Tuesday, September 29, 2009

WHITE BUTTERFLY ORCHID


WHITE BUTTERFLY ORCHID
Originally uploaded by thetaartist

I love orchids- and usually have several growing around the house. These were in my kitchen window a few years ago when I took several photographs and then put this little painting together. The other leaves are the philadendron plant that was competing for sunlight with the orchid.
Watercolor on Arches 140lb cold pressed rag

Monday, September 28, 2009

HALAU SISTERS


HALAU SISTERS
Originally uploaded by thetaartist

From a local Aloha Festival in Southern California a few years ago. I went to photograph the dancers and came away with some good material and new friends. These girls were getting ready to perform- just walking onto the state with their "halau" or school.
Watercolor on arches 140 lb cold pressed

Sunday, September 27, 2009

HUALALAI FROM KALOKO-HONOKOHAU


HUALALAI FROM KALOKO
Originally uploaded by thetaartist

"Ha'ina ka inoa o hualalai, Kuahiwi ku kilakila "
Hualalai is the volcano just behind Kailua-Kona town on Hawaii island. Her 8,271 foot summit may be dwarfed by her more famous neighbors, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa- both just shy of 14, 000 feet from the sea, but she is quite celebrated and beautiful.-

Hanohano Hualalai e ku mai la
Distinguished Hualalai standing

E ho’ohiwahiwa ana a’i na Kona
Adorning the district of Kona

Hualali is frequently seen with a garland of clouds that ring around her like a lei. This is caused by the currents of air weaving around the 5 mountains of this island together with the heat and steam from the Kiluea eruptions to the south east.

The painting is watercolor on Arches cold pressed rag- the bay is Kaloko-Honokohau just north of Kailua Kona

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Mahaiula Cove



Maha'i Ula Cove
Originally uploaded by thetaartist


On Hawaii island, north of Kailua-Kona, there's a park called Kekaha Kai. You drive down through the dusty barren lava fields to the shore and then walk over another lava path and you come to Mahai'ula Cove. It's beautiful, uncrowded, white sand against black lava and crystal clear water- perfect for a day of snorkeling and just enjoying the beauty. This watercolor is from my April 2009 visit.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

LOVE WHITE PLUMERIAS


LOVE WHITE PLUMERIAS
Originally uploaded by thetaartist

I really love white plumerias! Fresh scent, beautiful, soft as velvet and made for adorning!

Watercolor on 10x14 Lanaquarelle- Original available for $95.00 US plus shipping, prints available for $22.00 US plus shipping- payments accepted via Paypal- please email with any questions

Reviews:
"Really a pretty one. I like this one a lot! "

TAHITIAN PEARL


TAHITIAN PEARL
Originally uploaded by thetaartist

The pearl is tahitian and so is the face. The smile is pure joy. I am intrigued by polynesian faces, the bold defined lines and the big bright smiles.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Vanessa's Rose


Vanessa's Rose
Originally uploaded by thetaartist

A visit with a local friend resulted in this painting. Her roses were too lovely to ignore. It was early evening and the late slanted sunlight hit the back of this blossom and made it glow.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

PUUHONUA SUNDAY AFTERNOON


PUUHONUA SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Originally uploaded by thetaartist

South of the Place of Refuge on Hawaii Island, if you take the left past the parking lot , you come to the beach park. Most visitors don't know it's there, but the locals certainly do. Mostly expanses of smooth black lava called pahoehoe, it is also dotted with spots of white sand. This local family was enjoying a serene Sunday afternoon there- and so was I and my friend Jean.

Monday, September 21, 2009

TIARE DANCER



TIARE DANCER
Originally uploaded by thetaartist


Tiare flowers are the national flower of Tahiti. They are in the same family with gardenias and have a heavenly scent. This young dancer wears leis of white tiare and pink plumeria as she watches fellow performers at a hula event before it is her turn to dance.
watercolor on arches

Saturday, September 19, 2009

FRESH MANGOS


FRESH MANGO
Originally uploaded by thetaartist

I love Mangos- fresh from the tree. They grow everywhere in Hawaii, and if you can get to the good ones before the Mynah birds do, you have a real treat!

Reviews:

"Beautiful^^ love the colors "

GECKO'S HIDE AND SEEK


Gecko Hide & Seek
Originally uploaded by thetaartist

I love the green geckos in Hawaii, and I do love anthurium flowers- which on the island of Hawaii especially, grow profusely. These two little fellows really seem like they are in the spirit of play in their flower pot world.
Watercolor on Arches cold pressed

Thursday, September 17, 2009

KUA BAY- Hawaii Island


Kua Bay
Originally uploaded by thetaartist

On the north west coast of Hawaii island, below the huge lava fields at the shore are little pockets of wonderful white sand beaches. One of these is Kua Bay, or Manini'Owali in Hawaiian. The road there is paved now and it's a bit more crowded than it used to be, attracting guests at the world famous Kohala Coast resorts. It's a beautiful cove with soft white sand and black lava rocks, sparkling clear blue water that can be high with surf or flat as glass depending on what the deep blue Pacific is kicking up. On clear days, you see all the way to Maui across the channel and lots of kids out boogie boarding and playing. Wonderful!
Oil on cotton stretched canvas

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

THE OLD ROAD TO SOUTH POINT



THE OLD ROAD TO SOUTH POINT
Originally uploaded by thetaartist


On the big island of Hawaii, there is a magical place at the most southern tip of the island. Aptly called South Point, it is the most southern piece of land in the United States. Hawaiian tradition says it is also where the first Polynesian voyagers landed in the islands over 1,000 years ago.
Before the road was paved, the road to South Point was a bumpy muddy track with a charm all it's own. My first trip there was about 10 years ago, with my friends Kawika and Jean. Kawika was driving this outrageous Lincoln Towncare- the color was mauve, and he drove like a maniac. At one point he said to me- "look over there at the rainbows" and as I was extracting my fingernails from the car upholstery which somehow got there when I didn't notice (something to do with Kawika's driving) I looked over in that direction and counted at least 3 rainbows.

The road is paved most of the way down now and the drive isn't nearly as exciting, but it is still full of magic and you must visit in late afternoon when the sun and afternoon clouds send light dancing across the ocean and you feel like you can see all the way to Tahiti another thousand miles away!

The photo is titled: South Point Light Dance ©2002

Reviews for painting:

"A very nice watercolor."

LE MORNING CHAT


LE MORNING CHAT
Originally uploaded by thetaartist

I like the play on words in this title. Chat means cat in french and it also looks like these two are having a "chat" (in English). I found these two on the side of a restaurant I was eating at- the lizard was a darker brown color, but I do love green geckos so decided to make him one of those.
Watercolor on Lanaquarelle rough pressed

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Sunday, September 13, 2009

BIG YELLOW HIBISCUS


BIG YELLOW HIBISCUS
Originally uploaded by thetaartist

I was walking around the local farmer's market one weekend and noticed these big yellow blossoms everywhere- I love Hibiscus flowers and these fellows were huge. Must have taken a couple of dozen pictures or so.
Watercolor on Lanaquarelle rough

Reviews:

"Well painted - not an easy subject - love the yellow hibiscus."

PALE PINK HIBISCUS


PALE PINK HIBISCUS
Originally uploaded by thetaartist

I find tropical flowers in all sort of places- I guess cause I'm looking for them. These were behind the parking lot of a local restaurant in Southern California- beautiful!

Saturday, September 12, 2009

SARA'S ROSES


SARA'S ROSES
Originally uploaded by thetaartist

A little still life warm up piece I did today.

MONSTERA MORNING

A quiet repose, soaking in the morning rays by the Monstera in the garden. Nothing better than that to start your day.
Watercolor on Lanaquarelle

Reviews:
"Your paintings are wonderful; so much Heart in this one - love it! "

WELL, HELLO YELLOW!


HELLO YELLO!
Originally uploaded by thetaartist

On my visit to Hawaii island in 2007, I stopped by St. Benedict's mission church which has lovely gardens. This blossom was hanging out by the driveway and I loved the contrast of the palm leaf behind the big yellow hibiscus- I just had to paint it.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Drawings


Most of these drawings are sketches done in preparation for paintings. I like to keep them to refer back to for later paintings- and besides some of them are quite nice on their own!
Click on the image for the best view

COCONUT CUP


COCONUT CUP
Originally uploaded by thetaartist

I am completely enchanted by the visual aesthetics of Polynesian Culture- It's bold, bright, colorful and fresh while having very clear traditions. I often attend local events in Hawaii and Polynesian cultural events on the US Mainland just to photograph and see the beauty. Here's a girl who was attending a local hula event in California, and I added the background of the coconut palm leaves to set the location.

ADMIRATION


ADMIRATION
Originally uploaded by thetaartist

My love of plumerias is apparently well shared. This lovely lady was completely entranced and I wanted to capture that moment and I do believe I did.

KEALAKEKUA CANOES


KEALAKEKUA CANOES
Originally uploaded by thetaartist

Here's an oil painting I did a few years ago.
On my visit to Hawaii island back in 2002, these traditional Koa wood Hawaiian canoes were resting on the beach at Keakakekua Bay and I quickly photographed them. A few months later when I did the painting and listed it for sale, it took exactly 3 days for it to sell! Wow! The canoes have never been seen in this spot again according to my frriend who lives there, so I was very happy to have seen them that day.
Prints available upon request.

KEALAKEKUA PLUMERIAS


KEALAKEKUA PLUMERIAS
Originally uploaded by thetaartist

There's a magical place on Hawaii island called Kealakekua Bay. Original home of Hawaiian Kings and Kahunas (priests), It is also the place where the famed British explorer Captain Cook landed and Hawaiian culture first met Western civilization. In 2005, my dear dear friend Jean who lives near there took me to a special concert for my birthday at a local house overlooking the bay. The property was ringed with white plumerias, and this painting is of some of those blossoms.

THE FRIENDLY GECKO


THE FRIENDLY GECKO
Originally uploaded by thetaartist

One of my most well known and purchased prints, this little gecko was someone I met back in 2002 at the Coffee Shack restaurant in Captain Cook Hawaii, in Kona Coffee country. He just kept posing and posing for his picture- even took a stroll up my husband's arm!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

I love plumerias, or frangipanis as they are known in Tahiti and Southeast Asia. The frangrance is astounding and they are soft as velvet. Throughout tropical areas it is common to see them adorning neck and hair even on casual ocassions- they truly brighten any moment for me.- This is a watercolor of some plumerias after a light rain in Kona
Reviews: "Beautiful painting!"

HAKU LEI


HAKU LEI
Originally uploaded by thetaartist

Haku or head leis are are a daily tradition throughout Polynesia, this girl was attending a local wedding

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

My Book- available for purchase



Some more Watercolors
Some of my oil paintings
A Collage of some of my Watercolors

Michele's Paintings and Art Adventures



I am a fine artist and do watercolors and oils of the tropical locations I love. I paint mostly Hawaiian Art, Tropical Art and scenes from California.I am also a business consultant working in the field of small business recoveries and improvement. I am a rebel (always have been), a wife (over 30 years) a mom, (over 30 years) and a Scientologist (over 20 years) a friend (to many) and a lover of people and new places. I'm a military brat- dad was in the army. I was born in Thailand, raised in Asia, Hawaii & California. I grew up traveling in foreign lands and have loved to travel all my life. I especially adore Scotland, Hawaii, Polynesia and tropical Asia. I am extrememly interested in people and like to help. I do not abide people who make others less able or less of themselves and in general try to make the society worse off- to those people I am very alert and willing to expose. I work very hard, play with enthusiam, enjoy a beautiful beach, my family, swimming, snorkeling, hiking, cooking and hearing what someone else has to say (most of the time). I always enjoy a good coversation and new things learned.