Plein air painting has a special feel
Plein Air Landscapes, California Funk Assemblages and Ceramics
MaryLou Correia and the Friday Painters plein air group – including Flora Baumann, Stephen Berry, Jessica de Jesus, Marian Harris and Nancy Roberts – are exhibiting in the Lamorinda Arts Council’s Art Gallery at the Orinda Library Dec. 1 to Jan. 2, 2026.
You’ll also find Alan Chin and Tom Franco’s ceramics and California Funk assemblages, plus Kate Chenok and Karen Sanford’s pottery. Landscapes by Judith Feins round out the exhibition.
Meet all 11 artists on Dec. 6 at a reception in their honor from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. with light bites on offer. View and purchase art online at tinyurl.com/49bpzj38.
Although the Friday Painters are all plein air artists, their artistic expressions are diverse.
Plein air is defined as paintings done on site in the ‘open air.’ The theme for the Friday Painters show is “Serendipity,” and they define this as the rare moment when an uncanny alignment occurs between nature, light and an artist’s hand.
Berry says of his plein air watercolor “Mossbrea Falls,” “You are greeted by a 100-foot long wall of waterfalls cascading down into the river at its feet – the water almost weeps from the stone at the top of the wall face.” Visit stephenberryart.com.
“Mossbrae Falls,” a 14” x 18" watercolor by Stephen Berry, depicts an extraordinary natural phenomenon near Lake Shasta. The waterfall he rendered is sublime to behold both in situ and in the gallery. His calligraphic brush strokes are an essential part of his process. This is especially visible at the bottom of the waterfall where it is like the paint is dancing. He is part of the Friday Painters exhibit, “Serendipity,” featured in the Art Gallery at the Orinda Library in December.
Correia, organizer of the show said, “I think of my paintings as revealing more than the eye can see. I am most alive and most peaceful when painting.” Visit mlcorreia.com.
You will see half a dozen pieces from places artist de Jesus has traveled, such as plein air sites in Yosemite, the Eastern Sierra and Glacier National Park.
“I paint to slow down and capture the scene that catches my eye and makes me stop in awe,” she said. Visit sfjessart.com/#/.
Baumann, both a plein air and studio painter, said, “I am captivated by the stark beauty of Gerhard Richter’s artwork and the dreamlike landscapes of April Gornik.” See florabaumann.com.
Roberts explains the deeper inspiration behind her work and how she connects with nature’s hidden rhythms.
“It’s fascinating to think about what’s happening beneath the surface of things, their underlying structure, rhythms and hidden energies,” she said. “When I take a deep breath, tune in and really listen, I start to hear nature’s sweet song. What a joy to sing along.”
She captured the Lafayette Reservoir’s song on an ice-cold winter day in her acrylic on panel 9” x 12” painting, “Chill.” Visit tinyurl.com/y6427xxp.
Artist Harris’ work reflects a deep connection to both nature and humanity, revealing the unseen forces that tie them together.
“Seeking the spirit within – whether it is within the air, the trees, the mountains or the people portrayed in my artwork, is what I explore,” she said.
Her piece, “Martinez Waterfront,” a 14” x 10” watercolor pulls you right into the last time you drove along that stretch of land. Visit mariansimsharris.com/.
Chenok and Sanford are exhibiting pottery together.
“My pieces are wheel-thrown and alternatively fired Raku,” said Chenok. “Sanford’s are hand-built and high-fired in a traditional kiln.”
Western-style Raku involves removing pottery from the kiln while at bright red heat and placing it into containers with combustible materials, such as shredded paper and straw. When those materials ignite, the containers are closed which affects the colors in glazes and clay bodies. View Chenok’s pottery at tinyurl.com/42jkxfud and Sanford’s at tinyurl.com/2sjfczrk.
Chin and Franco’s theme for their exhibit is “Best Buds,” a play on words referring to bud vases they make and their collaboration.
“Alan is a potter amongst his many skills, and I carve marks on ceramic forms – then we both glaze them,” said Franco. Visit Chin’s Instagram @alanchinart and Franco’s at @tom__franco.
Oil paintings of Point Reyes, Point Lobos, Mendocino, the Sierras, Lafayette Reservoir and Mt. Diablo reflect Feins’ deep love of California landscapes.
“The longer I observe and paint them, the deeper my love goes,” said Feins. Visit judithfeins.com.
This exhibit runs Dec. 1 through Jan. 2, 2026. Visit the gallery at 26 Orinda Way, Orinda during library hours, Mon.-Thu. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; closed Sundays and Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1, 2026. Call 925.254.2184 for more information or visit ccclib.org/.
“Cat UFO with Horse Decoys from the ‘Judo Dog Detective’ Book,” in the tradition of California Funk artwork by Tom Franco, is on display in the Art Gallery at the Orinda Library during December. Franco‘s inspiration for this piece is his work-in-progress children’s book named above. There are 10 such sculptures spotlighted throughout the story as main characters.
Virtual Wilder Gallery: Interested in a Community Gallery Exhibit?
The Lamorinda Arts Council invites you to apply for a free online exhibit of up to 20 photographs of your artwork for a one-month period here: tinyurl.com/bdefwr2t. For more information, email info@LamorindaArts.org or call 925.359.9940.
Art to take your breath away
“Manet and Morisot, More Than a Muse: How Morisot Redefined Manet’s Art (1868 – 1883)”. Berthe Morisot was the only woman to exhibit under her own name in the original Impressionist group. View their paintings side-by-side through March 1 at the Legion of Honor, 100 34th Ave., S.F., visit legion-of-honor.
“Oodles” features paintings by Kath Balamuth, an Orinda octogenarian artist focused on stacked subjects, and Deborah Ashley’s playful landscape abstractions are both featured at the Moraga Art Gallery, 432 Center St., Moraga through Jan. 4, visit moragaartgallery.com/.
“Lee ShinJa: Drawings With Thread” showcases 50 years of innovative fiber artwork from this iconic Korean master fiber artist through 40 textile works and more through Feb. 1 at Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA), 2155 Center St., Berkeley, visit bampfa.org/.
