October 28 - Ocean Surf on the Big Island

"Ocean Surf" Just a 5 x 7 of the memories of the surf on the black volcanic rocks of the shoreline all over these islands. I put in a green sea turtle just to the right of the surf, because IT WAS THERE! Yes, it is the one I painted on location yesterday, but today I spent the morning zipping across rain forest canopies and swimming in rivers beneath the azure skies of Kauai, so painting was not the foremost thing in my mind. However, had it been, I would have been out of luck, since I left my paint boxes in the stateroom! Tomorrow I'll get some good material, and perhaps even get a painting or two done before we sail at 2 pm. I'm not one for shopping (I did buy a Kauai Backcountry tee today) so stores hold little appeal when the island flora and fauna are so unique and beautiful. I have to hold off on putting these up for sale, as there is so much to do until I'm back in California. Thanks for being there to enjoy my trip here!

October 27 - Trail Buddles

"Trail Friends" Here is the finished version of the 10 x 20 lesson painting I started earlier in the voyage. As you can see from the changes that are reflected in this finished version, it has come to be more yellow and more green than the earlier underlayers. But the blue greens and blues still peek through in essential places! Finished for $400 from the Daily Paintings site for this date.

October 26 - My Acrylic Plein Air Setup

I've been asked to share with you my acrylic setup for on=locaiton painting, and so here it is, on the lovely Kona coast of Hawaii. The bag is a backpack with two side pockets. I carry a sturdy photo tripod, and have the Open Box M (mid size) on it. The palette area is a piece of foam core covered with freezer paper, which I cut and store in the bottom of the suitcase until I need to change one. It is folded under and held in place with one piece of postal mailing tape. I have my brushes (hanging on the right side of the palette) in a nylon stuff sack with a draw-string closure. They go in one of the side pockets. The "water containter" is a found plastic cup. I never seem to want for a container, but I do carry a small bottle of water in a plastic soda pup bottle in one of the side pockets.



A closeup of the gear after the painting is done--each acrylic is stored in a separate container of a seven-day pill box, and the two pill boxes are held in place and together with Velcro. To keep the paints moist, I have put a square of adhesive felt inside each lid. I've been working out of these same boxes for over a week now, and the paints are still fine and moist. When I'm not painting, I spritz them a bit with water, close the lids and put the two pill boxes inside a plastic bag. My spray bottle is hooked ont he right side of the palette. Paper towels are held in my left hand when I paint. That's all there is to it! Oh, yeah, good to be in a great place to paint, like Hawaii!

October 26 - Maui View

I was painting on location this morning on the deck of the cruise ship, and did this 5 x 7 of the azure waters off of Maui. It is an acrylic, since I didn't bring my oils, and it was fun to pick the colors to make this truly a tropical water and sky. I had to break a couple rules--using thalo blue instead of and in addition to the ultramarine of the sky and water. The contrast of those colors and how they conflict and compliment one another is what makes this simple composition work. Your eye keeps going between the two colors, one a warm blue (thalo) and the other the cool blue (ultramarine. Can you tell where I used each one? $100 from the Daily Paintings site for this date.

October 25 - Magma and the Sea

Last night's voyage around to where Kilauea volcano has been pouring hot magma into the sea was spectacular to see, but impossible to photograph. Our ship came right by the glowing excitement, with steam and erratic currents, but we couldn't photograph it, not with our digital camera anyway.  So I looked and looked, and then looked some more, and painted this 9 x 12 canvas this afternoon from the visual memory of the heat, color and steam.  It is an acrylic, for sale for $200 from my Daily Paintings for October web page.
I've found the perfect light for painting in the card room upstairs and further toward the stern of the ship (aft) from our cabin. Card players ignore me, which is a good thing.

We're on the island of Maui today and tomorrow. Today we took a drive up to Haleakala National Park, and looked into the crater at 10,000 feet elevation. Over 37 switchbacks to climb from sea level to this height was a dizzying drive! And the air so thin and pure--it was almost impossible to look at anyone wearing white clothes--the light was that intense! I took a few pictures, and may paint something from there as well. However, tomorrow I get back on a horse again on the flanks of Haleakala to ride the rangeland there. 

October 24 - Volcano House Still Life

Quite a full day today for us. The ship came into Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii this morning, and we disembarked for our day's plan. Rent a car for all six of us and go up to the Volcanos National Park to see Kilauea. Our second goal was to visit the Volcano House, which is a small hotel built right on the edge of the caldera. Our parents spent their honeymoon night there after being married in Hilo, and the Volcano House hasn't much changed since it was created in 1941. Less than a year old, it was the beginning of a legacy that we are celebrating on this trip.
  On the table near the volcanic stone fireplace sat this vase of lovely living Hawaiian flowers, accented by the red antherium, one of my Mother's favorites. This acrylic is 10 x 8 and painted on the handmade paper that's been affixed to the canvas board. Lots of texture!
  As I type this, our ship is coming up on the area where the lava and magma from the eruption enters the sea. It's dark, and the red glow and steam are quite spectacular! I'll mail this after we pass--might get a picture of it, and if it is any way decent, I'll post it on the page for the journal.

October 23 - Lesson Painting, Second Pass

Day Two of Three on the Lesson Painting for you. Compare the vegetation from this painting to the one from yesterday, and you'll see how much work actually goes into the layering of glazes on a painting like this. Each area requires at least three or four layers to create the very interesting textures and nuances of color created by the glazes. I haven't touched the horses and riders yet, because if I create beauty in the surrounding vegetation, the riders and horses will be the solo singers in a wonderful band. Otherwise they'll be singing all by themselves! Every singer needs backup!
The ship is rocking and rolling as we head out from Honolulu and off to the Big Island. I thought the ship was large, but when we get on this open ocean, it moves and vibrates as the wind and water affect it. Our first stop will be at Hilo, where my parents were married in 1942. I hope to paint the volcano!

October 22 - Lesson Painting Time!

Lesson Painting, First Pass - It's the night before we leave for the cruise, and I'm remembering that wonderful time on horseback, so for you I've started a 10 x 20 inch canvas of two riders in the rain forest. This is an acrylic, and I'm using the layering technique because I couldn't/didn't pack all the nifty things one can add to acrylics, such as the textured mediums and the crafty items. I do have a sheet of handmade paper with me--better use that in at least one painting before I get back! Here you see it with the canvas colored with the cartoon shapes, before the actual layering of glazes and unifying colors come onto it. I took a picture of it in the only decent light, and it is missing most of the reddish tones. I'll take a better picture of it tomorrow before I finish it. Kinda looks like a Disney cartoon at this point!
 Today was relax and enjoy a drive in Hawaii day. Nothing special about it, but a pleasure to return to the Kualoa Ranch for a few moments to thank the people who were so kind and good to me there. One of the horse-gals has relatives near where we live, and I invited her to visit when she next comes to the Mainland. Horse people (mostly) and Hawai'i residents are so wonderful!