Jack Sparrow is in Town

                                                     11x14 Acrylic on Mahogany Board

                                                         
                                                               Queen Anne's Revenge

The ship's wicked Aft Lantern is an omen of doom.

The film crew is off on Saturdays evidently.

I was a pirate for a while. It gets old fast. There is never enough
booty for everyone. I had issues with the Dental care aboard
the ship and Grog is not all it's cracked up to be.

I was a pretty hot pirate despite the obvious obstacles.

perfect day

July 31, 2010  no more a pirate am I, arrrgh

Kailua Beach Park

Kailua Beach Park

It was brimming with activity but I did not see it

 I had a  big empty hole in my tummy

and I am not talking about my belly button

It is always good to paint when you are happy if you want a happy painting.

If, however, you want a still , serene landscape void of feeling

then paint when you are practicing those thoughts.

The energy in your soul will flow down your arm into the paint brush.

Hard to paint a smiley face when you are pouting.

by the time we left the beach there were 16 kite boarders in that little area

it was like a huge ballet or cirque de soleil of bright kites and flying people

if you go to Kailua on the windward side of Oahu you will be thrilled with the water sport activity

Naish (store front Kailua) is the place to go for windsurfing and kite boarding instruction and equipment

Up a Tree in Makapuu

 UP A TREE  

There was a wedding right below this sandy area. It was a traditional Hawaii wedding
and the bride was stunningly beautiful and the groom was sure and handsome.
Red aloha shirts were worn by the groom's men and the bride held red flowers against
her pure white dress. The ocean was dancing with new morning sunlight, it was perfect.
I was in the tree watching two people make a life time commitment to one another.
I would say they were going out on a limb, but better than being up a tree. Even if you like
being up a tree, you need to "GET DOWN" once in a while.
                                         

GET DOWN IN MAKAPUU

                           

 11x14 still in the process

Soar with Eagles at Makapuu

Early morning at Makapu'u

Saturday Plein Air Class with Mark Brown

There is still homework to be finished on the piece above.

1. add warm to mountains in the background

2. add warm and light to rocks

3. make the rocks less perfectly shaped, vary them

4. dance more white on the lilac water spray

(and more)

Mark painted his Demo and primarily spoke about Energy.

Watching him makes the notion CLEAR.

He dances when he paints and stands at his easel as though he is taking off for a race.

He painted extremely fast with loose oil , ALLA PRIMA.

It is a site to see and leaves everyone watching dizzy and giggling.

 He concentrates on composition then value (light to dark),

but ENERGY is key.

FEEL WHAT YOU ARE PAINTING.

One key point to painting with energy is to be rested (or intoxicated , just joking)

Mark told me he was in bed by 9pm the night before. He was up with the birds

and on the beach with the new morning sun... usually 6am.

He mentioned that students that go OUT the night before do not understand

that you can't " Hoot with the owls if you want to soar with the eagles".

If he was not so terribly serious when he said that I would have smiled.

Best not to giggle at the teacher.

me at midnight ,

 tired out from working all day

I have no make up on and

a wrinkled silk dress.

I have no idea what I had in my mouth (hair clip probably)

Spent the late night before I painted with Mark

 eating AMAZING salmon in miso sauce at Indigo with my friends.

I think Mark knew I had Hooted with the Owls.

but

I painted Makapu'u

on a beautiful July morning

with the EAGLES.

It was a blast (hoot hoot)

Indigo in Downtown Honolulu

SHAKA

Andy is giving the dessert at Indigo it's well
deserved shaka.


what the heck is a shaka anyway??


I got a recent education on the subject.
I'll give the lowdown soon.

Haleiwa Art Festival 2010

T-Shirt and Poster Artist Pick for the

Haleiwa Art Festival

Patrice Federspiel

WOW WEE ZOW WEE

The Haleiwa Art Festival is a blast

Patrice was the 2010 Poster and Shirt Artist at the Festival this year.

I am lucky to call myself her Assistant and we had a great time for the two day event.

The booth stayed crazy busy all day as she signed all the posters and t-shirts on request.

The signature original, "Spirit of the Dance" is hanging to the left in the picture above.

The piece was sold to a gentleman and his wife from Kaneohe.

I am thrilled that it is staying in Oahu and will be in a room looking out over Kaneohe Bay.

Patrice was hugged and kissed and loved all day by those who have known her and watched her become an important artist on Oahu. 

Everything about the day was special. It started with the traditional bagpipe music and all day long all kinds of GREAT music was provided on stage under a tent. There was food along the side wall including crepes and Thai , but of course shave ice! The view in the Park at Haleiwa makes the location perfect for an art festival. The trade winds whipped around us to keep us cool and the mist came down for a light sprinkle to remind us to stay under the tent. It was a perfect day and a perfect mix of Artists.

bagpipes to START the festival

Oh and I almost forgot to mention that Patrice's boyfriend, Keanu was there.

OH MY GOSH, HOW COULD I FORGET THAT!

At the end of that perfect day these two fixed the best meal with steak on the grill,

a champagne toast to Patrice and yummy Choy Sum.

Thank you Keanu and Patrice for all the fun at Haleiwa!!

Haole Girl I Met

You are just gonna love this blogspot
Haole Girl In Hawaii.blogspot.com.
PLEASE TAKE A LOOK
this is a very SMART blog!

Coveted Shade

Acrylic on Mahogany Board 11x14

There is a little cluster of palms near 1B life saving station. On busy days it is coveted for it's shade.

There will be Moms and babies sprawled out with all their gear, and paddle boarders taking a much needed break from the elements. It is just a little patch of grass and 4 palms but always a perfect hiding place from the gloriously persistent sun.

THE STUDIO IN MAKIKI

   STUDIO IN MAKIKI

WHAT EVERY PAINTER SHOULD KNOW

1. you need a place to paint

2. you need to be able to make a mess

3. you need to be close to a teapot, friends and great views

4. you need a place to get wine and pasta within walking distance

5. you need a hot boyfriend as a muse

6. you need paint and canvas and rent money

(provided from selling art or from not so hot boyfriend cross town)

7. you must have a mentor or two that is willing to encourage and critique

8. you must never, never, never say never

9. you must have a vision of yourself as an artist, if you can't see it no one else can

DORM

THE DORM

Not really a dorm room but it feels like it.

It is the room I rent in Makiki.

I rent from the coolest chick in town

and the rest of the house is her studio.

It is small and just enough.

Everything right now is just enough.

just enough so I can paint

-----------------------

if you ever purchase a painting

what ever you pay will be just enough.

rent is due on July 23rd :)

 Yes that is an inflatable mattress

and the curtains and sheets and desk and bed

are borrowed.

life is sweet

FALLEN ANGEL OF HAWAII Plumeria losing her bloom

all over the road

all over the sidewalks

upside down and sideways

plumeria blossoms

acrylic on paper

by

Rebecca Snow

THREE TABLES/NORTH SHORE OAHU

acrylic on canvas by Rebecca Snow Cleghorn

I painted plein air at THREE TABLES with Mark and Joe. It was an awesomely beautiful day and the 4th of July weekend so the road to North Shore and all the beaches were FULL.

                                           peek at halfway point

 We had a primo spot. Mark was painting a door board and he took out a huge easel and a mallot and proceeded to drive stakes into the ground for the easel to hold the door board. It was a site and folks were
stopping to watch the show.
Joe and I were positioned with easels behind Mark so we could watch him go to town on that big painting.
Joe painted with oil and his version of Three Tables was worth sharing...BUT
I did the stupidest thing ever and did not take photos. So I have to go BACK to Three Tables to complete this painting that I was working on that day.

GARDEN TREASURES AT NANCY'S HOUSE

                                                                               Citronella

TREASURE
FROM
AN
 EWA GARDEN






In Hawaii there are plants galore. I am from Virginia and we are proud of our azaleas and tall pines but here in Oahu the flowering trees drop color on every landscape and the variety of palm is mind boggling.

I had the privilege to eat lunch at Nancy Brown's house on July 4th weekend. I requested a tour of the garden and once I had on the "slippers" close at hand (some one Else's flip flops) I was escorted through with commentary.

I was introduced to the Surinam Cherry and got to take a bite of the fruit and the jelly she made from it.
We toured the aisle with the lovely yellow flower tree that had thorns and delicate lacy flowers. She had
a Neem tree that she cuts leaves from and puts at her door to keep any flies away. The Neem is from India but is known in Asia for it's many medicinal qualities. In the side garden there was a little Citronella plant
with it's strong lemonish scent that I recognized from candles of the same name. In the front garden there were variations of Heladonias and orchids and Nancy popped a couple tiny orchids off just for me.

The picture is of my "TAKE" which I am grateful. Thank you Nancy for the personal tour of your little planted paradise. Oh and thank you for lunch!

Sand Bar at 1B Life Guard Station

Life Guard Station 1B near the Sand Bar

This life saving station is near my favorite spot on Ala Moana Beach.
This is where the Sand Bar forms through the coral so the surfers
can appear to "walk on water" to the breaks. I finally got to swim out
to it with my friend Andy who would not take NO for an answer.
About half way into the "over my head" swim we passed a man and
I expressed my concern about swimming so far out.
 I mentioned that he should just carry me out there on his shoulders.
He laughed and offered other advice. Andy's plan had been to allow me
to hold on to his foot and he'd drag me out. HMMMMMM.

I want to mention that the life guards are there in case of emergency,
but creating an emergency seemed a little unfair.

I suggest that you swim out to the Sand Bar, it is a beautiful feeling.
I also suggest that you meet nice people along the way and laugh
and be silly and take it all in. I also suggest that you meet nice Italian
men with flippers on but offering to RIDE them is probably 
not very lady like. Oh, and one more thing...learn how to swim
before getting over your head , the life guards really appreciate it.