary though to take a small spray bottle to keep your palette moist.
Be sure you take paper towels, plastic bags, and a waste water bottle for clean up.
You may want to take a stool or a collapsible camp chair with shoulder straps for carrying.
Take some munchies like a candy bar or trail mix, and drinking water. Sunscreen is a must, and insect repellant is highly advisable. Dress in layers so you can strip down or add more clothes.
Art suppliers are constantly coming out with new specialized bags, backpacks, bags on wheels with built-in chairs, etc. Keep perusing the catalogs and also check out what the other artists are using.
Remember to respect the environment. Don’t dump toxic paint or solvents into eco-sensitive ground. Schlep it out. Leave the environment as you found it…or better. Happy painting!
Eva Butler
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EAFA 2010
Members Show
Calendar |
Apr 3
(Sat) |
Show Entry System Opens |
April 15
(Thurs) |
Postcard Contest;
Photo Shoot after
EAFA General Meeting
in HCC Resource Room |
May 13
(Thurs) |
Entries due, 11:59 pm |
June 1
(Tues) |
Artists Notified by Mail |
June 19
(Sat) |
Deliver Artwork to Community Center at Mercer View,
Mercer Island, 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm |
June 21
(Mon) |
Exhibit Opens 10:00 am |
June 24
(Thurs) |
Reception at the Community Center at Mercer View,
Mercer Island 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm |
July 30
(Fri.) |
Exhibit Closes at 9:00 pm |
July 31
(Sat.) |
Pick Up Artwork at Community Center at Mercer
View from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm |
Awards |
| First Place |
$350 |
| Second Place |
$250 |
| Third Place |
$150 |
| Additional awards may be presented |
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