HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I would love to wish everyone a Very Happy and Blessed New Year! Below are some new ACEOs (2.5"x3.5" Original Watercolor paintings) done in my sumi-e style. Enjoy!

Wild Bamboo

Wild Bamboo II

Let's Hold Claws

Me and My Little Crab

I'm Having a Crabby Day

Just Struttin' Around with My Chick


Hawaii's Moa Chicken

Click here to learn more or to purchase one of these cute sumi-e style paintings for $10.

Kauai Society of Artists Show

I finally did it! I joined Kauai Society of Artists and entered my first juried show with them. (Thank you Schar!) All three pieces I entered made it into their Small Works Show (16"x16"x16" maximum).

The show runs through January 30, 2009 and can be viewed at Kukui Grove Exhibition Hall in Lihue, Kauai. The juror is Maile Andrade, an Associate Professor & Graduate Chair at Kamakakuokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies, University of Hawaii-Manoa, Honolulu, and mixed media artist. The show is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Fridays until 8 p.m.).

All three of my entries are 8"x10" framed to 11"x14" in a koa veneer frame and can be purchased at the show for $195.00 each.

Poipu Hula Pastel

Relaxing at Maha'ulepu Pastel

A Hawaiian Hibiscus Watercolor with Pen & Ink
(detail)

Twas the Day before Christmas (from an artist’s viewpoint)

Twas the Day before Christmas (from an artist’s viewpoint)
By Marionette

Twas the day before Christmas, when leaving the house

"I’m off to my studio,” I said to my spouse.

The stockings were hung by the easels with care,

In hopes that the artists soon would be there.

The children were painting with greens, whites, and reds,

While abstract expressionism danced in their heads.

And Schar with her palette and I with my matt,

Had just framed a portrait of her lovable cat.

When out on the street there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter.

A knock at the doorway, I drew with a hush,

Tore up my good paper and threw down my brush.

The moon of my landscape that’s whiter than snow

Gave the lustre of varnish to canvas below.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But an oak taboret and eight artists so near.

With an afro so bushy, so fuzzy like moss,

I knew in a moment it must be Bob Ross.

More gesso, more fresco that led them to fame,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Vincent! now, Frida! now, Warhol and Cassatt!

On, Pollack! On, Degas! On Cezanne and Seurat!

To the top of the canvas! to the top of the wall!

Now paint away! Paint away! Paint away all!"

He was dressed in an apron, his colors all bright,

And his hands were all tarnished with titanium white.

A bundle of supplies were flung on his back,

And he looked like an artist, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as brown as his ‘fro.

The stump of a brush he held tight in his teeth,

And the fumes it encircled his head like a wreath.

He created in oils with a number five knife,

That shook when he painted his famous still life!

He was happy and jolly and had a big heart,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of my art!

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the canvases, then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, out the door he sure goes!

He sprang to his van, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like a Barking Sands missile.

But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Little Trees to all, and to all a good-night!"

Notes:

"Schar" is a good friend of mine and also a local artist on Kauai. She teaches "Art for Change" in my studio from time-to-time.

"Bob Ross" is a famous artist who hosted "The Joy of Painting" on PBS where he often painted his "happy little trees". He passed away quite a few years ago from cancer and is greatly missed by many (especially me). From Wikipedia: When asked about his laid-back approach to painting and eternally calm and contented demeanor, he once commented: "I got a letter from somebody here a while back, and they said, 'Bob, everything in your world seems to be happy.' That's for sure. That's why I paint. It's because I can create the kind of world that I want, and I can make this world as happy as I want it. Shoot, if you want bad stuff, watch the news."

"Barking Sands" is where Kauai's military base is located. They often test defense missiles over the ocean.

Two New ACEOs - Kiahuna Water Garden I & II

Kiahuna Water Garden I Original Watercolor ACEO, $15

Kiahuna Water Garden II Original Watercolor ACEO, $15

These lovely water lillies were found on the grounds of the Kiahuna Plantation Resort in Poipu, Kauai! Known as Moir Gardens, this place is also known for its exotic cacti and orchids! Photos and a story about the gardens can be viewed on my Blog at http://kauai-artist.blogspot.com/2008/09/virtual-tour-of-kauai-1.html .


For more info about these collectable paintings, please visit my Etsy Shop!


Aloha and Mele Kalikimaka,
Marionette
Website: http://www.kauai-artist.net/
Etsy Store: http://www.kauaiartist.etsy.com/
CafePress Store: http://www.cafepress.com/KauaiArt

New! Tropical Fish Hand-Painted Silk Scarf

Aloha my friends! I just finished painting this silk scarf with my little tropical fishies on it! "Tropical Fish" is an original, hand painted silk scarf measuring approximately 30"x30". This functional art piece can be washed, ironed and worn to accent your outfit, or it can be displayed in your home. The larger of the two is the famous Humuhumunukunukuapua'a fish which is also the state fish of Hawaii! Care of your scarf: Wash in cold water, air dry, medium iron on back side. This would make a great present for that hard-to-buy-for Mom, Aunty, Nana, or Wife!
I'm having a VAST HOLIDAY SALE in my Etsy Shop and this piece is marked down by 25% to $45 (originally $60). I also have two more designs on silk scarves for sale: Red Rose and Luna Moth.
Please visit my Holiday Sale Section and my Buy 2 Get 1 Free Section on all of my reproductions.
Wishing Everyone Many Blessings this Holiday Season!
Marionette
http://www.kauai-artist.net/
http://www.kauaiartist.etsy.com/
http://www.kauai-artist.blogspot.com/

http://www.cafepress.com/KauaiArt

New Original Art by Marionette

Playing in the Sand - Original Pastel Painting - $150.00 (framed)

I was having a picnic at Salt Pond Beach Park one day and captured a shot of this lovely young lady playing in the sand! She was having a great time just piling up the sand and making shapes. It takes me back to my childhood days!

Pink Water Lillies - Original Watercolor - $56.00 (unframed)

These lovely water lillies were found on the grounds of the Kiahuna Plantation Resort in Poipu, Kauai! I spent the day with fellow photographer and friend, Tashi, capturing the beauty of this lovely garden known for its exotic cacti and orchids! It was a lovely day indeed! Photos can be viewed on my Blog at http://kauai-artist.blogspot.com/2008/09/virtual-tour-of-kauai-1.html .

Flowers of Aloha - Original Watercolor - $72.00 (unframed)

These pretty in pink plumeria blossoms were found at the National Botanical Gardens in Lawai, Kauai. This is really one of my favorite spots to take reference photos for my paintings. There are lots of tropical flowers to choose from!

Kauai Orchid Farm III - Original Watercolor - $56.00 (unframed)

The inspiration behind this painting comes from an orchid farm on Kauai's north shore in Kilauea. The farm was just a short walk away from the lovely cottage I was staying in on a short retreat from my daily life. It was a very relaxing and pleasant stay, and the surrounding garden was teeming with fresh oranges, grapefruit, and lemons!

Beautiful Orchid - Original Watercolor - $69.00 (unframed)

This cattleya orchid was found on Kauai's north shore in a beautiful orchid farm in Kilauea. I was staying at a nearby cottage and loved taking my morning stroll (camera in hand) to capture these lovely beauties on film so I could paint them in my studio.

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Hope you have enjoyed these new paintings from Kauai!

I'm currently having a Holiday Sale on my watercolors.

These prices are good through the end of November, 2008.

Aloha,

Marionette

WINNER of My "Aloha Spirit" Blog Giveaway!

This morning I had the drawing for my first Blog Giveaway and the winner is...

Janet P. from California!

She is the owner of Etsy's Little Pink Plum which carries a variety of magnets, pins and pocket mirrors made with pretty papers. Very, very cute shop and her items are very reasonably priced at $4.00. I think these would be great stocking stuffers for Christmas! Visit her new blog http://janscraftynest.blogspot.com/ to keep posted on special offers!

Thank you to all of my Etsy friends, VAST teammates, and blog readers out there who entered the giveaway! It was so much fun that I will be doing more of these in the future. Stay tuned!

Halloween Craft Day at Painting Paradise

Mahalo to all who attended my Halloween Craft Day!

Hope you enjoy these pics!

P.S. I am the "Gnome" and Schar is the "Witch"

Aloha and Happy Halloween,

Marionette

The Aloha Spirit Blog Give-A-Way!

This month I will be giving away a set of original, watercolor with pen & ink ACEOs (worth $30). To enter, please leave a comment here with a valid email address or have an email address attached to your blogger profile. (This way I can contact you if you have won!) I will draw one winner on October 31, 2008!

Left: "View from Lae Nani" Right: "A Lovely Day on Kauai"

Each measures 2.5"x3.5" on watercolor paper

This blog give-a-way is to honor the Aloha Spirit! Living in Hawaii, I see and experience this Aloha Spirit almost every day. Through a smile, a helping hand, a gift of fruit from the aina, and many more, we make our lives happy and more enjoyable. Most tourists comment on why it seems that people living in Hawaii are always smiling. Well, it's because we are! The Aloha Spirit is alive and well here in the islands, but it can extend itself to the whole world (which is something we definitely need at this time).

What is the Aloha Spirit? Aloha means much more than just saying goodbye and hello. Wikipedia gives us this definition: "Aloha in the Hawaiian language means affection, love, peace, compassion and mercy." To me, Aloha means to show kindness, patience, and love without expecting anything in return. It is how you give of yourself to make the world a better place, to make someone feel welcomed or loved. It is to help others in need. Sometimes it is as simple as giving someone a hug to make them feel better. In return, you will feel good and the Aloha will come back to you in a way you never expected. It is a cycle. It is contagious. Show a little Aloha today!

If you would like to tell us a story of Aloha in your comment that would be wonderful! Good Luck to everyone!

Mahalo Nui Loa and May Your Day be Filled With ALOHA!

Virtual Tour of Kauai #1

Yesterday my good friend Tashi and I took an entire day to "play tourist" and visit the South Shore of Kauai. We brought our cameras along to capture the beauty that Kauai is famous for. This is the first installment of my "Virtual Tours" of the Garden Isle.

We started off at the Moir Gardens which are located at the Kiahuna Plantation. This garden features quite a collection of orchids, water lillies, cacti, succulents, and other tropical trees and plants. It is a very colorful and relaxing garden to stroll. It's history dates back to the 1930s when Alexandra Moir first started to plant her fantastic cactus collection. She was the wife of the manager of Kauai's first sugar plantation.

After a relaxing lunch at Brennecke's Beach Broiler (Tashi had the prime rib sandwich and I had their fish tacos made with fresh Ahi. Yum!!!) we headed over to Shipwreck's Beach. The beach was so beautiful! Lots of golden sand, blue skies, and turquoise water! We wanted to dive right in, and many people do...right off of the cliff! For the rest of us, there is a nice trail that you can follow up to the cliff for breathtaking views of the ocean. Overhead there were some very graceful tropic birds playfully flying.

Well, after all of that hiking, we were a bit thirsty, so we headed off to the Grand Hyatt Kauai to get some more water. We saw a few tropical birds and a beautiful, white swan swimming in the koi pond! We took a few more photos of the garden flowers and then decided to call it a day. As we left the Hyatt, one of Tashi's friends who works there, gave us each an orchid lei! This is the magic of Hawaii!

Art for Change: Intro to Portrait Drawing with Special Guest Artist, Schar Freeman

Schar Freeman and I both live on this beautiful island of Kauai and are both active artists, yet we actually first "met" each other on Etsy.com, a site that sells handmade items worldwide. Next we both found ourselves a part of Etsy's Visual Artists Street Team (VAST) and often chatted on their discussion board. Well, one day we decided to meet in person. I went looking for her in Hanapepe, but it was her day off from her regular job. So, I left her a note. About a week later Schar dropped by my Waimea studio, and WOW, we were fast friends! The time passed quickly as we spent the next four hours discussing our art, lives, and our spiritual paths that landed us on the island of Kauai.


I learned that Schar is not only a fantastic and brilliant artist, but that she is also an art instructor! I quickly asked her if she would like to teach a class at my studio, and she said that she was just looking for a place to teach her "ART FOR CHANGE" Workshop. I was thrilled!


ART for CHANGE Principles of living your creative life conceptions by artist Schar Freeman

This fun class introduces two exciting exercises and the FUN-damentals of portrait drawing. It is for anyone who wishes to change perspectives with jobs, careers, or relationships. It is also for anyone with interest to draw and paint. No previous art experience is needed. There will be something to discover for everyone taking this class. All materials and lunch pupus provided.

Limited class size
Fee $60
Register by Sept. 30th and save 50%
to register call: 808-639-2670
Location: Painting Paradise (Marionette's art studio), 9814 Kaumuali'i Hwy Suite #6, Waimea, Kauai, HI 96765.

Schar's Bio from her Etsy site: As a child Schar wished to be an artist. Her painting began with mud and berry juice when living in the Redwood forests of Northern California. Her mother encouraged her passion with lessons at 12 yrs old were she studied with a wonderful artist who taught her to see and feel, moving from empty space into a visions held inside.

Schar studied with individuals and in the 90's became a "Ghost Painter" for an internationally popular artist. It is here that she developed her style and skills especially in oils and production. Schar's work has traveled the world and there are many collections in the USA as well as Europe. Schar's work is published 1999-2009 with WeMoon Calendars and cards receiving international appreciation.

Schar Freeman aka ScharCbear as a painter has thrived on her lush island of Kauai. The pure beauty of the aina (land) has inspired her recently to venture into landscape impressions of her island, and the people and cultures of Hawaii. Her palette is rich, pure and vibrant, her style versatile, at times whimsical and mystical. Schar paints with oil pastel, soft pastel, oil, acrylic and watercolor. Her use of color and images are representational. They are symbolic. They are personal and universal and capture an essence of spirit. Her series of American Native paintings is published internationally with Mother Tongue Ink.


Currently her work is represented through the Kauai Made program. Her work is found in galleries and collections in California, Oregon, Washington, Montana and Hawaii. Schar is also an accomplished photographer, published poet, Chef and a performing hula dancer.


A Cancer survivor, she volunteers with American Cancer Society, Relay For Life. "I relocated to this Garden Island, Kauai a decade ago after raising two incrediable sons and three husbands. A life-long dream of mine to live here and after visiting for 30 years, I made the move.""Having vision in only one eye, each and every day I am blessed that I can see and create a landscape, develope a dream or image of a dancer which moves me. I create from my heart and paint the impressions of the beauty which continues to surround me."

http://scharart.etsy.com
http://ainakauai.etsy.com
scharbear@yahoo.com

The paintings above are all beautiful works from Schar. From top to bottom: Spirit of Kalalau, Moon Dancer I, Pueo Dream Transition.

This workshop is going to be loads of fun!

Aloha,

Marionette

New ACEOs from Kauai, Hawaii

I just finished adding five new ACEOs to my Etsy Store! There are several featuring coconut palm trees and beach scenes. Enjoy!

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Lovely Coconuts Original Watercolor with Pen and Ink ACEO from Kauai, Hawaii

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14885400

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Kauai's East Coast Original Watercolor with Pen and Ink ACEO from Kauai, Hawaii

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14885643

All of my ACEOs are priced at $15 and that includes Free Shipping Worldwide!

Aloha and Mahalo for visiting!
Marionette

Etsy Shop: http://www.kauaiartist.etsy.com/
Website: http://www.kauai-artist.net/
CafePress Store: http://www.cafepress.com/KauaiArt