A Commissioned Painting

I've been working on this commissioned piece for some nice folks in Kona. They had seen my paintings in Mary Philpotts' book "Hawai'i: A Sense of Place"
and wanted something with a similar feeling. But after a number of sketches they settled on a composition that smacks more of 18th century European landscape painting than the orientalist/deco of the previous triptych. So I got to try my hand at these somewhat doll sized figures in a stylized Kona beach scene. The big tree is a milo, which is one of my favorite Hawaiian coastal plants. I'm using acrylics with metallic areas and a few textural passages. It's all quite a challenge for me!

Painting with Mark Brown

I spent the last week of April on O'ahu's windward side, courtesy of a dear family friend Barbara Bahnsen in Lanikai where I used to live three decades ago (yikes!) and where my grandfather lived even further back. Lanikai of course is that amazing little enclave of paradise perched just east of Kailua, where mega-mansions have been edging out the sweet little bungalows of yore.

Right away I was swept into the intense painting life of Mark Brown, the lovable big plein-air prince of the island, who tackles huge canvases on location while at the same time nurturing the skills of dozens of other artists. It is such a pleasure to join him on these daily adventures in O'ahu's most beautiful spots.

One afternoon on the windy white sands of Lanikai we were joined by Debby Young and Franco Salmoiraghi, good friends who happen to be royalty as well in the artistic world of the islands.

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.

Pareo Production at the Studio

When I first contemplated putting up this agricultural building for my studio I envisioned a spare, contemporary space devoid of clutter, something that could appear in Dwell Magazine. Well, five years later it has taken on the jammed, scattered and hurricane-struck look of a sloppy artist's workroom.

That said, here are shots of the studio with my friend/helper/apprentice Ben Ellis working on a stencil design. Tuko and I printed pareos, fabric wrap-arounds popular in Polynesia, in preparation for next week's Merrie Monarch festival, which we hope will bring customers into the gallery for souveniers. I used my paper stencil of a turtle.

Here is also a shot of a big new painting of the coastline at Opihikao which I am hoping will actually make it into Dwell Magazine. The painting is for my friends Mike Kurokawa and Paul Fishman, who recently built a house designed by Craig Steely, which is going to be photographed by the Dwell crew in a couple of weeks.

At Opihikao & the warm ponds....

After the massive winter rains we seized some afternoons to paint at our new favorite place, where a tidal pond shelters from crashing surf and the red road dips down in one of its famous beauty spots just south of Opihikao. We also joined the Friday Art Day group in the pavilion at the Warm Ponds, where Ken is working on a permanent decoration, and Mike was polishing up one of his watercolor paintings.

Roof of the World

I haven't been to the top of Mauna Kea recently, and it's been covered with snow this winter. So I jumped at the chance to have Craig and Tuko drive me up in his valiant little Honda, along with my house partner Bob and our friend John, both visiting from California.

After leaving Hilo we wound up the saddle road until it came close to a kipuka that I'd never seen before. We climbed a fence and entered a wondrous world of unspoiled native Hawaiian plants of every variety, and native birds clamoring overhead in their rare and fabulous voices. I wish it weren't so, but such a pure environment is very scarce these days, and I was very surprised to find it just yards from the road.

At the visitors' center high on the flanks of the mountain, we rested an hour and admired the intensely reflective and geometrically spectacular silversword plants.

Finally crawling slowly up to the top, we found ourselves in a World of Winter, with cindercones smoothly dusted and glazed with white snow. What an amazing contrast to the coastlines far below, where we romp daily on warm sand and frolic with dolphins in the bay.

Kalani Art Event

Puna gets hip, Thanks to Kalani.