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 and Kate Chenok and Karen Sanford’s pottery. Landscapes by Judith Feins round out the exhibition.

Meet all 11 artists on Saturday December 6 at a reception in their honor from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. while enjoying light bites. View and/or purchase art online at https://lamorindaarts.org/current-exhibits-library-gallery/.

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.” They define this as the rare moment when an uncanny alignment occurs between nature, light and an artist’s hand.

Stephen 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.” Go to stephenberryart.com.

MaryLou Correia, organizer of the show says, “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 Jessica 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/#/.

Flora Baumann, both a plein air and studio painter, says, “I am captivated by the stark beauty of Gerhard Richter’s artwork and the dreamlike landscapes of April Gornik.” See florabaumann.com.

Nancy Roberts says, “It’s fascinating to think about what’s happening beneath the surface of things, their underlying structure, rhythms, and hidden energies. 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 https://nancyrobertsstudio.com.

“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,” says Marian S. Harris. “Martinez Waterfront,” a 14” x 10” watercolor pulls you right into the last time you drove along that stretch of land. Visit mariansimsharris.com/ to view her artwork.

Potters Kate Chenok and Karen Sanford are exhibiting pottery together. “My pieces are wheel thrown and alternatively fired Raku,” said Chenok, “while 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 https://glazedoverceramicsorinda.com and Sanford’s at https://makingstuffceramics.com.

Alan Chin and Tom 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; I carve marks on ceramic forms; then we both glaze them,” said Franco. Go to Instagram for more of Chin’s work, @alanchinart and Franco’s at @tom__franco.

Oil paintings of Point Reyes, Point Lobos, Mendocino, the Sierras, Lafayette Reservoir and Mt. Diablo reflect Judith Feins deep love of California landscapes. “The longer I observe and paint them, the deeper my love goes,” says Feins. Visit judithfeins.com to see more.

This exhibit runs December 1 through January 2, 2026. Visit the gallery at 26 Orinda Way, Orinda during normal library hours – Mon. – Thu. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; – Sat., 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; closed Sundays and December 24, 25, 31 and January 1, 2026. Call 925-254-2184 for more information or visit http://ccclib.org/.