Getting Ready for your Drawing Outdoors With Rebeca Workshop
Friday, April 9, 10-2 pm at Point Molate Harbor, Richmond
Point San Pablo Harbor is a private community in Point Molate, Richmond. I have been issued permission to teach this workshop by its Harbormaster, Daryl Henline provided we hold social distancing and follow a few directions.
Point San Pablo Harbor is a drawing person’s paradise, featuring colorful floating homes, sailboats, a levee, various buildings and shacks going back to its historical past, a mini-farm with goats and a garden, a restaurant, large sculptures, and hiking trails. In our workshop you’ll be able to use the drawing media of your choice and receive as much or as little feedback as you want. Pastel, watercolor and gouache media is welcome, too but we are not set up to do plein air acrylic or oil painting.
What We’ll Do
We will get together promptly at 10:00 AM so please arrive at 9:30. More experienced students may choose to scout a spot and and begin drawing immediately. Beginners are welcome to join me as I explain how to set yourself up for success and review the use of perspective and drawing buildings and man-made objects over the first hour. At 11:00 everyone will be drawing and I will be coming around to help each person individually. We will break at noon for lunch, either at Pîrate BBQ or near the restaurant if you brought your own lunch. I will do an optional, 30 min demo at 1:00 pm: How To Check Our Own Drawing. We will continue drawing until 2:00 pm, when we will meet in the parking lot to celebrate pour accomplishments. You are welcome to stay later in you want, but please be at the parking lot at 2:00 so you can share your work.
Social Distance
Please note that all participants need to be masked and follow social distance, vaccinated or not. During this workshop and for the comfort and safety of classmates, PSH residents and workers, we will all need to stay six feet away each other. If you aren’t sure you can comply with these directions, please email me beforehand.
Questions?
If you have questions or something you need to tell me before April 9, please email me. During the hour immediately before the workshop, I will be setting up at the site and might be unable to hear your call. It is best to contact the front desk at the Richmond Art Center and leave them a message 510-620-6772.
Getting There
If you’ve never been, I recommend studying these instructions and leaving early, as it can be a bit tricky.
This Point Molate map includes features not seen on Google Maps. Here is a printable version to take along.
The address is 1900 Stenmark Dr., but if your GPS can’t find it, try to find them under their previous address, 1900 Western Drive.
Directions
From the East Bay to the Point Molate/Stenmark Dr Exit
From Interstate 80 (either direction), take the San Rafael exit to Interstate 580 West towards the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.
From Marin to the Point Molate/Stenmark Dr Exit
Cross the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, east-bound. There is no Point Molate exit from this direction, so you’ll need to take the Richmond Pkwy / PT Richmond exit instead. Keep RIGHT at the fork in the ramp, merge onto Castro St., go under the freeway, then take the right hand on-ramp for I-580 West, heading back towards the bridge. it will seem as if you are returning to San Rafael, but be alert for the Point Molate/Stenmark Dr. exit, then…
From the Point Molate/Stenmark Dr Exit to Point San Pablo Harbor
Just before the toll plaza, take the Point Molate/Stenmark Drive exit (right). Stay left at the fork. Pass the Point Molate Public Beach and Winehaven. After Winehaven, do not go right on Richmond Ln, which will appear before Western Dr. Western Dr has a lot of signage. Go right and up the hill on Western Dr. The beginning is a little steep, then it becomes a winding road through a grove of live oaks that descends to the harbor. Park right in the visitor parking area (not on the levee).
Outdoor seating at Pirate BBQ.
Food
Pirate BBQ is open on Fridays and weekends. This outdoor mom and pop restaurant has great views of the harbor and offers a traditional selection of BBQ meats and side dishes. There is more information about them here. It is okay to sit in the restaurant’s outdoor area to draw if you are ordering lunch.
There are no other food venues on site. Please come prepared by packing a lunch and enough snacks. You can always buy drinking water at the restaurant.
View of the levee and the visitor parking area.
Where We’ll Meet
There is a visitor and a private parking area. The visitor parking area has white signs that greet you as soon as you arrive. I will be at the parking lot until 10:00. Look for my silver Toyota Tacoma truck. Please do not park on the levee, the resident parking area.
The workshop will start promptly at 10:00 AM. We will meet in the area east of the visitor parking lot before going off on our own. You will be able to see us from the parking lot. If you arrive later than that, find a fellow student and they will tell you where I am.
Looking north by the clubhouse.
Bring a Chair!
Point San Pablo Harbor has many interesting buildings, boats and structures, but there are no benches. Unless you are comfortable sitting on the ground, bring a stool or folding chair so you can expand your subject choices. We want to be considerate of our hosts and leave the restaurant seating open for restaurant patrons. We should also avoid setting up on ramps and steps, unless there is plenty of room for people to go around.
Every view is a potential drawing.
If It Rains
I will hold this workshop unless it rains. If it does, you will receive a phone call at least an hour before class to confirm this. We will meet the following day, Saturday, April 10, at the same time. It is a good idea to save that Saturday in case the weather forces us to postpone our workshop.
Even if the weather is good, dress in several layers. Bring a coat, a warm hat and a scarf.
