This page lists links to other local painting group websites.
Bay Area Contemporary Plein Air Circle, or BACPAC- Sunday paintouts: If you are interested in joining the distribution list for Sunday Paintouts, please email Kim Holl at kimhollpainting@yahoo.com. She will be happy to add you.
____________________
VDS - Valle del Sur Art Guild
PaintOuts usually in South Santa Clara County. This year’s schedule is posted at:
http://www.valledelsur.org/#!current-schedule-of-paint-outs/co0u
You don’t need to be a member ... just show up and paint.
____________________
MBPAPA – Monterey Bay Plein Air Painters Association
PaintOuts usually in Monterey or Santa Cruz Counties. We also have a Paintout Site Archive, and links to local CAMS:
http://www.mbpapa.org/paintouts.html
You don’t need to be a member ... just show up and paint.
____________________
Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society (only water media)
http://www.scvws.org
To clarify your questions and concerns about the SCVWS member criteria, attendance at "Paintsites" (the term for the plein air group) isn't restricted to members (unless we're going to a member's home --- which we've only done three times in 2015 -- and in which case we sometimes have to limit the number of artists who can participate --- that's up to the homeowner). We ask that only water media be used as, when I request permission to visit a site, I state that we won't be using any chemical solvents.
"Exhibits" and "Workshops" are the two other main activities that the Society sponsors. For most Workshops, if a demo is given, the demo is free and open to the public. The workshop itself, however, isn't free and non-members pay $30 more than members. (Coincidentally, annual membership is $30.) For Exhibits, I have no idea if there is any membership criteria as I've never entered a show.