Minature #4

Date: 12/12/2008

Location: Kikau Point

Size: 4" x 4"

Medium: Oil on canvas panel

Artists Comments: On my last of four miniature paintings, I really got into the scale and decided to focus on something that did not have an apparent focal point. I saw a small patch of sand where it touched the shoreline and was inspired by the partial palm tree trunks and shadows reaching down the sandy banks. This was such a great lesson for me to help me focus on capturing the simplest of elements and making them into works of art. I loved the practice! Let's see how I do on my next project ~ my largest painting ever. Only time will tell!

Minature #3

Date: 12/12/2008

Location: Kikau Point

Size: 4" x 4"

Medium: Oil on canvas panel

Artists Comments: By the time I reach my third painting in my series of 4 miniature paintings I was enjoying the ease and speed at which I could start and finish a miniature painting. Sure the drawbacks were that even the smallest mistake was disastrous but, I loved finishing a painting in an hour!

Miniature #2

Date: 12/5/2008

Location: Kikau Point

Size: 4" x 4"

Medium: Oil on canvas panel

Artists Comments: On a mission to paint on the smallest canvas of my career I started on my second of a series of 4 4" x 4" canvases. Painting at such a small scale forced me to really focus on what subject I wanted the painting to capture. Usually with a larger canvas, I tend to want to paint a couple of different objects that attract my attention. For this piece, the 16th and 17th fairways of the Hualalai Golf Course caught my eye ~ mind you they were clear across the Kukio Bay!

Minature #1

Date: 12/05/2008

Location: Kikau Point

Size: 4" x 4"

Medium: Oil on canvas panel

Artists Comments: I purchased four of the smallest canvases I have ever painted on (4"x4") and set to capture four different viewpoints from Kikau Point at Kukio Beach. At first I thought painting a small piece would be a piece of cake but, I soon missed the ergonomics of having an easel and the ergonomics of standing up to paint.

Lonley Palm Tree

Date: 11/21/2008

Location: Honokohau Point

Size: 11" x 21"

Medium: Oil on canvas panel

Artists Comments: There is a small grassy oasis overlooking the mouth of Honokohau Harbor which I have overlooked all these years. Typically I am distracted by snorkeling at the small sandy beach or, busy boarding a boat bound for whale watching or an afternoon sail ~ so distracted that I have not paid much attention to this lazy little spot. I decided to try a larger canvas and brought out the largest brushes I own. I enjoyed the larger movements my body made as I slapped down the leaves of this lonely baby palm tree bidding farewell to all those busy captains. At home, I decided to step up the color a notch and threw in some brighter oranges and yellows into the painting to help add some movement. I contrasted these highlights with some really dark shadows to make them pop.

Friday Morning at the Beach

Date: 11/14/2008

Location: Kaloko Ponds

Size: 8" x 10"

Medium: Oil on canvas panel

Artists Comments: The light dancing against the trunks of a grove of palm trees caught my attention. Then, I could see the faint outline of Hualalai Mountain in the background. I attempted to paint a small piece of the scene instead of trying to fit the whole environment on a piece of canvas. I enjoyed the simplicity of painting a limited number of objects although when there is less to look at, there is more pressure to make the few objects memorable.

Returning to Shore

Date: 11/07/2008

Location: Kawaihae Harbor

Size: 8" x 10"

Medium: Oil on canvas panel

Artists Comments: There were several visual lines that attracted me to paint this subject: the sandbank, pier, distant edge of the water where it meets with the land, hillside slope, Hualalai mountain and cloud bank. This combination of horizontal lines were set in contrast to two tall palm trees swaying in the strong breeze. After sketching my painting and laying in major washes of color a small white boat returned from a day of fishing on the sea. I couldn't resist placing it into my painting despite my preference to not paint man-made objects in my work. I believe it adds a nice focus and scale to the painting.

The Wailea Rock

Date: 10/24/2008

Location: Wailea Bay

Size: 8" x 10"

Medium: Oil on canvas panel

Artists Comments: Other than the Wailea Driftwood, the second most memorable feature of Beach 69 is the giant rock perched near the shoreline. My attention was captured by the sharp contrast between the edge of the dark rock set against the Caribbean blue water. Painting water and shoreline detail is becoming so much easier and natural now and I am feeling more sure and confident in my ability to represent the ocean.

Nutty Buddy Goes to the Beach

Date: 10/23/2008

Location: Wailea Bay

Size: 8" x 8"

Medium: Oil on canvas panel
Artists Comments: While my sister was visiting from Seattle, we decided to purchase two baby coconut trees from KMART. Her one stayed sealed in its A.G. bag for the journey home to Seattle while mine became our official vacation mascot. Nutty Buddy went everywhere with us; to the surprise of many passer-bys. Today, I created my first portrait in my career of Nutty Buddy near the shoreline.

Waiulu Shore

Date: 10/22/2008

Location: Uluweuweu Bay

Size: 12" x 12"

Medium: Oil on canvas panel

Artists Comments: The second installment of my first commissioned project was a challenge to me as I felt the two paintings needed to have some consistency between them so they would appear as a pair but not overly similar. I started by using the same bright yellow wash to tie the two paintings together and applied similar techniques in the sky and ocean features.

Kukio Sands

Date: 10/12/2008

Location: Uluweuweu Bay

Size: 12" x 12"

Medium: Oil on canvas panel

Artists Comments: This was my first commissioned piece. After finding the perfect pair of frames, I created a painting to fit. My client was easy and simply said that she loved all my work and she was sure anything I created would be great. So, without hesitation I headed toward the beach and created this piece.

Waimea Hills

Date: 9/30/2008

Location: Pu'uopelu Estate

Size: 10" x 8"

Medium: Oil on canvas panel

Artists Comments: A small patch of sunny mountains in the distance at the top of Kohala mountain caught my attention as the only cheerful patch in this typically overcast and cold day in Waimea. The dark green pu'u's contrast against the bright green and golden rolling hills with a little row of wild Christmas Trees was interestingly very fun to paint.

Little Beach

Date: 9/18/2008

Location: Pahoehoe Park

Size: 10" x 8"

Medium: Oil on canvas panel

Artists Comments: On this study I focused on capturing a lava reef with waves breaking across it and shallow pools of water collecting throughout. Tide pools reflect the sky color while deeper water appears transparent and reveals the reef below the surface. Another challenge for me was to give the perception of a sharp rock face and the elevation change between sea-level and the rock surface. This painting represents so much of what the Big Island's shoreline looks like: lava, ocean and reef.

Wailea Driftwood

Date: 9/08/2008

Location: Wailea Bay

Size: 11" x 14"

Medium: Oil on canvas panel

Artists Comments: For anyone who has visited Wailea or more commonly, Beach 69, the large driftwood tree is striking and memorable. Limbs bleached from constant sun and ocean spray highlights are accentuated making it easier for me to focus on the brightest areas of the subject. To achieve the sharp "smile lines" of the twisted tree trunk I called on my trusty super-thin magic brush which seems to take on a dance of its own! I love it!

"Kohala Shoreline"

SOLD

Date: 8/22/2008

Location: Kua Bay

Size: 8" x 10"

Medium: Oil on canvas panel

Artists Comments: After experimenting with various washes of blue, green and sand I am happy to have been able to finally capture the shallow shoreline and wet sand after a wave has receded. I also learned a new trick where I wipe away areas of the sky color to represent clouds. This effect allows for transparent clouds that seem to wisp across the skyline. I am particularly satisfied with every element of this painting.