Last 2009 Blog

It is December 31st, the last day of 2009; therefore, my last blog for the year. My prayer is that the year 2010 will not be as frightening as it is beginning to be, i.e. terrorists attempt, a shaky economy, and talks of more government control, which could eventually lead to a one-world government. What are we in for? I have no idea, but I know that God is in control.

Putting the negative aside, my blog today is about hope and a more enlightened year, at least for me, by broadening my walk with God. Part of that walk is praising and glorifying Him with my art. I have just completed, short of a few minor tweaks, two paintings that speak to his magnificence. I’ve posted them here before, but that was while they were both still in process. Here they are again:

The horses (18x18 oil on stretched canvas) were done at the request of my four-year old granddaughter. She absolutely loves “Ponies” and wanted this one to hang in her bedroom. She knows that God created them just as He created her.



The second painting (14x18 oil on stretched canvas) I call “Safe.” This one was done at the request of a friend who said she had this on her mind for days and thought I would like to paint it. She gave me her idea on a 3x3 post-it note. We are promised a safe haven with God the Father and the Son if we but believe and accept.

While waiting for these pieces to dry so that I could put in the last minor touches, I decided to do a sketch. I looked through pictures and photos that I have in my “library” and this one jumped out at me…

In Prayer
(9x12 graphite)

So, my friends, family and blog followers (you are also my friends)…my prayer for you in the coming year is love for one another; strengthening your faith, and remembering those in need - physically and spiritually. I will pray for much more for you. May you have a wonderful, prosperous and love-filled year.

Christmas - 2009

Here we are, the day after Christmas, sorting through pictures, gifts, cards, thoughts and reflecting on the day of the celebration of the birth of the Christ child. I live in a "Mother-In-Law" apartment attached to my son's home (why do they call it that; why not "Mother's" apartment - I've often wondered that)and in the past four Christmases that I've lived here; one of the children always knocked on my door at the outrageous early hour that little kids are up and chomping at the bit to see what Santa has brought for them. This year I fooled them...I set my alarm and my coffee pot for that outrageous Christmas morning hour and was in front of the tree dressed for Christmas morning with my cup of coffee waiting with my daughter-in-law and 8-year old grandson for everyone else to wake up. First came my 4 yr. old granddaughter being prodded along by Jack. My son dragged himself downstairs looking frazzled and worn out to the enth degree (he was the "bicycle-put-togetherer" and Santa's helper the night before) some 30 minutes after my arrival and my 18-yr. old grandson had to be strongly coaxed out of bed by dad much later when we just could not make the little ones wait any longer. When we were finally all gathered, cameras ready...it began. It was so fun watching the little guys open their presents from Santa and family.


Here's my 4-yr. old granddaughter trying to get ALL of her "ponies" and farm animals in her barn. She said to us..."How did Santa know to bring me the barn, I didn't ask him for it?" We perpetuated the myth by telling her that he knew what she was thinking. She is so into animals, especially horses and was absolutely thrilled with her barn and animals. She told us that when she grows up she's going to be a Vetenarian, sing and play all the instruments just like dad, and be an artist like Tutu (that's me - grandma).

Jack is 8-years old and this is his first Christmas knowing that Santa is make believe. When he first learned that several months ago he was very sad over that fact. After all presents were opened I asked him how he like playing Santa this year he said it was sooo fun. He outgrew his first bike so mom and dad got him a larger, fancier John Deere bike.


Ellie and Jack made sure each package went to the right person.







Surprise of surprises...Jack opening his X-Box. He had no idea and couldn't imagine someone giving him X-Box games by mistake...mom assured him it wasn't a problem and that it could always be exchanged for PS2 games...when all of a sudden Santa - in the guise of dad in his pjs - brings in a present he found in the hallway. I wish I had had my camera ready to get the expression on Jack's face when all the wrapping was ripped away...then came the tears of unbelievable joy.

Where is Jacob (the 18 yr. old) in all of this...you may ask? Laying on the bean bag covered up with a quilt. I couldn't get a decent picture. He was very much an active participant; however, in that reclined position.

That's what Christmas is all about...the children. Even when they know what the season is all about, the presents take a front seat for that time, but they remember to wish Jesus a happy birthday!!!

I pray you all had a wonderful Christmas and didn't forget to wish Jesus a Happy Birthday and to thank His Father, God almighty for His Son. I love you all and thank you for following my blog.

Labor of Love

My last posting was a commission piece for a dear friend. This piece is a labor of love...love for my Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ for whom the celebration of His birth is what this season is all about.



The concept of the painting came about when one of my lady friends from my church handed me a post-it note and said..."This picture has been on my mind for days and I thought maybe you would like to paint it." There on a 3"x3" note paper was this tiny sketch. I took it and came up with this...very close to the initial sketch, but this is what I was led to do. Although there is still much to do on it I wanted to post it today in celebration of the birthday of Jesus. I call this painting "Safe"...from Proverbs 20:25..."whosoever putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe."


This painting has gone through a few renditions. This is my initial sketch, which I thought..."well, that's looking pretty good...I'll put it on canvas." Much to my dismay after laying in the paint, folds of clothing, hands...the whole works, I thought to myself..."no way can the left hand comfortably be in that position." That meant, removing His hands and most of what I had already painted and start over. I did that twice, until in frustration I had my 4-year old granddaughter take a photo of my hands in the position I wanted in the painting, and voila...here we are.

Sometimes life is tough and in our frustration we throw our hands up and say..."forget it." But, we need to hang in there, just as I did with this painting and something beautiful will surface.

Much love to all of you this wonderful Christmas Season. Celebrate with thanksgiving the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ who loves us all unconditionally. That with His love we will show our love for one another.

Second Commission

This is the piece that has kept me at my easel for the past 2-3 weeks. It is to be a surprise Christmas present for my friend's husband. He wanted this portrait done and especially wanted it done in black and white. I have never done an oil portrait in black and white before so needless to say, it was a challenge. I am pleased with the results and only hope she and her husband will be pleased.



All that's left here is my signature then it is on to couple of paintings I've had on hold.

Christmas Paintings

Yes, it is that time of the year again. I will be doing a couple of paintings for Christmas. One of which is my very first commission piece. If it turns out well, there may be more coming from that source.


















My little granddaughter absolutely loves horses. She is four years old and like so many little girls she has many, many "My Little Pony" ponies...I would say about 70. She got her daddy to promise her that he will build her a barn for a horse when she is old enough to take care of one. Knowing her, she will not let him forget that promise. She has been begging me to paint her a picture of a pony. I've never, ever painted a horse before but thought I would surprise her with this. Unfortunately, she walked in on me working on it and now it will not be a surprise. Oh well...no matter.


A friend of mine has a friend who wanted a painting done of a sister who has passed away and asked if I would be willing to give it a try. My friend paints, but didn't feel that she was skilled enough to do a portrait. The photograph I was given to use as a reference was not very good, but I thought I would take the challenge. I got the photograph a week ago and I think I'm done with it. I am not very happy with it, but can't find anything I can do to make it better. This is my first REAL commission piece and, needless to say, I really stressed over this piece. I'm hoping she likes it.

> There are 3 ways you can make a real difference to this blog.
1. Share the link to this site with just one other artist, art collector, or someone who would be interested.
2. Post your thoughts in the Comments section.
3. Email your ideas and/or suggestions on what you would like to read/see more of at lokeforrest@comcast.net

A Man of Sorrows

I awoke one morning about a month ago with a feeling of urgency…maybe that’s not the word I want…maybe more “feeling impressed upon” to do a specific painting. I made a sketch, showed it to my son and explained to him my thoughts on the painting. The first thing he said in response was…”a man of constant sorrow.” Isaiah 53:3 says “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.” Let me show you by posting my latest “practice” work.

A MAN OF SORROWS
16x20 oil on stretched canvas

Detail...Christ's tears

As I mentioned above, this is a practice piece. I wanted to make sure that what I had in mind; I would be able to create before doing a large canvas. I am told that an artist should leave the interpretation of an artwork to the viewer, but I want no mistaking what I’m saying here…or is it really what the Lord is saying??

The background is the Orion cosmos. For your interest, the constellation Orion, which by the way is the largest and brightest constellation in the universe, depicts… the Glorious One, He Who Triumphs, coming forth as light. Something I learned in my Sunday school class after I did the painting. Isn’t that interesting? (The Greeks call Orion The Hunter). Christ is shown in His ascended glory looking down on earth; His left hand clutching at His heart in grief, while lifting His right hand off the earth in a gesture of both blessing and allowance (allowing man to make his choices, good or bad). He is crying because He is saddened at what He sees as man’s rejection of the Word of God.

Through the art forums I belong to, I have received suggestions on how I can make this piece even better and I appreciate that help very much. I am intimidated by doing a larger canvas, so I am not quite ready to tackle that yet, but I will when it feels right.

Mahalo and thank you for visiting.

> There are 3 ways you can make a real difference to this blog.
1. Share the link to this site with just one other artist, art collector, or someone who would be interested.
2. Post your thoughts in the Comments section.
3. Email your ideas and/or suggestions on what you would like to read/see more of at lokeforrest@comcast.net

Children of the Rainbow

In one of my earlier blogs I wrote on the hula and its place and importance to the Hawaiian people and their culture. In this blog, I would like to make you aware of what it was like to be brought up in this rich, proud, but defeated culture. "Defeated" may seem like a strange word to use here, but history tells us that the Hawaiian government was overthrown by greedy business men and Queen Liliuokalani was imprisoned in her home...Iolani Palace. A story for another time.

I like to call the children of Hawai’i…Children of the Rainbow…because of the diversity of the races and the children that resulted from the inter-racial unions. They are beautiful in features and possess skin tones of varying degrees. I and my siblings are counted among these children. We were like free spirits; running barefoot and half-dressed, going home only when hungry or hurt. I remember my days as a child of the rainbow. No real responsibilities and life was filled with sunlight, beaches, and play. And through that time…Mama and Tutu Rose were always close by. I'm sure each of you can recall those days of the 40's and 50's when life seemed simpler. But those days passed quickly into another phase. As it says in the Bible in Ecclesiastes 3:1 “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven.”

It was time to grow up. Go to school to learn the Western ways and learn to do the hula as most young Hawaiian ladies were expected to do during that time. Most people are not aware of it, but Hawaiian parents were forbidden to teach or speak the language to their children, not even in the privacy of their own homes. So, unfortunately, we – my siblings and I – did not learn the language to any extent. We knew words and phrases, but could not string it together enough to carry on a conversation. This was a fact that continued into the 50’s when there was some relenting. Also, the history of Hawai’i, geographically or politically, was not taught in the schools…nothing at all regarding the Hawaiian peoples was made available to its young people.

Hmmm…this is taking off in a direction I’m not intending to for this post. I just want to show you a couple of great pictures that I received from my niece and want to share with you.

Children of the Rainbow

That’s me, front row, second from left, my brother James Kaiwa is to my left. All of the young people of our church (and some not) danced to raise money for the church. We had a lot of fun being together.



My sister Charlene (second from left) and sis Leinaala (far right). The other two girls are my cousins. They’re dressed in costume for a dance called “Sophisticated Hula.”

Aloha for now.