Now living on the Big Island of Hawaii

A long break since writing last, during which we bought a home on the Big Island of Hawaii, sold our Seattle home, and moved our two kitties and a container of property to our new home. Almost have my studio set up to paint again and should be able to post local scenes soon. Found out that many products I need, like some base cabinets for the studio, are not easily available in Hawaii so it's been a challenge. Also, working with contractors to do some work on the house is a chore as it's a 50-50 chance you end up with someone who shows up on  time and does the work. Many so far have been great but many are also on "Hawaii time" meaning they'll get around to it when they do. For someone whose word is his bond, it's been interesting. Hoping that by about the 4th of July Holiday I'll be set up and productive at something besides house chores and moving boxes. LOL. 

Just applied for a Hawaii business license as an artist again effective August 1st so watch out Big Island, there's competition in the wings.       

More Hawaii works

I've done a few more palette knife Hawaii paintings from old images. These are 8x10, 6x8, and 5x7 in order from top to bottom. Can't wait to go there again and paint on site in the sun. The bottom one is another version in a different color scheme of the lone palm tree.

Winter Hawaii paintings

Since it's December, what better time to post a few new Hawaii paintings and dream of beaches and palm trees. I'm planning on moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 2015 so pulled out a few of my photos to work from. I was also the demo artist at a recent Evergreen Association of Fine Arts gallery reception, and of course, for the second time in a year, forgot my brushes. So, I had to resort to my palette knife which turned out to work great for bright beach scenes. I've often done palette knife paintings in the past so about time to refresh my technique. Here are the results after a few touchups back home. I've also included small palm tree work done with brushes, just for variety. You can really see the texture in the two palette knife works. 

The top two are 8x10, the palm tree is 5x7. 

New Plein Air Work

I have been busy painting and working for my art groups so haven't posted as regularly as I want. Here are some new summer works from  the last few outdoor painting sessions. These are all 8x10 as I am moving up in size for outdoor work after last years mainly 6x8 and 5x7 work.

 

Tolt River Plein Air

Here are two works, from the same location. The bigger one, 10x20, I did in my studio from images I'd taken last year at the Tolt River. The smaller work, 8x10, I painted on site Tuesday at the location. When I work on site, and the smaller I work, the looser and more pleasing my style is to me. I've also tossed in a small, 3x5 sketch of the Snoqualmie Railroad Days fair.

New Plein Air Work

Continuing my outdoor painting on Tuesdays with our Evergreen Association of Fine Arts group. 

This work is an 8x10 created at Marymoor Park, in Redmond, Washington and is 8x10. 

The next work is a 16x20 done from reference photos taken at Olallie State Park where the Green River meanders through. 

  

Latest Plein Air Paintings

We've had some decent weather for outdoor painting lately. A little fog last week at Edmonds though that surprised us as it was sunny all around except at the ferry terminal where the cold water caused the fog.

Here are a couple of paintings from my first visit to Olallie State Park. The Snoqualmie River flows through the park and the rocks in the water have iron ore or some other reason for an orange tint which works great against the background of green trees. I exaggerated the color of the water but didn't think you'd know unless you were there. LOL. I also painted a double waterfall a little further into the park. That one is 16x20 while the two painted on site are 8x10.