Sunday with Chris DuRubeis

Here is our picture with Mr. DuRubeis.

 Interesting artist, his work is done on metal with a  technique he developed.

Took a peek into one of the ballrooms that was being set up for a wedding.  I love the soft pastel colors.

Had to take a picture of this light fixture made entirely from rock crystals.

This light fixture reminded me of a sea shell.

Sunday was a busy day getting packed after the auction, checking out and having a valet bring the car around.  They where running to get all the cars because, of course everyone was leaving at the same time.

Don't you love their vintage uniforms.

Good  bye beautiful coastal weather and back home to triple digit heat wave.

Happy Travels!

Saturday with Peter Max

Peter Max was the Artist for Saturday.  He didn't feel like being with the group for very long but did take a picture with each of us that was taken by a photographer that will be mailed to our homes.

He also gave everyone a signed copy of his book after the Saturday auction.  I believe he is in his late 70's now and all this travel is getting to be too much.  He flew in from New York for the day.

After lunch we drove into town where I spotted this gorgeous artichoke bloom at a sidewalk cafe.

Later in the day we went out to look at the view and relax on the terrace.  We saw Mr. Max also enjoying the fresh air and visiting with his daughter on the terrace.

I love the way kids still have a great time rolling down a hill.  Seems to be an activity that has be enjoyed by children throughout time. Here you can see them on the right side of the picture having a great time.  It was an overcast day breezy but not too cold.

We had a very nice room and thank goodness there was a fireplace because by Saturday night it felt nice to sit and enjoy the warmth.

Happy Travels!

Meeting Alfred Gockell

Alfred Gockell was the first artist we met on Thursday night and Friday.  He flew in from Germany to spend the weekend at this event.
The first thing he did was turn up the music and paint live.  Friday that picture was sold at auction.  He painted for about 20 minutes.  Amazing.  He is a two handed artist.  By that I mean he had a paint brush in both hands and proceeded to complete the picture with both hands.  Wow.  That was something to see.

We moved ourselves over to the Ritz Friday morning and by then

he had finished adding all the detail to the painting before the auction began.

  He also made a copper etching of his impression of Monterey Bay and with the help of a portable printing press he proceeded to run off a print.

Here is our picture we took with Mr. Gockell after the auction.

This is a painting done on the reverse side of plexiglass.  It just glowed.

Happy Travels!

Our Second Weekend with the Artists

We spent another 4 days at Half Moon Bay with 3 amazing artists.  Alfred Gockell, Peter Max and Chris DeRubeis.

It was gorgeous weather for the entire trip including the drive over.  Always amazing when you drive over the pass and see these gigantic wind turbines.

The ridges are covered with them.  

This was the perfect weekend for a trip to the coast.  At home we were having a heat wave with temperatures 20 degrees above normal.  One of the days we were away the temperature topped out at 104 degrees Fahrenheit.  Way too hot for this time of year.  I really hope the rest of summer is not going to follow that pattern.

When we arrive at Half Moon Bay there was a chill in the air.  Sweater weather.  What a difference a couple of hours driving makes.

The first night we stayed at an inn near the Ritz as they had overbooked.  We where compensated for our trouble, so it wasn't so bad.

We had a very nice room.

Our own patio with a great view of the gardens and golf course.

Loved this planted trailing over into our patio.  I was a beautiful color and the texture was like velvet.

Stay tuned tomorrow when I will introduce you to the first artist we met.

Happy Travels! 

Weekend with the Artists

The beginning of March we were invited to a weekend with 3 artist at The Ritz Carlton, Half Moon Bay.  We spent 4 days surrounded  by art and artist and art auctions.

It was a great weekend except for the weather.  It rained the entire time.  I so wanted to go down to the shore.  Oh well, maybe we will drive back down there on a hot day this summer to enjoy the spectacular views and cool ocean breezes.

 The drive over to the coast was dark and threatening but dry.  It didn't began to rain until after we arrived at the hotel.

It was nearly dark when we arrived at the Ritz and the wind had started blowing.  We where in for a major storm on the coast.  So glad the event was at our hotel.  No driving necessary.  At one point the hotel went on generators during the evening as the storm knocked out the power.

We could barely see the ocean from our room the weather had turned so bad.

But our room was great and very cozy, every night when we came back to our room there was soft music playing, lights dimmed and a crackling fireplace video playing on the TV.

Huge bath with tub and shower.

Even had an espresso machine in the closet.

 

The first night the artist appeared in costume as a "Rocky" character and drew an upside down drawing.

And when he turned the drawing right side up it was a fighting olive.

Yes, the artist was the olive guy, Michael Godard.

  He is a really neat person with a great story of painting inspired by the loss of his daughter.  He gives so much to charity to help kids.  Great guy.

 Michael Godard with Mr.K

This was his newest painting. It sold that day at auction for over $150,000.00.  I couldn't believe my ears as 2 couples bid against each other and the pair on our right won the final bid.  Wow!  Way out of our price range.

The next day I took a few pictures through the windows of the storm.  If the weather had been good there would have been a bagpipe player on the golf course at sunset.  Bummer didn't get to hear him.

The second day's artist was Tim Yanke, who paints a lot of Southwest style pieces.  Indian headdresses, dragonflies and Native American images.  He does a lot of work with the Native American people to help get there story told.  Here we are posing with him and a few pieces of his work we bought. I love dragonflies and these 2 where gorgeous.

And on the final day the artist was Marko Mavrovich.  He paints in a beautiful impressionism style that brings to life the views he captures.

Marko Mavrovich

Marko began this painting as we where watching.  Twenty minutes later this turned into a beautiful field of poppies.  Truly beautiful.  It sold at auction the next day for a little over $4,000.00.

Mr. K and Marko

And as we departed on Sunday Morning the sky cleared and the sun came out.

It was still too windy and cold to go to the beach. But the day turned out to be great for the drive home.

Happy Travels!