We have a group who get together monthly to go plein air painting
at various locations. In January we met at San Dieguito County Park.
We paint from 9am to noon usually on Wednesdays. You can come and go as you like. We meet when the weather is good (no rain, no wind, no cold). It is open to only Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild members after signing a Waiver of Responsibility.
Contact [email protected] for a Waiver.
Carole Mayne: A Divinely Diverse Devotee of the Arts
I heard about Carole Mayne just a few years ago from three different people – kind of all at once. You know that feeling when you hear about something or someone special and then it seems as if they are everywhere. Well, that was my experience with Carole.
First my BFF mentions Carole, “she paints birds!” Another good friend explained, “I am taking art classes in a studio in Leucadia, she’s a great teacher, her name is Carole!” My husband then tells me “Gerry and his friend, Chris are in the backyard photographing our nesting Western Bluebirds. And Chris lives in Leucadia and his wife, Carole paints his bird images!”. Hmmm, who is this lady Carole who paints, teaches art, and loves nature? I had to find out. My good friend gets me an introduction into Carole’s class and all these connections fall into place.
That’s how I met Carole Mayne artist, teacher, wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and devotee. Born in San Diego, Carole always loved to draw and paint. Her mother wrote in her baby book “Likes to color”. The love of art drove young Carole to San Diego State’s art program. Disillusioned with modern art studied there, she left for Hawaii in 1968 and soon into the arms of her husband (and fantastic bird
photographer) Chris Mayne. Together the two became four with two daughters and the Maynes’ adventures began.
Starting in the early 70’s they traveled to Europe with their then 3-year-old daughterand Carole’s brother Bill. They explored Europe by car experiencing the beauty of the landscape and the art of Italy, Spain, Portugal, and England. The depth of it all hit home with Carole and she came back even more intent on combining her love of family and art.
Carole Mayne: https://www.carolemayne.com/
Early on Carole studied oil painting with numerous professionals, the earliest being
Doreen Terryberry. Doreen painted and taught in the elegant old master’s technique using monochromatic tonal underpainting. When dry, the next layers consisted of colored transparent glazes and opaque scumbling. Carole continued her art studies at Palomar College and studied under many instructors and teachers such as the late
Sebastian Capella, known for his blue underpainting style and impressionist’s 6-palette. Most recently she took workshop with Jerry Salinas through the Scottsdale school, Lindsey Kustich, and Daniel Keys, all of whom directly influenced her art. All the while Carole was raising her two daughters and working to help support the family. She worked from home for 35 years as a retouch artist on photographic portrait negatives. She removed blemishes and wrinkles on professional portrait photographs before Photoshop and digital cameras came along. This work taught her the skill of doing fine details with a 000 brush and dyes.
As a busy wife and working mother, Carole’s time was precious, but she didn’t stop there. Her
love of the stained-glass windows she so admired while touring Europe crept back into her memory and in 1975 she began learning to design and fabricate windows. Today with many commissioned glass pieces under her belt Carole is sought out by many lovers of glass art to design windows, doors, and panels in stained glass.
In a class at UCSD, Carole met Betty Edwards and studied her method of drawing. This concept by Edwards declares the notion that the brain has two ways of perceiving and processing reality – one verbal and analytic, the other visual and perceptual. The Edwards method focuses on seeing and drawing everything in 5 basic shapes and using the non-dominant hand to draw. Never one to slow down, in 1995 Carole also began to teach art at the Solana Beach Monart School of Art and integrated Edward’s methods into her classes. 
Many students from those days are now friends and some are still her students.
After a failed attempt to retire Carole began to teach in her home studio. Many Monart students joined her as well as new students. She still teaches on a limited scale but would enjoy more time to paint and to create on her own. As a member of the Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild, Carole volunteers to manage and oversee the group’s Facebook page where members can post images of their work or their upcoming events. Carole loves the camaraderie of the guild members and has been a member for three years.
Carole’s tip for any new student of art is to find an artist you love and study their process. Carole also has a long list of favorite
artists herself – just ask her. She follows many fabulous artists of our day and many of the greats that have influenced her art such as Sargent, Sorolla, and Zorn. But her tip for every artist (one I love) is “Plan to be your own favorite artist”. Spoken like the spirited artist, selfless teacher, and loving matriarch of her family Carole is a “divinely diverse devotee of the arts”.
Join the RSF Art Guild.
Sign up on our website to receive our Newsletter free each month.
The Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild is excited to announce this year’s roster of exceptionally talented artists. Each will delight you with techniques learned along the way that helped them perfect their craft and become successful painters. We hope you will join in several of the planned sessions. Registration information is below.
JEFFREY WATTS
March 20: 10:00-1:00
PAT KELLY
April 17: 10:30-1:30
SUNNY APINCHAPONG-YANG
May 15: 10:30-1:30
ROBIN HALL
June 19: 10:30-1:30
JEFF HORN
September 18: 10:30-1:30
MARK FEHLMAN
October 16: 10:30-1:30
Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild | P.O. Box 773 | Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
