Fun and Whimsical New Art by Kauai Artist Marionette Taboniar

 Lately I've been working on a colorful and whimsical style with my acrylic painting.  I'm really trying to capture how the island of Kauai makes me feel - spiritually, emotionally, and physically.  I hope you will enjoy these new creations!

Bliss - 12"x16" Original Acrylic Painting on Canvas https://www.kauai-fine-art.com/listing/1250325442/tropical-flowers-with-woman-kauai

Ahhhh, the feeling of sheer bliss is experiencing the natural beauty of the islands - especially the colors and sweet aromas of the tropical flowers. Drink in the heavenliness around you and feel the joy of life!

 

 Numila Camp Crotons - 14"x18" Original Acrylic Painting on Canvas https://www.kauai-fine-art.com/listing/1277068642/croton-leaves-kauai-original-acrylic

This was my favorite view of our front porch while living in Numila Camp (also known as the McBryde Camp). My husband lived in this camp on Kauai for over 50 years (while working for the sugar plantation and then for coffee), until we had to move out because the land was sold to developers. We had so many great memories of living in that camp, but I will always remember Joe sitting on the porch feeding the cats while the morning sun streamed through the colorful croton plants and illuminated the leaves. 

 

 Tropical Poipu Garden - 14"x18" Original Acrylic Painting on Canvas https://www.kauai-fine-art.com/listing/1281325548/tropical-poipu-garden-kauai-original

This beautiful, tropical scene reminds me of a fairy tale garden. The lady that designed this garden has done a wonderful job picking out just the right orchids and tropical plants to create a peaceful oasis to enjoy when you are on vacation. It is located in Poipu across from Baby Beach. 

 

 Beauty at the Beach - 12"x16" Original Acrylic Painting on Canvas https://www.kauai-fine-art.com/listing/1250002263/beauty-at-the-beach-hawaii-original

This lovely young lady is enjoying the breathtaking views along the sand-dune cliffs of the Mahaulepu Heritage Trail. She is experiencing the strong trade winds for the first time as she catches hold of her flower lei and the winds whip up the edge of her dress. She is enamored by Kauai's natural beauty and knows this place will forever hold a special place in her heart. 

 I also have almost 400 prints from paintings that have already sold.  They are available in 4x6, 5x7, 8x10, 11x14 and 12x16 direct from me.  You can also inquire about larger sizes, prints on canvas, or prints on metal.  https://www.kauai-fine-art.com/shop

Check out my product shops for lots of household items with my images on them and my social media links at https://linktr.ee/artbymarionette

Mahalo and Have a Warm and Sunny Tropical Day!!

Marionette

 

 

 

Wall Art, Home Decor and More by Kauai Artist Marionette

You can also find these designs and more at this website:

FINE ART AMERICA: marionette-taboniar.artistwebsites.com  

(Giclee prints on canvas, framed prints, notecards and more featuring Marionette's art.)

Marionette's Original Paintings and Prints directly from her can be found in her Etsy shop: 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/kauaiartist

You can also find more fun prints and products here:

SOCIETY 6 https://society6.com/marionettetaboniar
(Tote bags, pillows, mugs, and much more!)

Visiting Kauai?  Come take an art class or two:

ART CLASSES: www.kauaiartclasses.blogspot.com
(Schedule and info on the art classes Marionette teaches on the island of Kauai.)

MEETUP:  http://www.meetup.com/Open-Studio-Artists-Meetup/

 

Wild Flowers of Kokee and Waimea Canyon State Park

In an attempt to escape from the heat and humidity of mid-July summer, we headed up to the mountains of Kauai also known as Kokee or Waimea Canyon State Park.  At about 4,000 feet above sea level we certainly found a cool breeze along with a light, misty rain.

 Kahili Ginger

The thing I love most about going up to Kokee is the peace and quiet and solitude, and that is exactly what you will find especially on a day during the work week.  Weekends are usually much busier.  We always take a ride up to the park right in front of the Kokee Lodge and the Kokee Museum.  It's our favorite spot and is just right for a picnic.  Coming up from Waimea, we stopped at Ishihara Market and picked up some bentos, poke, potato salad, and fruit for lunch.

 One of the clucking chickens who decided to make herself at home near our table

I packed hot tea in Joe's old thermos from the old days when he used to work at the sugar plantation as a haul cane truck driver.  He used to bring his hot coffee in the thermos and store it behind the seat of the old haul cane truck.  The truck would bounce around on the rocky roads, and that's where the thermos got a nice little "smash" on it's side.  It's still good, though, and holds plenty heat.  Joe also made sure to pack his MP3 player so we could sit back, relax, and enjoy some nice Hawaiian music, especially IZ.

Crocosmia Kokee Wild Flower

We just pulled into the park and there is hardly anyone here except for a few campers who are already packing up their two small tents to go home.  There is a chicken clucking around our table looking for food, and there are some myna birds off in the distance with a red-crested cardinal.  Right now the only things I hear are Joe's music playing softly, the sound of a few roosters crowing, and some doves and other birds making cheerful chirping noises.  Ah bliss!!!

 Fuchsia boliviana

It's pretty cool up here even though it was forecast to be 90 degrees Fahrenheit at sea level.  I am actually wearing a sweater.  It's a bit cloudy as I look up in the sky surrounded by pine trees and ohia lehua trees.  I love the fresh smell up here, especially the smell of the eucalyptus trees.

Wild Passion Fruit Flower also known as the Banana Poka

As I go for a walk around the park, I spot some of my favorite wild flowers.  Most of these flowers are actually non-native, invasive species that have taken over.  However, most of them have been here in the twenty some years since I first discovered Kokee.  They have become familiar to me.  First I spot the bright and colorful wild Kahili Ginger which is named after a feather standard that the Hawaiian royalty used in ancient days.  It's scientific name is Hedychium gardnerianum.  Another invasive species is the wild liliko'i vine that has a pretty pink flower and a football shaped fruit.  It is called the banana poka flower, and it's scientific name is Passiflora tarminiana.  I also spot some red fuchsia bolivia and some orange crocosmia, also invasive species.  About the only flower I see that is native to Kokee is the lovely, red ohi'a lehua flower, a flowering evergreen tree from the myrtle family.  This tree is a very important tree in Hawaiian culture as it grows in volcanic areas and it is a sacred flower of Pele, the Volcano Goddess.  In fact it is usually the first plant that grows after a fresh lava flow.

Ohi'a Lehua Flower

I head back to our picnic table for lunch, and as soon as we get the food out, it starts to rain lightly.  Thank goodness we had the beach umbrella in the trunk.  We use it  to cover us and the food while we ate.  Next, we experience a slight case of "Hawaiian paralysis" which is basically nap time after lunch.  Time to visit the Kokee Museum and then head down the mountain to finish off another perfect day on Kauai.

Hydrangea Flower in front of the Kokee Museum

Wild Flower Bouquet in front of the Kokee Museum

I hope you have enjoyed this little, relaxing adventure to one of the most interesting places on Kauai!

Happy Aloha Friday

Here are some photos of mine featuring the beauty of the island of Kauai.  Have a very Happy Aloha Friday and a wonderful weekend everyone!

 Pink Hibiscus

 

 Orchids from my Sister-in-law's house

 A view of the lovely swans at the Grand Hyatt in Poipu, Kauai

 Red ti leaves with a nice tiki hut in the background...do I hear Mai Tais being poured???

New Tank Tops Just in Time for Summer

Get ready for summer with these new tank top designs!

Kauai Rainbow Plumeria Tank Top

 

Kilohana Rooster 2 Tank Top

Mangoes Tank Top

 

For more Tank Top designs please visit: http://society6.com/marionettetaboniar/tank-tops and for more products featuring my art including: t-shirts, tote bags, mugs, art prints, phone cases, throw pillows, framed prints, canvas prints, and wall clocks, please visit http://society6.com/marionettetaboniar .  More of my designs are currently being added as time permits.

All items are made and shipped from California by Society6.

Aloha and Mahalo,

Marionette

 

 

 

New Original Watercolors by Marionette

 Kauai Rainbow Plumeria Watercolor Painting

8"x10" $89.00 USD

 

Kauai Mahaulepu Beach Original Watercolor Painting

9"x12"  $119.00 USD

 Hot Pink Plumeria Watercolor Painting Original

8.25"x10.5"  $95.00 USD

 Kauai Ocean Waves Watercolor Painting Original

8"x10"  $89.00 USD

 

 Kahili Ginger Watercolor Painting Original

11.5"x16"  $175.00 USD 

These can all be purchased though my Etsy Art Gallery at www.kauaiartist.etsy.com or by contacting me directly at Marionette@kauai-artist.net .

Aloha and Have a Great Day,

Marionette

2012 Summer Fine Art Festival

4th Annual Summer Fine Art Festival June 17, 2012

National Tropical Botanical Garden & Women Artists of Kaua‘i

4th Annual Summer Fine Art Festival 

on NTBG's ‘Ohana Day Sunday, June 17, 2012

from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Southshore Visitors Center

Come relax in a beautiful, tropical garden and treat yourself to a fun art festival where you can meet and talk story with some of Kauai's most prolific women artists.   Patrice Pendarvis, Caylin Spear, Donia Lilly, Lilian de Mello, Dawn Lundquist and Marionette Taboniar will be discussing their creative process and some may even demonstrate.   Plus, gallery quality art will be for sale in a variety of styles and mediums with a portion of the proceeds supporting NTBG.

Live Hawaiian music will be provided by Mahea and Friends from 10 a.m. to noon and Dr. Matthew Miller will sooth us with his relaxing guitar music from noon to 2 p.m.  We will also have on site Chalupa's Mexican Food where you can order up  authentic tamales, burritos, tacos, enchiladas and more! 

The Southshore Visitors Center is located across from Spouting Horn at 4425 Lawa‘i Rd, Po‘ipu.  For more info call the Center at 742-2433.

The mission of the National Tropical Botanical Garden is to enrich life through discovery, scientific research, conservation & education by perpetuating the survival of plants, ecosystems, & cultural knowledge of tropical regions.

The Women Artists of Kaua‘i promotes the works of female artists on the island while raising funds for local charities on Kaua‘i. All works are original, consisting of paintings, prints, photography, drawings, sculptures, pottery, mixed-media, metal, glass, fabric and textile art, or digital art.

Women Artists of Kauai Art Studio Tour 2012

1st Annual Artist's Studio Tour 2012

 

Printable PDF Map 

Come join 11 artists at 7 locations from Princeville to Waimea town for the Women Artists of Kauai 1st Annual Artists' Studio Tour! Admission for this event is free and 20% of all sales will be donated to the Zonta Club of Hanalei's Scholarship fund. The self-driving tour is on Saturday Feb 25th and Sunday Feb 26th - times vary according to individual studios.  The group would like to thank our generous sponsors for making this event possible: the Midweek, the Zonta Club of Hanalei, Savage Pearls, and Na Pali Properties. We hope to see you in our studios! 

Winter Fine Art Festival Sunday Dec. 18, 2011

National Tropical Botanical Garden and the Women Artists of Kaua'i present their 3rd Annual Winter Fine Art Festival on NTBG's 'Ohana Day, Sunday, December 18, 2011 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Southshore Visitors Center.

Great holiday fun, food, and live music for all! Gallery quality fine art (great for last minute holiday gifts) will be available in a variety of styles and mediums including paintings, photography, sculpture, pottery, mixed media and more from these artists: Anna Skaradzinska, Caylin Spear, Donia Lilly, Lilian de Mello, Patrice Pendarvis, Marionette Taboniar, and Leslie Hagen.

Enjoy live music provided by Mahealani, Dr. Matthew Miller, Bernard Almeida, and Sean Pulawa. Plus smoothies, shave ice and delicious plate lunches will be available from Happy Snacks.

A portion of the proceeds from the art sales will be donated directly to the Garden. NTBG's Southshore Visitors Center is located across from Spouting Horn at 4425 Lawa'i Rd, Po'ipu. For more info call the Garden at 808-742-2433 or visit www.womenartistsofkauai.blogspot.com .

Living in the Moment Through Art

Did you know that creating/painting is a form of meditation? Think about it. When you are painting, you become totally absorbed in the here and now. You are thinking about your composition, which colors to use, how to load your brush, etc... During your painting session, your brain is turned off to those pesky thoughts we all have about the world news, the stock market, worries about the future, your health and more. And boy do we need that today more than ever. Add into the mix our ever increasing use of computers, cell phones, TV, and video games, and I find that during my art classes, my students are so happy to find a few hours of peace where they can just "unplug" and create the old fashioned way.

I just met a very interesting lady who is a special education teacher for some very tough inner city kids. She told me the story about how she pulled out the watercolors one day and let her students create. She said she'd never seen them so quiet, focused, and well behaved. Is watercolors the next substitute for Ritalin? Probably not, but this story does raise an interesting point. Children really do need a creative outlet in their lives. Whether it's art, music, dance, or writing, it doesn't matter as long as it's creative time. Unfortunately, these are the areas that are first to be cut in our education system. As parents, grandparents, or friends, I urge you to encourage the children around you to spend some time creating. It's as simple as giving them a box of crayons and some blank paper. Believe me, they need a break from their iPhones, iPods, and computers.

Creative time is not just for kids. Oh, no! We adults need it too. I truly feel that art can help us to relax and heal. Like I said earlier, it is a form of meditation that you can do without getting into some weird sort-of yoga pose, and you don't have to chant or say any sacred words. Just find an idea to paint, set up your supplies, and lose yourself in your art for a couple of hours. You will emerge relaxed, happy and maybe even a little tired since your brain was fully engaged in creativity.

Happy Creating,
Marionette
www.kauai-artist.net

New Original Paintings by Marionette

"Aloha Forever" Original 16"x20" Acrylic on Canvas
BUY NOW

"Pineapple" Original 8"x10" watercolor
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"Bird of Paradise" Original 8"x10" watercolor
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"Plumeria Blossom" Original 2.5"x3.5" ATC Watercolor
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"Plantation Cottage" Original 2.5"x3.5" ATC Watercolor
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Making Sushi - Kauai Style

Every now and then we get a craving for some sushi, so I've been trying my hand at making my own. Here on Kauai it's easy as most of the ingredients are readily available. I shop at Ishihara Market in Waimea, Kauai on my way home from my studio. They have a great selection of Japanese products as well as fresh fish and many varieties of ready made poke. Ono!!!

The first thing you need to do is to prepare the rice. I usually cook about 3 cups of rice with a rice cooker and use California calrose rice. It is the short grain variety normally eaten in Hawaii. Then once it's done cooking, I let it cool down for about ten minutes with the lid off the rice cooker. Next, I transfer the rice to a large bowl and using a rice paddle I sprinkle a few tablespoons of sushi seasoning over the rice and cut lines in the rice instead of stirring. You have to be delicate here or your rice will turn to mush. The sushi seasoning is basically a mixture of vinegar, sugar and salt. You can usually find it at the store already prepared.

Next, I cover my bamboo rolling mat with some plastic wrap, lay down a piece of nori, and spread out a thin layer of the rice.
Here's some fresh spicy poke (pronounced "po-kay") that I purchased from Ishihara market. I love to use this to make sushi as it is made from fresh ahi tuna, green onions, seaweed and a spicy sauce that is delicious.
Next, I cut up my vegetables. I mainly use green onions and fresh avocado, but you can also use carrots, eggs, or whateva!
Next, I sprinkle dry Japanese rice seasoning that is a mixture of sesame seeds, seaweed, and some other ingredients over the rice.
Then, I flip the whole thing over and lay out my main ingredients on top of the nori.
And, it's time to roll! This is the hard part for me as I never get it quite tight enough. It takes practice, practice, and practice!After using a sharp knife to cut the roll into 3/4 inch pieces, I lay them out on a plate. I could have made the roll tighter here, but oh heck, it all tastes the same ;-) This is an inside out roll.Here I did the same thing, but didn't flip the nori over. This is a regular roll.Lastly, while I was making my sushi, my hubby made some of his own. He calls this cone sushi and the outer part is a thin, deep friend pocket of tofu. You can get this at a Japanese market. He basically, just cut the tofu in half diagonally and then stuffed it with the left over rice. I also made some miso soup to go on the side.

Hope you have enjoyed this little tutorial. I am in no way a sushi expert. I'm just a gal having some fun making some food on the island of Kauai!

Aloha and Mahalo,
Marionette