Waipio Sea Cliffs


Date: 8/29/2010

Location: Waipio Valley

Size: 16" x 20"

Medium: Oil with pallet knife on stretched canvas

Artist's Comments: As most people will agree, Waipio Valley is one of the most serene places on the Big Island. It's lush rivers feed the valleys abundant foliage. There are few places on the island where native plants and fruits grow wild along the road. After a day of exploring the valley, we always enjoy lounging on the black sand beach under the shade of the ironwood trees and enjoying the wonderful sea cliff scenery. An especially captivating sight occurs during the rainy season when the valley's Eastern cliff comes alive with a rushing waterfall which reaches to the sea. It's close enough to walk to and enjoy its pulsing massage but often we just enjoy watching the water dance down the mountainside. When researching Waipio Valley's waterfalls, I came across an old Hawaiian chant which tributes Waipio's sea cliffs which I would like to share with you:

Waipio Valley, the beautiful Cliffs surround it The sea on one side The cliffs are hard to climb Not to be climbed Are the sea cliffs

I continued to practice my newfound pallet knife technique and discovered it was easier for me to attain different tones of color when using this technique. My color pallet naturally became softer and I am able to give the feeling of perspective much easier. I also enjoy how I can continue working on a wet painting because the knife allows me to lay new paint on top of the thickest layer. That's a good thing as I'm from the land of procrastination and this painting is going to be displayed in my Boarder's Bookstore show in 2 days!

To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.

Kalo Cottage


Date: 8/25/2010

Location: Waipio Valley

Size: 16" x 20"

Medium: Oil with Pallet Knife on stretched canvas

Artist's Comments: There are only a few families that are fortunate enough to call Waipio Valley home. Many carry on the tradition of taro farming and the valley floor is decorated with strings of small taro patches all fed by the ever flowing rivers of Waipio. During a valley hike, Patrick and I met a young couple who were clearing the jungle to access the river and divert a portion of it to a new taro patch they had just created. They were young with a baby in the belly and I thought how rare it must be for today's young generation to carry on such an ancient tradition and in such a remote place. Anyone who has spent any amount of time at the valley's floor immediately know, this couple is smart and extremely lucky with the opportunity to live their life in a such a wonderful place. I kept this feeling close when creating this painting. I decided to practice the pallet knife techniques I learned from George Allan on Maui. I was impressed at the tone and texture of the piece and how the mountains were soft and appear to be in the distance behind the taro field. I was equally surprised at how much paint I used with this technique!

To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.

Dancing under the moonlight


Date: 8/20/2010

Location: Alii Drive

Size: 24" x 36"

Medium: Oil on stretched canvas

Artist's Comments: My second subject for my sunset theme was captured by by dad well after the sun had sunk below the horizon. Remnants of the colorful sunset can still be seen deep below the horizon while the opposite side of the skyline dresses slowly in deep shades of blue and finally black as the moon and sparkling starlight begin to emerge. As with my “Kona Sunset” painting, I found that as I layered thin washes of various colors, the skyline gained character and body.

To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.

Kona Sunset


Date: 8/16/2010

Location: Casa de Emdeco, Alii Drive

Size: 24" x 36"

Medium: Oil on stretched canvas

Artist's Comments: I have not worked on a sunset theme for some time now and I needed a break from my favorite beach and ocean color scheme. Painting on location is nearly impossible at sunset as its over an done with within 15 minutes so, I called my dad to see if he had any color sunset photos I could paint. He had two and although they were taken at different times of the day and thus offered different color schemes I liked how they both featured silhouettes of palm trees. I started the trees using deep shades of red which I hoped would be interpreted as highlights of the sun's rays shining through the leaves at dusk. The ever changing colors in the sky presented some challenges to me. On one hand, sunsets are a very forgiving subject to paint as no two sunsets are ever alike and such unexpected color combinations occur; on the other hand, the values really have to be consistent and I needed to allow for a soft gradual change in color across the spectrum. I found that as I kept working, the sky got better and better as I mixed more and more colors until finally I was happy with my creation! The setting sun was the icing on the cake!

To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.

Just the two of us

Date: 8/06/2010

Location: Kua Bay

Size: 60" x 40"

Medium: Oil on stretched canvas

Artist's Comments: I had promised my sister for some time now that I would paint her an original SitaScapes. While working on one of her customers, she mentioned to him that I was an artist and that her painting was overdue but that it would get done “one of these days”. He put the idea in her head that since she was the sister of an artist and patiently waiting so long; she should receive one of my largest works. So, on my sister's recent visit back to the Big Island, I started working on her custom painting while we were both enjoying Kua Bay. The canvas was quite large and since there is not shade at Kua, I needed to bring my canopy tent. We spent the day together in cool comfort dipping in the ocean when I hit painter's block and sipping on our go-go cocktails to keep us grooving. My mom joined us bringing snacks for sustenance and took care of PR with beach goers who strolled by. We spent the whole day at the beach and I got really used to my new “outdoor office”. Someday I would love to have an open-air office with such a wonderful ocean view as this! Now that the painting is finished, my next challenge is getting it to her in Seattle! Maybe I'll have to hand deliver it in person!

To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.
The artist does not authorize the use or reproduction of any images within this site by any third-party. To receive usage approval, please contact the artist.