"Red Ginger" - a very quick plein air pastel painting

12 x 9 pastel

Waimea Valley and Falls is a lovely place to visit.  It can be quite crazy on a weekend.  We got there early in the morning on a weekday and it was quiet and peaceful.  Lots of botanical areas and paths, a lovely natural creek and waterfall, meadows and benches to sit, birds to listen to and watch on the grass.

Waimea Falls (at 1/3 capacity)

After walking all around, we had a quiet time at a grassy picnic area and I did a one-hour painting of red ginger hanging over the grass while my husband read a book.

antherium

? heliconium?

"Temple Fish" in progress...

Today was a day to relax.  An hour by the pool,  a little walk about, and a little time by the beach.  It was too breezy outside to paint, so I dabbled on this "fishscape", using my photo from yesterday at the Temple up on the computer.  Adobe Photoshop zoom helped me to see the fish eyes and details a little better.

I started with a watercolor underpainting, then began to add pastel.  No time to finish.  Had to put it away and pack for tomorrow.  We are going to Waimea Falls Park.  I wish I could paint faster!  So many subjects I would like to paint....

Byodo-In Temple in Hawaii - plein air study

12 x 9 pastel

Today I visited the Byodo-In Temple on Oahu, Hawaii.  This is a replica of a temple at Uji, Japan.  There was a jazz festival there today as well, so I got to listen to music while painting.  I am calling this a field study, because it was done quickly and with frequent interruptions by people who wanted to talk to me, which did affect my concentration and rhythm.  But it was still a wonderful day, and I took lots of photos.

I REALLY have a tough time with buildings!  And this architecture was quite a puzzlement to me!!!  LOL!  I really goofed here!  Oh well, here is a link to the park's website so you can see the real deal!

"Breakwater" pastel painting

9 x 12 pastel

This morning I went out to a point where the breakwater is and an inlet for the swimming lagoon for our resort.  I thought I would practice waves again.  This time, I did a sketch first, to work out a better composition than the last one.

I had a few visitors.  I enjoyed talking with a Japanese woman from Nagoya, Japan.  We spoke in our broken English and my few words of Japanese.  You see, I have an interest in Nagoya.  When I was an exchange student, I visited a family there for three weeks.

Another lady from New York, who is a watercolorist, came by too.  She was quite fascinated how I start my paintings with watercolor, and then add pastel on top.

There is a nice koi pond here at our resort.  I'll have to do a painting of fish - only this time should be more challenging - they keep moving.

"Aqua Waters" pastel painting

9 x 19 pastel on paper

Today we went for a drive and had lunch on a beach.  We saw whales breach off in the distance.  The ocean was rougher today, and the Trade Winds were finally here to help blow the "vog" away (volcano produced fog/smog).  The waves were rolling in, and while hubby read his book, I painted this while sitting on the sand (to avoid the wind as much as possible).

I haven't had any training in seascapes and painting moving ocean waves, but I had fun trying.  The tropical colors of the ocean is irresistible.  I was so into it that I wasn't paying attention to the "it's time to go now" hints I was getting.

Tomorrow it is supposed to rain.  I don't know what I'll do....

"Kailua Beach" plein air pastel painting

12 x 9 pastel on sanded paper

I met with the Windward Wanderers and had a wonderful time "painting in paradise"!!  Kailua Beach is a beautiful beach.  The sand is like silk, the water shallow and calm enough for small children to play.  There is a lagoon from a stream that empties into the beach.  These colors are real!  Absolutely gorgeous turquoise water!

The painters were friendly and I joined them for lunch at the local market down the street, where we sat at picnic tables and admired each other's work.  One of the painters was visiting from Susanville which is about 90 miles from Reno where I live!  Fancy meeting here!  The picture below is of her with her watercolor of the canoes by the lagoon.

I am really happy with my new "Backpack" size Heilman pastel box.  Because it is smaller, I can now use my umbrella and I can adjust it perfectly to shade my work and pastels.

Aloha from Hawaii!

With the fire threat behind us, we were able to go on our vacation with no worries.

This is the early morning view from our resort room.  I am on my way to the windward side of the island to meet Helen Iaea and the Windward Wanderers (all media plein air painters) to paint on location at Kailua Beach Park.

Helen is the president of Pastel Artists of Hawaii, and responded to my e-mail by inviting me to paint with them.  Helen is not only a wonderful pastelist, she is also a talented watercolorist.  See her website here, and be sure to check out her pastel entitled "Tropical Tangle".  Gorgeous flowers!

You can also check out the Pastel Artists of Hawaii website here.  Unfortunately, I just missed their recent paint-out.

Later.....