Early Work 2016-2018

ORANGE BOAT THINGY AT COYOTE POINT (12"X15" FRAMED)

This spectacularly fascinating building-boat thingy sailed up to the dock while I was sketching. I was more concerned about how long it would stay as I rushed to finish this en plein air.

VILLA MONTALVO (17"x21" FRAMED, 2018)

This was painted quickly and loosely with a size 20 round so that I wouldn't be bogged down by detail.

THAT OLD WATER TOWER (19"x19" FRAMED, 2018)

Painted en plein air, the intricate white railing is what drew me to this historic water tower at Holbrook-Palmer Park, Atherton.

TALBOT HOUSE, ROCKLAND (19"X19" FRAMED, 2018)

The perspective of this building was challenging enough without having to do the drawing standing up at my easel. This was completed en plein air.

BOATS IN MONOCHROME (12"x15" FRAMED, 2018 - SOLD)

I enjoy painting this in monochrome as the success of the painting simply lies in the darks and lights, and has nothing to do with color.

APRICOT ORCHARD (6"x6" UNFRAMED, 2018)

Commissioned by the Los Altos History Museum store for cards to be sold there, I enjoyed doing this quick watercolor resplendent with watermarks.

SAN JOSE BASILICA (2018, 16"x20" FRAMED - SOLD)

Many, many color and value studies later, this painting on hot press paper is all about form and shadows.

LOS ALTOS HISTORY MUSEUM (12"X15" FRAMED, 2018) - SOLD

This shed with old tools and a tractor that still starts with a noisy roar is my favorite space in Los Altos, and reminds me of my grandmother's farm from years past. This was done en plein air.

WOODSIDE HISTORIC GENERAL STORE (12"X15" FRAMED, 2018)

This was done en plein air - the bright light through the open doorway at the back of the shed is what drew me to this scene.

HOPPER HOUSE, ROCKLAND (19"X19" FRAMED, 2018) - ACCEPTED INTO ALASKA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY'S 2019 ANNUAL JURIED SHOW (JUROR: FRANK EBER)

I was responding to the cold weather when I chose the color palette for this architectural subject. I welcomed the bright sun for enhancing the brilliant whites of the building, which I left unpainted, but it did little to warm me as I painted this en plein air.

DE MARTINI ORCHARD, LOS ALTOS (12"X15" FRAMED, 2017)

At the risk of life and limb, I painted this en plein air precariously perched on a 3 foot wide median between roaring San Antonio Road traffic.

VOYAGEUR DU TEMPS (13"x17" FRAMED, 2018) - HONORABLE MENTION AT the "PAINT THE TOWN 2018" SHOW AT THE LOS ALTOS HISTORY MUSEUM

I was drawn to the diagonal shadow pattern from the trellis, falling on the column as well as the sidewalk, in contrast to the deep shadows and the bustle of activity inside.

MOTHER'S DAY TULIPS (13"x13" FRAMED, 2018)

I returned from my 10-day silent meditation retreat on Mother's Day in May 2018 to find these on the dining table. I had to paint them!

STILL LIFE WITH SUCCULENT (13"X13" FRAMED, 2017) - SOLD

I've had this funky orange vase and the succulent for over 15 years. The lemon is not quite so old.

STILL LIFE WITH LAVENDER & VINEGAR (13"X13" FRAMED, 2018)

A collection of eclectic items from all over - lavender from a neighbor's yard, vinegar from my daughter's trip to Italy, and the glass cherries from a quaint store in Potrero Hill in San Francisco.

TRUSS XING (13"X17" FRAMED, 2017)

What drew me to this was the criss-crossing of the truss from the crane on the Bay and the trusses under the road of the mighty Bay Bridge - what a difference in scale and load carrying capacity! And yet, when they cross, they just cross. This was done en plein air sitting in the farmer's market outdoor plaza at the San Francisco Ferry Building.

SCOTTISH COAST (14"X18" FRAMED, 2018 - SOLD)

An amalgamation of several images from Scotland, this fictitious scene uses a limited color palette for harmony.

VINTAGE AT SANTANA ROW (15"X19" FRAMED, 2018)

Painted en plein air, the warm color palette hints at a perfect summer's day at Santana Row.

PAO HUA BUDDHIST TEMPLE (12"X15" FRAMED, 2018)

One of my earlier plein air attempts, this tries to captures the beautiful and intricate details at this hidden architectural gem in San Jose.

GETTING READY FOR HOOPS (11"x17" FRAMED, 2018)

My son was putting on his shoes for his basketball practice, and I caught the dazzling sunlight hitting his left side.

LOOKING FOR FOOD (12"x15" FRAMED, 2018)

I was drawn to this tractor and the shadows on the building beyond. When I was almost done with this painting, I realized it needed some life, so was happy to put in one of the hens that was pecking at my palette and water container. I think that was what her clucking was all about in the first place.

san francisco ferry building (12"x15" framed, 2018)

Painted en plein air sitting on the sidewalk, this is a pen and ink sketch under watercolor. What drew me was the sharply contrasting colors of the orange building against the complementary blue of the ferry building beyond.

HAYES MANSION, SAN JOSE (12"x15", FRAMED)

I was drawn to the octagonal shape of sunlight on this building as it broke and fell on the different planes of the facade. Interestingly, I drew this directly in pen without a pencil sketch underneath. Paradoxically, I feel more confident when I know I cannot erase

HAPPY IN COPENHAGEN (12"x15" FRAMED, 2017 - GIFTED)

I was in Copenhagen for just a day, a sunny afternoon in a very bustling place. It's interesting how you look a place differently if you know it's ranked as the happiest place on earth - confirmation bias, no doubt. I took the reference picture for this painting from a boat on the river.

JUST MISSED IT! (16"x20" framed, 2017)

Painted from a photograph, I enjoyed playing down the colors of the urban backdrop as I wanted to enhance the connection between the man with the bright yellow umbrella rushing to catch the bright yellow cable car. The city is still alive as is evident from the lit yellow windows in the background.

THEIR PIECE OF SKY (13"x17" framed, 2016)

One of my earlier watercolors, I was trying to be loose, and what better subject for that than nature, forgoing my favorite and usual architecture subjects.

THAT OLD WATER TOWER (13"x17" framed, 2018 - SOLD)

This was the second painting I sold - very encouraging for a new artist. Painted en plein air, this contrasts the more contemporary colored stucco structures against the historic water tower in downtown Campbell.

japanese gardens, san mateo central park (2018)

Always challenging to paint in green, the goal here was to add a rich variety of greens to suggest depth, shadow, and texture.

the woods beckon (4"x6" unframed, 2018)

Another green painting, the lighter yellow-greens suggest sunlight coming in from the left. This is painted from a photo taken at Maison du Lac, Los Gatos.

Tanvi Buch Architecture + Watercolors