Honokohau Harbor Plein Air

Reworked last Friday's outdoor work as need more contrast and cooler colors versus the orange light I had done it in. Liking the new version better.

Wax Honokohau Sunset

This one started out in oils but the board I was painting on was too absorbent so I went over it in encaustic or wax with a hot stylus to pick up the wax colors and draw them down. Might almost be too bright is that's possible. This is 8x10. 

Birds

Worked on a couple of paintings of birds where I wanted simple shapes and strong compositions. The yellow water lilies show a goose or duck (I'm working with a birder friend to identify it.) on a dark section of a pond just off Black Sands Beach here on the Big Island. The shorebird is a small 4x6. Been trying to paint a little every day lately to get my mojo back and do a little more variety. 

Feeding the Egrets

This is an 11x14 I did a few weeks ago. Finally finished it off with two small figures reaching to feed the flying egrets overhead. Adding figures is always a dilemma in a painting as some are better without them, and some need some humanity to bring them alive.  

Catching up on posts.

A little lagging on things lately as lost my favorite cat suddenly to a medication reaction. Great little kitty, very interactive and also cuddly. Med was Bravecto flea med so beware if you use this. One dose and she went into convulsions next day and vet couldn't save her. The drug companies need a way to test a smaller dose to check for reactions versus a whole dose that was fatal. Only changed meds as she had skin irritations to Revolutions brand. Who knew? 

That said, here are a few of my latest works. Both of these are my regular 8x10. Top one is Captain Cook monument from across the bay. Bottom one was painted on a cloudy day at Kona Inn. Due to conditions, I concentrated on nearby rocks and waves. First version wasn't very good so I went over it with thick paint and a palette knife. Had wanted to practice anyway so was a good opportunity. It's growing on me after the final touchups at home. I've done palette knife works on and off and always seem to get the these nice and colorful.  

   

Kekaha Kai State Park

 Also known as Magoon's Beach, this park is one of our favorite places to paint. The "bad road" entry has been paved in parts and smoothed down so the 1.5 miles only takes about 10 minutes to drive now versus 15 before. That's Hawaii progress. Don't expect water or showers but many folks do come here to swim, and while we were there a large monk seal took a nap on the sand. I debated adding people to this 11x14 painting but for now I'll let it rest. I've continued my larger work and have a couple of more 11x14's stretched to use over the next few weeks. 

Hualalai Volcano

We were painting at Old Airport Park so I turned inland from the point of the beach to capture a clear but misty Hualalai volcano. This is 16x20 as am now working with my larger easel/paintbox to use some of the stretched canvas I have around. I have the canvas and matching sized frames for many so decided I need to better match these up with new work. What do they say, "go big or go home".