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