Sonoma Plein Air Highlights and Paintings

 "Moon Over Bodega Bay" - 11" x 14" - SOLD
©2012 by Kim VanDerHoek

Sonoma Plein Air was a wonderful experience! At the beginning of the week I painted in  some very high temperatures which always saps my painting energy. Luckily, I made the decision to head for the coast on the hottest day (Tuesday) and found a truly spectacular location that had views everywhere I looked, most of which were just steps away from my car. The temperature was a cool 80 degrees with an ocean breeze and there were bathrooms nearby. If you are a woman who paints outdoors then you know what a great find this spot truly was. I created two paintings that morning before heading inland for the Quick Draw competition in the center of town in Sonoma.  

 "Bodega Rocks" - 8" x 8" - SOLD
©2012 by Kim VanDerHoek


The Quick Draw began at 4:30 and the temperature was 102 degrees. All of us worked for the next hour and a half and did our best to keep from melting into the pavement before it was time to frame our work and set up for the sale. 


The rest of the week was filled with beautiful views, meals and art talk with the other artists and painting, painting, painting.

"Rooftop Rhythm" - 9" x 12" Available
©2012 by Kim VanDerHoek

Some of the highlights were - two different people approached me about painting on their property (which I just couldn't fit into the schedule), I got kicked out of a cemetery I was painting in (they were closing and apparently I look dangerous - must be the hat), I got pulled over for speeding and promptly let go without a ticket (my husband says it was because of the hot pink top I was wearing, hummm ... must wear that top more often), my host family baked me fresh apricot scones from scratch (OMG!), I ate quail for the first time in John Lassiter's new train barn (when you are the head of Disney's Pixar and you own your own train you need someplace to park it), met a wonderful family of art enthusiasts at the Gala dinner who also purchased my "Moon Over Bodega" painting (thank you for supporting the arts, it means SO much, thank you, thank you), locked my keys in my car at the gas station on the way home (another big thank you to the sweet couple who let me use their phone to call AAA, you saved me) and I came home to a very happy husband, son and daughter (my husband threw out his back the day before I left and I was worried about leaving him in that condition, but thankfully, everyone survived).


 "Hills of Gold" - 11" x 14" - SOLD
©2012 by Kim VanDerHoek

During the four days I painted in Sonoma I created 12 paintings. I've included a few of my favorites from the week. To see more photos be sure to "like" my Facebook page and set it to "show in news feed."

"The Road Home" - 6" x 8" - SOLD
©2012 by Kim VanDerHoek

 

Comments

martinealison said…
Une superbe publication où j'ai pu admirer de magnifiques oeuvres... J'aime particulièrement la toute dernière avec la belle lumière qui l'inonde mais j'aime aussi celle avec la lune dans le ciel... Elle est très reposante.
Il règne une très jolie harmonie de couleurs dans chacune de vos peintures.
Je pense que vous avez vécu de très forts moments.
Merci pour ce partage.
Gros bisous à vous.
WOW, Kim... It looks like you REALLY did well!!!
TWELVE paintings!!!????? OMG... and it looks like a lot of them sold... lucky buyers.

I guess Sonoma was the place to be. Were there lots of sales in general???