Apple

Just an apple waiting to be eaten.

Kipahulu forest 2

Depicting a rainforest in black and white definitely has its challenges. Since I usually do things freehand, I sometimes don't plan ahead as well as I should. I really wish I had the power to move that large-leaved branch a bit to the left ... just ... a ... half-inch .... or so. But it gives you an idea of what the forest looks like; a collection of native ferns, shrubs, and sprawling trees. It's quite beautiful really.

Old Ironworks

Spent yesterday driving around town picking spots to draw. Came across this old ironworks building. It's a fixture near bayfront, having survived the tsunami of 1960. I originally did this as a pen and ink but got the idea to color it in last night. Whatcha think?

Relax mode

Visited my favorite art store this morning but not before getting the usual ... "grande, coffee of the day, black pleeease!" Sat at Kalakaua Park with Kanoe, sipping my liquid energy. Am feeling relaxed and so content. Wish all Saturday mornings are like this.

Starfruit study

I know a soon-to-be 4 year old that picks starfruit right off my tree and scarfs it down in no time. The evidence is the huge juice stain down the front of his shirt. To see absolute joy in eating, is to watch him eat one of these. This watercolor is larger than usual, about 6.5" x 8.5". I did it for a watercolor class last year. In an effort to force myself to set aside time to paint, I had to pay someone to make me! So, in response, I moved to a small artcard format so I could paint everyday! Suffice it to say, I'm much more relaxed these days.

Moonlight sparkle

Have you ever heard of someone that has never seen the sparkle of moonlight on freshly fallen snow? I haven't. This is my interpretation of that ... from a snow virgin. I actually imagine it to be much more special than this :)

The Mist

Kanoe ("kah-no-eh") means "the mist" in Hawaiian. Her gray and white fur puffs and blows about as she runs like the wind. I'm convinced she is part Bearded Collie. Her color suggests it. Her personality seals it.

The shadow

I discovered some really nice color combinations in this fast painting. I laugh every time I look at it because I made the tree shadow way too wide. It was fine at first, but just had to even out the edges ... more and more ... until this!

Pink on orange

It's the time of year when peach blossoms are out, April showers are in full swing, and there is a newness about the outdoors that call little buds to spring open. This is a good time of year.

Snoozin' Kanoe

A quick sketch to show how my dog "pretzelizes" as she sleeps. And yes, she's snoring!

Wishing Ipo

I've had the privilege of taking care of one of the coolest cats on earth. His name was Ipo, a feral cat from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park that my friend Tina patiently tamed and adopted. When Tina moved to the mainland (as we islanders call the other states), I took Ipo in and we became inseparable buddies. Ipo loved the outdoors as much as me and on days that it was raining, he and I would stare out the window, wishing to be outside. This is a study, taking a stab at creating mood using various colors and glazes.

Sculpture study 2

Monochromatic studies help me to see the play of form, space, and light. I find that I'm looking at things around me in a different way ... as elements that interact ... rather than solitary objects that stand alone. I like to think that is true of the human condition as well.

If donkeys could talk

A donkey stopped to say hello as a friend and I hiked along a deserted road on the Greek island of Serifos. If only donkeys could talk ... the stories she could tell!

Hydrangea hellos

Hydrangeas are happy plants that bob in the wind as if to say hello.

Day of sorrow

Wishing the family and friends of those who lost their lives at Virginia Tech yesterday, hope in the midst of sorrow and comfort in the midst of pain.

Sick day

Slept all day ... watched too many B-rated television movies ... had some chicken soup. The bright spot in the day was when I felt well enough to paint a little ... like chicken soup for the soul.

Mokuola "Coconut Island"

Ah, I have childhood memories of grabbing my favorite fishing pole, tackle box, bucket, and my little brother and catching the Hele-on bus to fish in the waters around Coconut Island. During my last visit, we watched an eagle ray swim under the bridge.

Sculpture study

Two postings in one day! This is a painting I just finished ... it's still a little wet. I've always been fascinated by the play of lights and darks and figured painting sculptures is the best way to see their relationships. It's actually easier than painting real life so I sorta cheated.

Perfection

The peach tree out back is in full bloom, with only a hint of new leaves. Blue sky ... ephemeral blossoms ... pink petals fluttering about in the wind ... "They are all perfect!"

Kipahulu waterfall

Me and my trusty micropen ....... Waking up at 4:30 am to catch a plane means I'm not coherent enough for profound thoughts. Coffee? Where's the coffee?

The forest for the trees

Drawing and painting involves the development of the overall image and how one's eye travels through the picture. I think I should have added a tree to the right to stop the eye from shooting right off the page. I subconsciously added that background tree on the far right to serve that purpose but not sure if it did it justice. I'm learning to see the forest for the trees. Another lesson learned!

Ultimate cuteness

The cutest thing in the world has got to be a sleeping kitten.

Mountains and lake

I learned an important lessons while completing this quick painting of the Rockies. Creating art affords one a lot of power. You can easily create another mountain peak here, expand a lake there, make it a sunny day or an overcast one. You can even create plants and animals that don't exist in nature! I think that's pretty fantastic.

Kanoe 2

Sometimes it's nice to break out and draw something silly.

Uluhe fern

Uluhe is a mat fern found all over my lot in Volcano. For a biologist, it can be a curse. Can you imagine hiking through this stuff? For an artist, it is gorgeous. I figured pen and ink was the best medium to illustrate their simple beauty.

Rainbow Falls

Rainbow Falls is our local attraction and on a sunny day, a rainbow can be seen emerging from its depths. Legends say Hina, the mother of the demigod Maui, lives in the cave behind the waterfall. I tried out my new Prismacolor pencils with this first drawing. I love the soft lead ... but I gotta admit, I got a little carried away and muddied the drawing. Oh well, it's all a learning process.

Mom's wheelbarrow

I'm back from the field and decided to post a painting I did earlier. I'm still covered in dirt and am a bit stinky but wanted to share this before I get cleaned up. This painting is of my Mom's old wheelbarrow that's sitting out in the back yard. It's a rusty old thing but I love it because it reminds me of my mom and her gardening fiascoes.

Kipahulu forest scene

As a biologist, I've had the privilege of spending lots of time in Hawaiian rainforests and they take my breath away each and every time. The plants in the picture are all native to Hawaii. I drew this from a photo taken at Kipahulu Valley on Maui, using a micropen that I found at my local art store. I love my pen and carry it around with me all the time.

End of the day

This is my first sunset painting. I find that painting gives me the opportunity to really see things and take pleasure in nature's daily surprises. Gotta love it!

Kanoe

My dog Kanoe is a funny sort of dog. When she's awake, she's high energy and can jump four stairs in a single bound. But when she's done playing, she literally crashes. She snores ... very loudly. When she's not snoring, I can't tell if she's sleeping or watching me through her long hair. That reminds me ... she needs a hair cut.

Big Sky Country

My younger bro lived in Montana for many years. If you ever drive through Montana ... you'll soon realize they don't call it Big Sky Country for nothing. This is my interpretation of the mountains there.

Calypso

This is Calypso, my friend's African Grey Parrot. This is what he looks like when he wants a better look at you.

Ti plant

This ti plant grows around my home ... it's a sign of good luck and fortune. With the number of trees around my house, I have LOTS of luck.