They've only known one another for about six years, but Mya Bruno, 86, and Lucy Coleman, 72, are nearly twins.

Both women live in San Mateo with their husbands. Both have four children. And each has one 5-year-old grandson.

But the reason Bruno and Coleman have been dubbed “the twins” is because they are en plein air (outdoor) painting partners and members of the Peninsula Outdoor Painters club.

They erect their easels side by side every Tuesday morning in Monterey or one of the numerous other beautiful vista points on the coast.

After the group's painting session, one of the members offers a critique of the morning's work.

“They always say ‘Here are the twins’ paintings,’ ” Bruno said recently at the Garden Cafe in Burlingame.

The cafe is the site of the pair's new exhibit, titled, appropriately, “Side by Side.” This collection includes 23 landscape oil paintings by each artist placed side by side. Coleman's daughter, Sharon, has written several poems inspired by the duo's paintings that are included in the exhibit.

“Side by Side” will be on display through June 2 at the Garden Cafe, 1447 Burlingame Ave. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Proceeds from sales benefit the Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. Call (650) 343-8461.

How long have you been in the Peninsula Outdoor Painters group?

Coleman: I've been in and out of the group for maybe 10 to 15 years. It's a very loose organization. You just come and go. And if you don't come for awhile, it's OK.

Bruno: I am new to it, maybe the last five years.

How do you decide which location to paint?

Coleman: Two people in the group make a list every two months. The only thing that is regular is that we all have lunch together.

Do Most members in the group have art experience or are there some beginners?

Coleman: Both. The critiques are not destructive, we try to help people.

Are there young artists in your group?

Coleman: There are some young people, but mostly older retired people.

Where did you receive your art training?

Bruno: The Academy of Fine Arts in Bruges and in Ostend, Belgium. I was teaching French at the University of Detroit and taking art classes at Wayne State University.

Coleman: I studied landscape architecture at the University of Illinois. I got married in 1956 and my husband and I started a family very quickly. But I began to take space for myself. I started in ceramics, etching, watercolor and sculpture. Actually I did multiple things at the same time until the children escaped from home.

Is this your first exhibit together?

Bruno: No. We had one at Manor House in Belmont.

How did the exhibit at the Garden Cafe come about?

Bruno: It was pure luck. I come here every month because there are exhibits here. They know me here and asked if I'd like to show.

How did you two meet?

Bruno: When we were in school at the College of San Mateo, we became friends. It was a still life class.

Coleman: Mya needed a ride and I am the driver.

Do you paint only landscapes?

Coleman: Mostly except for out portraits.

Did you paint the portraits of each other or are they self-portraits?

Bruno: We painted each other.

Have you painted your grandsons? Coleman: That's pretty hard. He's here one minute and there the next. And, we don't like to paint from photographs. It seems flat and lifeless. But if someone's standing there, even for a moment, when I'm painting a landscape, they go in.

Bruno: Lucy always adds people to her landscapes.

What are your favorite colors?

Bruno: Naples Yellow. When I use that color, I am no longer painting, but on the seashore in Belgium. I like using natural colors. I don't like to mix paints. Lucy's is Indian Red.

Coleman: I like painting redwood trees.

What do people outside your painting group say about your work?

Bruno: They really like the color and the texture. Due to a bad hand I use a knife instead of a brush. It's very smooth and gives you such a nice texture.

How long does it take for a landscape?

Coleman: We usually go through a painting in about two or three hours. And that's it. Sometimes we might do a little touch-up but usually not.

Where else do you like to paint?

Bruno: When I travel I like to paint. I've painted in Spain, Russia and Belgium.

Do you have any other shows planned?

Coleman: We've been getting a lot of publicity. The Coyote Point Museum asked us if we wanted to show next year - June, July and August.

Side By Side Web Site

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Artists' Statement   |   Mya Bruno's Resume   |   Lucy Coleman's Resume

Articles about the Artists

San Mateo County Times Article
San Francisco Chronicle Article