BYGONE DAYS!!!

 

As I said in my last posting to this blog, I was going to try to post something every couple of weeks. It may not be a painting, but initially, I stated that I would also post on my culture as well. I am what is referred to in the Islands as "hapa." Meaning half white. My father was 100%  Hawaiian, while my mother had very little Hawaiian - about 16%  or even less (I think).

 

Anyway, today I was browsing through photographs for something to paint and came across this - forgotten all about -  picture. That's me second from left. I don't know what age I was at this time, but I'm going to guess about 14-15. I was sooo surprised to find this that I  just had to share. These were the young people who were part of the LDS church group; MIA (Mutual Improvement Assoc.). I was raised Mormon and had fun as a teenager growing up in the church, The church provided its young people with a lot of fun activities.

 

I'm guessing (because we're in hula garb) that we were doing a fundraiser for the church's building fund. Such memories.

 

 I'll identify each one beginning front, left to right: Cornell Canto, Me - Lokelani, brother Kaiwa, MaileAnn Enos, Alvin Kaleihuawehi, Maualei Long, Rodney Rodrigues. Back row: L-R sister Leina'ala, cousin Kanani, Viola Johnson, "Fatso" Johnson and Puanani Mahi.

No Excuses!!

Hi All:

Whoa!! Can't believe that my last post to this blog was August, 2018. The only excuse I have is that I have not been painting. My original intent for this blog was to, besides posting any paintings, I would also post "this and that" about my cultural background. I'm going to try to be more on top of it all, no promises, but will try.

Anyway, here's my latest:

Dave Kalni Forrest

My oldest son, Dave Kalani. He has been gone for a number of years now, and I had never thought to paint his portrait until recently. Maybe the delay was because it would've been painful - I don't know. Although I had moments of deep sadness during the painting process, I was able to complete it (I think it needs a few tweaks) and I feel good about doing it. He was such a sweet young man - handsome, talented both artistically and musically. He did some fine artwork, which now hangs in my home.  Kalani you are so missed!

 

I will try to post something at least once every two weeks.  Mahalo for visiting and God bless.

I'M BACK

Hi ya'll:

Omigosh, it has been a long, long time since I posted here. When last I posted it was May 22, 2017 and here it is August 12, 2018. One reason is because I haven't been doing much painting. In fact, I had two WIP (works in progress) at the time.  I finished the one of my nephew and his son. It has been shipped and I understand is now hanging in the spot he reserved for it. Have a look here.

It is a rather large piece (I don't remember the exact dimensions) and it was quite a feat to finish it.

The other WIP was a painting of my granddaughter working at the easel when she was about 4 years old. I have just (I think) finished it. It may need a few tweaks, but I think it's about time I called it finished. It was just one of those paintings that took so much time and effort that I needed a break from it - that break went for quite a while. I'll post it as I originally intended then what it evolved into.





This is it finished!!

 

I think I like it better. I am so glad it is DONE!! What do you think?

Snuck This One In!

     If you saw my last post, I showed you a couple of paintings that were in progress. Those are still in progress, but snuck this on in for my church's auction. Just finished today so thought I'd post it here today. I am pleased with it.

     

Dueling Bluebirds - 16x20 stretched canvas

 

WORKS IN PROGRESS!!

My last post was December 26, 2016 - I cannot believe I have been so neglectful about keeping up with this blog AND with my painting. It seems like I'm always apologizing for my lateness - but sorry. For some unknown reason I have been in a "funk" lately.

Last entry I posted working on two paintings. I'm going to post here one of those that I have lots to do on yet, but with the detail work required, I just had to put it aside. It is a painting of my grand-daughter at the easel when she was about 3-1/2 years old.

24x18 oil on stretched canvas - "The Painter" - unfinished

 

The other painting I've started is a commission from my nephew. It is of he and his little son walking on the beach in the evening. Lots more work needed on this one.

24x36 oil on stretched canvas - untitled - in a very rough state





Now all I need is the enthusiasm to work on these paintings. I know both will be good pieces when they are done.

BACK AT THE EASEL - YAY!

Yes, I'm back to doing what I should have been doing all along - painting. God gave me this ability and I'm ashamed to say I have not been glorifying Him by doing anything with that ability.

I had one project in mind that I just had to finish. A few years back, I did a competition piece for the First Baptist Church in Nashville, TN and their annual art competition. The piece was titled "Take This Cup." I didn't think it would do anything but it won the purchase award where the church purchased the painting for their gallery. I really did want it for myself so thought I would do another for myself, which I finally did this year - 2016. There was so much wrong with it, but finally, after many months I put it back on my easel to finish. It still needs some tweaking, but here it is. Even unfinished, it hung in a prominent place in my home.

Take This Cup II - 15x30

 Then I have a brand new second project I am going to attempt to do. This is my granddaughter at about 3-1/2 years old. I stumbled on this picture when I posted a more recent one of her painting.
I love this photo and hope I can do it. The most problem I had with the sketch was getting the angles and proportions on the easel right. Here's hoping I can do it. I'm always up for the challenge. Sorry, having trouble lining up the photos.


Sketch - 18x24





My sweet Ellie.

What Have I Been Doing?

This posting is mainly to let my followers know that I am still alive and kicking in middle Tennessee.

Relating to the title of this post - I have been doing everything but painting. I had to correct the "Take This Cup II" painting of my last posting.  But have I done that yet? No, and I am very disappointed in myself for not being motivated to do that. I have, however, been involved in "scrapbooking" our Book of James study and creating Christmas cards for sale at my church. The monies are earmarked for missions, which we have contributed to for the past two years.

But, back to my painting. I have a painting that I did quite some time back that I would like to repost. It is special to me and was created for a family reunion in 2010. It has deep spiritual meaning for me. I titled it "Love Beyond Measure."

Here's the symbolism behind this painting:

God the Father is the White Rose,
The first pink rose symbolizes Jesus Christ. Your freedom from sin came from the Father through the Son. Therefore, the butterfly, which I see as symbolic of freedom, alights on the Christ Jesus. The Father's tear is self-explanatory. The bottom pink rose symbolizes the Holy Spirit and the roses laying on the table symbolize fallen man. The Koa wood vase and weathered Lauhala mat covering the wall represents the Hawaiian people and their culture and the fern represents the interweaving of ohana (family) with the roses.

Thank you for visiting me here. May God's choicest blessings be upon you and yours!!