Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Much Ado...


Much ado about nothing as Shakespeare put it so eloquently.  Really - so much fuss over a cup.  Franky I think it's one of the best designs they've had in years.  Primarily because of it's simplicity!  Really - who looks at that cup and Doesn't think Christmas??  Their other designs look to me like a bad collection at a really sad garage sale or corner thrift store- just way too complicated.  Painful to look at all together really.

'Nough said...

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Marketing Link...


I'd like to direct your attention to a really interesting guy, Sean McCabe.  He was homeschooled and has always had his own businesses - before he even graduated high school.  He has a Lot of information on marketing and ideas surrounding the life of creatives and offers classes on making a living doing hand lettering.

He also has a wonderful "Community" chat room that he runs with his wife, brother and a handful of other top professionals.  I've been a member for a couple of months and have met some terrifically interesting and professional people from all over the world.

His website is here at Seanwes

He also hosts Seanwes Podcast and Seanwes TV - both through iTunes.

If you're interested in a Lot of marketing information and a fresh approach I encourage you to have a look.  One of his motto's is "Full price or free" - so he does sell classes in lettering and marketing, but he also has a Ton of very useful information for free as well.


Saturday, November 21, 2015

Working out a new one - almost Pau (finished)


I've almost finished a new one.  Love the Reds!  Added a transparent oxide red to my limited palette - makes for much richer darks with the phthalo blue...

Try it - Permanent Red, Cad Yellow Light, Phthalo Blue, Transparent Oxide Red and a white of your choice.  It really helps to premix secondaries and the key colors of your subject.  I also mix a yellow ochre, cad yellow deep, browns and a "black" etc...

For this painting I did add a cadmium scarlet - when it's posted in a few days you'll see why -

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Three Kula Pumpkins


This painting was started on location at the Kula Country Farms pumpkin patch and finished in studio.  I was competing for these pumpkins with several hundred elated elementary kids - eventually they won!  Fun!


Monday, November 9, 2015

Process and Work


Though I have been admittedly negligent in my blog postings I have been working really hard!  I've been painting and drawing and designing for some new projects that will be announced in the future.

One thing I have been doing is posting Process Pics regularly to Instagram.  I've included a few in this post, but I highly recommend checking it out.  My Instagram user name is "Elizapainter" - (my middle name being Elizabeth.)   This is not about finished paintings, but about tools and sketches and studies and ideas and  - well, chronicling process... On an almost daily basis.

I've also been working out how to post from my iPad - I'm not at my computer too often but need to stay connected - obviously. Think I got it - by George.   Well - will see...

Been writing a lot too and some of those rumination a will be showing up in the future.

Thank you for reading.



Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Upcountry Coffee Beans


Not only is coffee a wonderful substance, but the beans are beautiful!

Friday, August 21, 2015

Sugar Mill Nocturne


Painted this one night a couple of weeks ago.  My painting compadre, Linda, and I were amazed at what a busy place the mill is at night.

The more I paint the less interested I am in representation for it's own sake.  Using reality as a start point for explorations in design and color are becoming Much more interesting to me.

The painting Knife is also holding much more charm.  Odd as it sounds, brushes have become awkward to me in the last couple of weeks.  Paint in brushes feels like too much gum in my mouth, congestion and claustrophobia - weird eh?   Knives seem much simpler and more direct - a challenge to use in their own right, but feels much cleaner...

Please stay tuned for new works -

And as Always - thanks for taking the time to look at my work and read my blog!

Friday, July 31, 2015

Back to School... New Palette



Time has flown by this summer and I realize it's been some time since I posted last.  My pineapples and I have had some much needed and wonderful time swimming, hiking and exploring Maui.

School started this week and so I'm getting back to it with a wonderful new glass studio palette.  It's bigger than the old one and is made of non-glare glass which I'm Loving.  It also doesn't have that slightly greenish tint that I found quite annoying.

Even though my brushes haven't gotten as much exercise as we have this summer, I've been plotting and planning and prepping panels - so stay tuned...

Sunday, May 31, 2015

Hui No'eau Trees



Began this painting some time ago, but the trees didn't move and so I finished it last week.  It's 8 x 10, oil, completed in two plein air visits to the Hui with a little studio tweaking.

We've had some sick pineapples (aka kids) here over the last two weeks and so painting has slowed to a crawl.  Momentum is gaining again however as all are well.

Monday, May 11, 2015

View from Maui Country Club



The Maui Plein Air painting group was invited back to the golf course a couple of weeks ago and this is the result.  Great morning with wonderful people - amazing artists - as usual!  Had a wonderful lunch there with my friend Pat who doesn't have a web site - yet.  Her piece is gorgeous and she had a frame with her to leave the piece there - very beautiful!

I also had the great pleasure of having coffee and conversation with Jeanne Young before our paint out.  She's a really wonderful painter with unstoppable energy and enthusiasm.  Best cup o joe I've had in a while...  check out her work -

Monday, May 4, 2015

Haleakala Road



It was just a gorgeous morning and I had to get out to paint.  I met some of the nicest people coming down Haleakala Mountain on bikes.  This is 6 x 8, oil on Raymar panel; done with a limited palette - my current all around favorite - phthalo blue, cad yellow light and permanent rose.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

A Studio Practice



Getting more mobile here - posting this from my iPad. 

In preparing new illustration boards for the next in the metal point Banyan series I spend a couple of days shaking up the bottle of Golden's Silver Point Ground.  Six or seven times a day I give it a really hard shake and then stand it on its head in a cup - thus the illustrated sketch above.  After several days of this, all of the pigment is suspended and I can go ahead and begin coating my board.  The whole process of preparation takes a week or so - including at least 4 coats of ground.  

The above sketch was painted in a "Terraskin" sketchbook.  It's actually made of stones.  Great stuff - it will take silver point, watercolor (though watercolor will lift easily again), pencils of course, acrylic and oil paints without any preliminary gesso.  Very cool stuff!

Monday, April 20, 2015

"Looking Mauka"


Looking Mauka

As usual I painted this in two sessions on location.  It's a quiet spot at the bottom of Holomua Road about 10 yards from where "Holomua Tree Tunnel" was painted looking the other direction.  It's 10 x 10 inches, oil on canvas on panel.  Have been making my panels myself lately too.

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Critique of "Art Maui 2015" by juror David Ulrich


The artists for Art Maui 2015 being introduced at the opening reception.

Juror David Ulrich gave a most wonderful video critique and description of his selection process for this years exhibition.  I learned a Great deal from his 10 minute talk with the videographer, much food for thought.  I'm very grateful for this presentation Mr. Ulrich - Thank you -




Monday, April 13, 2015

Tangential


From the Lyon Arboretum on Oahu.  Oil on Panel, 11 x 14, framed in Koa.  Find it on my website - the color is truer to life there.  Not sure why

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Thompson Road


Decided a watercolor sketch would be fun this morning.  All the way at the end of Thompson Road, Kula, Maui.  Haven't done a watercolor in some time - this is in a Moleskine sketch book.  Beautiful day!!!

Monday, April 6, 2015

Now a Member - Plein Air Painters of Maui



First Jacaranda

 - painted on the lower Kula Road just past Omaopio Road.  What a gorgeous tree - and day!  It's 6 x 6 inches - oil on Panel.  

Very Happy to now be a member of the Plein Air Painters of Hawaii!

If you're interested in this painting please see it on my website -  Thanks!  :)

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Silver Banyan III



The Third image in "Silver Banyan" Series.

The opening at the Schaefer International Gallery at the MACC this afternoon was just spectacular!  What a Beautiful show!!  An incredible variety of pieces from exquisite carved wooden bowls, paintings, sewn feathers, collage pieces, jewelry, photographs, an amazing octopus sculpture 4 feet high, glazed tissue paper paintings etc... every one a gem!  If you have a chance - Go see it!  The gallery is open daily from 10 - 5 and the exhibit is up until the end of April.

There was a lovely ceremony at the beginning of the exhibit with incredible singing in Hawaiian and a blessing.  We were all introduced and given leis.

My piece is 11 x 14 metal point done in gold, platinum, silver and copper.

...and I'm already on to the next one  :)


Sunday, March 29, 2015

Art Maui




I'm elated and honored to have been juried into Art Maui by juror David Ulrich!  I'm thrilled and humbled to be included with all of the other totally outstanding artists represented!  Thank you Mr. Ulrich!

My piece is a Banyan drawing done in Platinum, Silver, Gold and Copper metals on specially prepared illustration board.  Above is just a small section.  I'll post the whole drawing the weekend of the opening.

If you're on Maui please join us for the reception from 2 - 4:30 on April 4th at the Schaefer International Gallery of the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.  The exhibition will be hanging until May 2nd and the gallery is open daily from 10 - 5.

Monday, March 23, 2015

Pi'iholo Field


A beautiful hot hazy evening on Pi'iholo Road. So very welcome after all the rain we've had.   Met some wonderful people passing by as I was painting.  Fun!...

6 x 8, oil on Raymar panel.  Plein air and alla prima.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Limited Palette Explorations


During spring break with my Pineapples (aka kids) I've used some of my more limited time to explore some of the color relationships of my limited palette.  Here I'm looking at some of the differences in mixtures between Phthalo Blue and Ultramarine Blue and thinking about the light in the landscape here on Maui.

I Love Love working with a limited palette.  Each location,  time of day and what kind of poetry you're creating can help determine which limited palette to choose.  

So the next time I'm out to start a fresh painting my intention will be to use Phthalo Blue, Cad Yellow Pale and either - not both - Cad red light or Quinacridone Magenta - depending on my mood and the light -

Would Love to hear about your favorite limited palette -

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Ho'okipa in the Rain




Busy brushes gather no moss...  Ho'okipa in the rain a couple of weeks ago.  Two of us Maui Plein Air painters met under the pavilions at Ho'okipa.  It was cold and windy, but so beautiful!  It was incredible that the water was still so colorful and luminous on such a gray day.

I met two of the most wonderful women - A lovely lady from Germany who recommended some books to me and another amazing woman who trains puppies to be service dogs.  We have a plan to get Hannah involved with the program for a future service dog.  There are no accidents...

Oh - this is 10 x 10, plain air and alla prima, oil on canvas on panel.

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Holomua Tree Tunnel


"Holomua Tree Tunnel" - My entry at the Hui No'eau 10 x 10 Exhibit. It received "Honorable Mention" by juror Gabrielle Anderman whose expressionist, poignant and beautiful work is so very different from my own! Thank you Gabrielle!!!

It's such a thrill - inexpressible really  - to be included with all of the other artists - The works were Really outstanding - Gorgeous!  I'm surprised and humbled to have honorable mention attached to my painting -

This is plein air  - painted in two mornings at the bottom of Holomua Road.  Ho'okipa is just around the corner to the right.

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Plein Air Evening


There were a whole row of us lined up across the lawn of a beautiful home on Baldwin Ave.  It was so much fun to meet so many artists, chat, compare equipment etc.  - And what a gorgeous evening!  We had to paint sooo fast - the scene was different about every 30 seconds - but - wow - fun fun fun!

Does Not get any better than that - somebody pinch me...   :)

Sunday, March 8, 2015

View From Olinda


I did this a couple of weeks ago as part of a workshop experience.  It was a partly cloudy, very "voggy" day - great for an atmospheric view.

It's been really cold and rainy here for - well - it seems like weeks!  Brrrrrrr......  I've collected about half of the materials I need to make a stand to do some indoor still lifes.  The incandescent  lights will be warm!  So I hope to get that together to work out of the weather this week and perhaps do some copying.

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Hui Steps


Painted on the grounds of the Hui No'eau in Makawao.  While this is plein air, it is not "alla prima".  I often go back two or three times to finish a plein air painting.  It certainly doesn't always work out, but it's so much better for me to work from life than to try and figure it out from photos.  And it doesn't get any better than painting outside on Maui!

I do sometimes work from photos, but working from Life is the very best!

Another thing to consider:  I was reading recently that sitting for long periods of time can be just as deleterious to ones health as smoking.  Even if you get up and move around periodically your incidence of cancer and heart issues goes up.  All the more reason to haul the paint equipment into the field and stand to paint.

6 x 8, oil on panel. - Thanks for looking!

Monday, March 2, 2015

Lahaina Canoes - Oil Value Sketch


Value study of a blustery partly sunny day on the beach in Lahaina.  8 x 6 inches.

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Beach Umbrella


Just have not been able to make myself sit at the computer lately to post or anything else.  Been very busy painting and drawing.  I've discarded way more paintings than I've kept - but learning a Lot!

Had the pleasure of meeting some wonderful painters at the Maui Plein Air Invitational in Lahaina last week and was able to participate in a workshop by Brian Stewart - Wonderful experience!

Stay tuned...

Thursday, January 8, 2015

In the Studio...On the Easel


I've been working on some signage for the Cup of Cold Water (Not my original art - I'm just making a new sign).  Also got out my "Sand Box" and sanded down a whole bunch of old panels to be re-gessoed.  (My husband rescued a few...  ) 

Have also been working on my business plan for the year and working on a couple of new paintings and a bunch of new ideas...   Stay tuned!   :0)