Hāʻena Sunlight
T his plein air piece was painted on a warm, sun-filled day with strong ocean currents and seafoam sprays on a pristine seascape of Kauaʻi. Shadows painted the sand in soft hues of lavender, while the strong light brought aquamarine clarity to the ocean.
In Hawaiian, Mana means power or energy present in all things, and the Mana was strong this afternoon, as it often is in Hāʻena. For me, this piece holds the feeling of that potent energy. It reminds me of being completely at peace and immersed in one of my favorite places in the world- a place I have imagined to be my artistic home for half my life. It shines the essence of being aligned, inspired and at ease under the Hāʻena Sunlight.
11" x 14" Plein Air Oil on Stretched Canvas
Hāʻena Dreamlight
T his rendition was painted at dusk, just after the sun slipped beneath the horizon, leaving a pink glow to cover a softly cloudy sky. Light still touched the sand, and the waves continued to crash smoothly but powerfully.
Painting in the last hours of the day was exhilarating; I had to really feel the presence of what it was I wanted to convey on the canvas quickly enough before the light completely vanished. I painted as dusk deepened, and later completed the last of it's brushstrokes in the studio.
I love the softness, light and movement of this work. It holds the sweet hum of solitude and the gentle quiet of a Hāʻena evening just before nightfall and the magic of a starlit sky.