LAA Plein Air Painters 2018 Schedule

Welcome back for another season of paint outs!
We gather Friday mornings from about 9 to around noon, providing an opportunity to work at an outdoor site with other artists. Open to all LAA members and friends, PJ’s is free and suitable for all levels of experience. Usually the group will be spread out around the location, in small groups, or off solo. Most stay till around noon, but the loose structure allows for abbreviated and extended sessions. It is up to you to come and go as you wish! In case of inclement weather, artists should make their own decisions about attending. At the end of each month, we will move the current month to the top of this web page for easy access. Contact Jane Elvins or Wyncia Clute for more information.

September 2018

September 7: 75th St. at Boulder Creek Just north of Walden and Sawhill Ponds is a lesser known little spot along Boulder Creek with a little waterfall and a lovely barn with horses just across the creek. Under the bridge that crosses the creek on 75th, there is a paved sidewalk in shade that offers the perfect view of it all. No bathroom, but Walden Ponds is only about ¼ mile south, or one could use the abundant bushes. There is a paved path that heads southwest from parking lot, used by hikers, runners, etc. There is no sign indicating this spot, but it’s not hard to find. On 75th heading north, go past the entrances to Sawhill Ponds and to Walden Ponds, and just past the water treatment plant. Soon after the water plant, there is a turnoff on the left and a parking lot, with very short walk to the creek.
 
September 14: North Teller Lake Trailhead, on Valmont about 2 miles east of 75th.  Take Valmont east from 75th and curve around past Teller Farms, then go a short distance further to the east to a sign, trailhead and parking lot on the right side of Valmont. There is no restroom, but plenty of bushes. From the parking lot, you can walk east over a short path to the fishing lake. Or walk towards the south on a wide, gravel road leading to open space with farms and mountain views. Or look northwest from the parking lot to see a charming barn with mountain backdrop.

September 21: Legion Park,7081 Arapahoe Ave. Coming from the east on Arapahoe, go past Indochine on the right, and look for an easy-to-miss right turnoff with a sign set back off the road. Drive up the driveway which takes you into the park. This is just east of 63rd and the old Valmont Power Plant. In the park, there are no restrooms, and only a couple of picnic tables. Because there’s no shelter, consider painting out of the back of your car and/or bring an umbrella if it’s a sunny day. From the western edge of the parking lot, you have a panoramic view of the power plant and its ponds (wildlife reserve) and the rest of Boulder, with the mountains in the background.   
 
September 28: Viele Lake, South Boulder Rec Center, 1360 Gillaspie. From Louisville, head west on S. Boulder Rd.  At the intersection of Table Mesa Drive and Broadway, turn left and proceed south about ½ mile to Grinnell. Right on Grinnell, then left at Grinnell and Gillaspie.  You’ll see the park, rec center and lake on your left. Multiple parking lots near the rec center and extending south toward the lake. Restrooms, water, and snack machines available in the rec center, and a large picnic shelter with tables and restrooms nearby. Of interest: fall color, wildlife around the lake, reeds and grasses, the bridge between the big lake and the little pond, a large playground, paved pathway all the way around the lake.

August 2018

Aug. 10: Greenbriar Inn, 8735 North Foothills Hwy (Rt. 36 just north of Boulder at the southwest corner of Left Hand Canyon Drive and 36).
Mountain views, 20 acres with two ponds, a small waterfall, woodlands, vegetable, fruit and flower gardens. Shade. Restrooms available indoors.
Restaurant is not open for lunch.

Aug. 17: Coal Creek Trailhead off South Public Road in Lafayette. Parking on the west side of the south end of South Public Road, near the intersection of Rt 287 and South Public Road. Trail with a lovely running creek in spring,
vistas on the hill, large cottonwood trees. Parking lot and bathroom. Just
north of the little traffic circle where S Public and 112th meet. Some shade.

Aug. 24: Roger’s Grove, 220 Hover Road, Longmont, CO 80503
Roger's Grove Nature Area consists of 54.9 acres adjacent to the St.
Vrain Greenway and includes Fairgrounds Lake, trails, a shelter,
outdoor amphitheater, restrooms, native landscaping, demonstration gardens and an apple grove with fruit free for your harvest! Shelters and
restrooms.\

Aug. 31:
NCAR Building and trailhead, west end of Table Mesa Drive, South Boulder. Great views of the valley southwest of Boulder and to the northwest, view of the Flatirons. I. M. Pei building is architecturally interesting. Lunch at the cafeteria is available. Restrooms inside.
Note: Security guard doesn’t like for cars to stop, park or unload right close to the main building. Park in the lot just below the building and carry gear to your selected painting location.

July 2018

 July 6: Old Town Niwot – From 287, take Niwot Rd. west to the town of Niwot, turn right on 2nd Ave., then one block to Franklin St. From Hwy 119, turn east on 2nd Ave. and Franklin is the second cross street. Niwot is full of quaint shops and other reminders of earlier times in this area. Choose a painting subject anywhere along 2nd Ave. from Franklin to Murray St., or walk another block to Murray and 1st Ave. (Whistlestop Park) to see an old caboose and a bandstand with mountains in the distant background. Restaurants and cafes provide food and restrooms. Colterra is a beautiful restaurant with great food and inviting outdoor seating. 
July 13: Grasso Park, Superior - Coming from McCaslin, turn right onto Marshall Rd. as if going to Costco. Turn left at the first stop light onto Sycamore, then left onto Fourth St. and left again onto Coal Creek Ave. Go left into the small parking lot at the park. (All of these turns happen in a relatively small area, so that when you are in Grasso Park, you are actually very close to Superior Marketplace and McCaslin Blvd.) The park has historic small buildings, an actual jail cell, antique farm implements, lots of shade, picnic table and benches, a creek running along the edge of the park, and a bridge over the creek that has a paved trail alongside it. Restroom available in Superior Town Hall, right across from the park. 

July 20: First United Methodist Church, Spruce & Jefferson, Louisville -:Located just across Spruce from the Louisville Art Center and two blocks from Main St., this iconic old church (built circa 1892) features interesting architecture on all sides. Big trees in Memory Square provide shady comfort and different perspectives on the church. Restrooms inside the Art Center or at the pool next door. Many restaurants and cafes on Main St., as you know. 
July 27: West End, Pearl Street, Boulder - Follow Walnut Street (first street to the south of Pearl) west until it turns right and becomes 7th. Take 7th one block to Pearl. There is some free parking in the neighborhood west of Pearl and other side streets. Parking meters on Pearl. Charming street scenes with Spruce Street Confections (coffee and restrooms) to the east at 767 Pearl, and handsome residences to the west. Lots of shade, greenery and flowers. There are plenty of pedestrians so it’s best to keep to the side of the walkways.

June 2018

June 1, Annette Brand Park, Louisville. North off South Boulder Road onto Continental View Drive (not south onto McCaslin Blvd!) Bear right onto Azure Way. The park is at the end Azure as it turns right onto Plum Circle. Mountain views from park and from an Open Space to the north and west of the park. Restrooms in the park.
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June 8, Sawhill Ponds, Boulder County. From Valmont go north on 75th to sign that says “Sawhill Ponds.”  (If you get to the one for Walden Ponds, you’ve gone too far.) Beautiful views of the mountains, ponds, reflections, grasses, birds.  Some benches; some shelter.  Bathrooms in the parking lot/picnic area.  

June 15, East Simpson Coffee House, Old Town Lafayette. 414 East Simpson Street, east of Public Road, between Iowa and Michigan Streets. An historic building with a picturesque courtyard that has plenty of umbrellas and tables. Stop inside for coffee or lunch, paint in the courtyard or street nearby.

June 22, Boulder Valley Ranch, Boulder. One mile north of city of Boulder on Highway 36 is the turn-off onto Longhorn Road, marked with a sign for Boulder Valley Ranch Open Space. One mile east of Highway 36 on Longhorn Road (a dirt road) is the parking lot and restrooms.  South from the parking lot, a ditch runs and shade is found along the waterway. To the north of the parking lot the trail turns eastward, revealing mountain views and horse paddocks a short walk away. 

June 29, South Mesa and Dowdy Draw trailheads, Eldorado Springs. Follow Rt. 93 south of Boulder. Turn west onto Eldorado Springs Road (Highway 170.) South Mesa trailhead is to the north, 1.7 miles. Dowdy Draw trailhead is immediately to the west of South Mesa on the south side of Eldorado Springs Road. There is often more parking at Dowdy Draw. The South Mesa parking area is in a shady spot with picnic tables and restrooms. Trails lead directly onto the plains.  The Dowdy Draw parking area is open, without shade, but with great flatirons views. Restrooms are across the road at South Mesa parking area.

May 2018

May 4: Waneka Lake, Lafayette  As many of you know, this a large, beautiful lake and Greenlee Marsh is a small marshy pond. The lake has boats, people fishing, and of course, lots of good water scenes. The marshy pond has cattails and is surrounded with large trees. Bathrooms available in the boathouse near the main parking lot. Take South Boulder Road east to Lafayette, past Centaurus High School. Turn north on Centaur Village Drive and the at the T intersection, turn left onto Caria Drive. At Waneka Lake Park, turn left into the parking lot. Let’s meet by the boathouse and go from there.
 
May 11: Coot Lake, 6247 63rdSt., Boulder With mountain views in the distance, Coot Lake offers a 1.2 mile walkway around the lake, shade trees, public restrooms, picnic tables, a kids’ art walk, a parking lot, and abundant wetland wildlife, birds, and plants. Some days it is filled with people walking their dogs and letting them swim in the lake. Luncheon spots in nearby Gunbarrel shopping area.
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May 18: Long’s Iris Gardens, 3240 N. Broadway, Boulder. This great third generation, family-owned business features field of beautiful irises and poppies and lilacs when in season, farm buildings and sheds, antique farm implements and vehicles, and more recently, goats! Part of the business now centers around the raising of goats on site which can be seen up close and personal. Bathrooms inside the business office, picnic areas, lots of big shade trees, parking on site.

 May 25: Pella Crossing, Hygiene  This location was wiped out in the 2013 flood,but is now refurbished and open to all. It is a wetlands habitat for many species of mammals, amphibians, birds, and fish. On site are picnic tables, shelters, a parking lot, and restrooms. There are also grasses, trees and wildflowers around the wetlands. From the Diagonal Highway, exit at Monarch Road and go west until  it crosses N. 71stSt. Follow N. 71stas it curves around to the northeast  and crosses N. 73rd. N. 73rdcurves around to the northeast past Lagerman Reservoir and becomes N. 75th. Stay on N. 75thas it crosses Nelson Rd. and St. Vrain Rd. and ends up at Pella Crossing. A short distance north of Pella Crossing is the tiny village of Hygiene with the Crane Hollow Café (for lunch?) and the Purple Door Market. An alternate route would be via Hygiene Rd. traveling east from the Foothills Highway (CO 36) or traveling west from the end of Airport Rd. in Longmont. ​​