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...

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.

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 -

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.

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!

"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.

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 -