May Plein Air Schedule by Amy

Aloha Artists!!!
May 1st is Lei Day! This year, Lei Day falls on Thursday. Im thinking we should be busting out Aloha shirts, and wear flowers in our hair!! In any case, I hope your Lei Day is filled with fantastically fragrant flowers and bodaciously bold blossoms. I was recently painting at a popular tourist locale, when a woman artist from France happened by. As she paused for a bit of a chat, I asked her to pronounce "en plein aire" for me. (I wanted to hear an authentic pronunciation). She obliged, and I must say, it was lovely, simply euphonious (and a relief to know that I wasn't destroying it too badly). She went on to tell me that the word "plein" actually means full. I had never heard that before. So this month as gorgeous trades blow throughout balmy days, and we stand before our easels with brushes in hand, keep in mind we're just full of fresh air!
*(actually, later on I looked it up, and it means many things, one being "open air"..... so much for my authentic french lesson!)

*Calendar-
May 1st-Leleiwi/Wai'uli~ From Hilo, Kalaniana'ole Ave, into Keaukaha. Wai'uli Beach Park (Leleiwi) is on the makai side just before Richardson's Beach. Wai'uli is distinguished by it's 5 pavilions in a row, with an orange Life Guard tower on the point. restrooms, plenty parking, running water, and fresh views every time.
May 8th~Downtown Hilo~ The intersection of Keawe St. and Mamo St. We will meet at the former site of the old Mamo Theater, (which no longer exists). So we'll meet on the large, empty, cracked, and ancient cement slab on Mamo St. The subject is structures, most notably the old Mamo Hotel. It is slated for demolition very soon. I thought we should do some paintings of it, before it becomes a parking lot, which is the plan. Right now it houses, Panda Imports, Big Island Ohana Cafe (fomerly Elsies Fountain), and the Flip Side Bar, among other things. I'm thinking it could get real warm out there on the street, so be sure to bring umbrellas! Kahuina Gallery is just across the street (at the old Kino's Furniture Store) and has generously offered use of their lua. I have no idea when exactly the Mamo Hotel building is supposed to come down, so hopefully it will still be there by the time this paint-out happens.
If it's gone, we will just have to alter our concept. A vital component of en plein air is flexibility.
May 15th-Lehia Park/Pu'umaile/King's Landing~ Known by a few names depending on who your talking to. However, it's now officially known by it's original name, Lehia. At the end of Kalaniana'ole Street (Keaukaha), go past Richardson's (Wai'uli) Beach Park, and proceed thru the open gates where the pavement ends. Drive down the dirt road, we won't be all that far in. Portable potties. This is a very shady area with many interesting views of coast line, hidden tide pools, and lovely small beaches. Last time I was there, I was with Mike Sakamoto, Gerald Murai, Jerome Sasaki, and a very large monk seal! Another time, a number of pigs (pua'a) came out to eat and mill around by the painters.
May 22nd-Verna's Drive in Kalapana- We'll meet on the road in front of the Kaimu drive in. From there we can wander off, there's a lovely new beach to check out. It's a short walk (10 min.) across the a'a and pahoehoe, to a sparkling brand-new jet-black sand beach. Last time we were there we found prints in the lava of coconut trees and lauhala. Very distinct and awesome. From the Pahoa-Kalapana Hwy., turn right at Kaimu. The sweet little road to Verna's is lined with graceful trees and cozy little homes tucked into deep gardens. Bathrooms at Verna's (and great food too). I think it's not called Verna's anymore.
May 29th-Coconut Island/Moku Ola- Located directly off of Banyan Drive, across from Liliuokalani Park. One can paint on Moku Ola, or from the parking lot (which has gentle ocean views across the bay to Hilo town, framed by colorful false Kamani trees). On the moku there's views across the bay, the island itself has wonderful subject matter, and ocean activity...
Moku Ola has recently been renovated and offers walking paths, shelters and picnic benches.

*Figure Drawing at EHCC~ 1st and 3rd Tuesday evening of each month. 6pm-9pm, $10.00 fee, uninstructed. At East Hawaii Cultural Center, on Kalakaua Street downtown Hilo. Bob Weiss-217-9791
*Figure Drawing at Laupahoehoe Studio~ Second and Forth Saturday mornings, 9am-1pm. $15.00 fee. uninstructed. Bring your own supplies, and a potluck dish for the alfresco lunch. Laupahoehoe @ the 26 mile marker, turn makai immediately. 2nd drive on your right, rainbow flags. Doug Ball-962-6572
*Kea'au Anatomy/Figure Class Instructed by Rose Barber~ Temporarily Cancelled. However, Rose is very interested in getting it going again! email her with any questions www.themusestudio.com
*Watercolor Class~ Vince Callegher is offering a watercolor class! Private Keaukaha beach home, All levels welcome. Call Vince Callagher, 557-1270, or email him at vince.callagher@gmail.com
The class will be Every Tuesday at 1:00pm- 3:30pm, address is 1953 Kalaniana'ole Ave. Located just before Richardson's Beach Park, it's a wonderful spot to explore watercolors with one of
the Big Island's finest artists. There is a supply list to start, call or email Vince to find out more.
*Reminder! July is intake for the Abstract Show at the Wailoa..
*Artsy Happenings! Subscribe to Eva's newsletter to keep up on sales at Hilo Art and Glass Supply, classes offered, and other Artsy Happenings about town. www.hiloart.com
*To be on the West Hawaii Plein Air Painters (monthly schedule) email list, send a request/message to art@the-architect.us (Richard Rochkovsky)
*To explore becoming a member of Plein Air Painters of Hawaii, log onto the website www.PleinAirPaintersofHawaii.com
*To explore Association of Hawaii Artists (AHA), check out www.associationhawaiiartists.com
**Pau.

Giant Waterfall Print

Here's a jpg of the reprint of my big painting for Kaiser Permanente in Honolulu. The folks at Pictures Plus photographed it in nine parts and then blew it up so it covers the enormous new lobby wall. Everyone seems pleased with it, although to be honest I would have much preferred a bit more attention given to cropping each panel so the design seems continuous across the whole rather than just looking like it was sliced up and moved apart. Picky picky....

An Imaginary Waterfall

Peggy, the art rep from Pictures Plus who filled the Keauhou Sheraton with giant prints of my artwork a few years back, asked me to do a very fast painting for the new lobby at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Honolulu. This was to be a "small" painting to be blown up into gigantic mural size to decorate a 24' tall wall at one end. Maybe this is the trend of the future to avoid the expense of an actual mural. I had to do this whole 4' x 8' waterfall painting with bamboo, similar to one I did at the Kaanapali Shores a while back. Here's the old painting with me in front of it, and the new one in my studio.