Children of the Rainbow - Family of God FINISHED!!

Omigoodness ... July 29, 2013 was my last posting - that was when I started laying in the color of the painting "Children of the Rainbow - Family of God."  This has proven to be quite an undertaking.

It started years ago while on vacation on the Big Island of Hawai'i with my sisters and their children and children's children - confused?  Anyhow, I took a picture of my nieces and nephews as they posed with a sea urchin that they retrieved from the ocean.  I developed the film and as I viewed the results that one picture said to me "these are children of the rainbow." The photo showed me  children from diverse ethnicity groups who were all of one family in the earthly sense - but also one family in the spiritual sense - the Family of God.  That was when I decided that someday I would paint a picture of the "children of the rainbow."

The painting reflects the event - and it truly is an event - getting 18 children together to take a group picture.  We have those who are so excited about being a part of it, those who would rather be somewhere else, those who dressed up for the affair and those who didn't.  Of course we have to have the cut-ups. Four generations are present in the painting.  The little blonde toddler with the boy's arms around her - that boy is her father.  Then the boy (blue shirt and tie) and the boy with arms around the toddler are brothers.  I am their mother in the pink dress with white flowers just above them.  I could explain each one, but that would take forever, just know they are all family.

This is where I started - the sketch.

Then the underpainting.

And here is the finished painting, almost seven months since starting...

Many changes made along the way - correcting and changing.  I am so glad it's done; however, I did see a few places that needed work.

Mahalo ke Akua!!  (Thank you God.)

Children of the Rainbow - progress

It has been almost four weeks since I started the underpainting on this piece.  Longer than I expected; however, four days out of the four weeks I was unable to paint because I had out-of-town company.  My niece, an artist herself and a tattoo artist for a living, was here from Hawaii so had to show her around.  I live in the Nashville, TN area, so needless to say, there was a lot she wanted to see and experience.

Anyway, today - July 29th other than details and touch-ups on the underpainting, I am close to laying the color in.  I can see areas where adjustments are needed.  So far it has certainly been a trip - the faces bringing back so many memories. Oh yes, one other thing - these children are all related and there are four generations represented.

Finished Underpainting

Just a quick post today.  I've completed the underpainting on the family portrait.  Some painters do just a loose, sketchy type underpainting, which is what I usually do, but in this case I wanted to be right on with likenesses.  I don't think I can get any closer than this.  I've been kind to the adults, shaving off a few years.  Now comes the color - scary.  (18x24 oil on stretched canvas.)

Newly Completed Works

I've just completed these portraits of two very dear friends and their husbands. These were done for them because of their generosity. It was supposed to be a surprise, but quickly realized that I could not proceed without their input. In the first portrait, her husband passed away a few years ago, so it was very important to me that I catch his likeness and essence. I just hope and pray they love it...just wish I could've gotten better photos.





Mahalo nui loa (thank you very much) Barbara and Sandra for your generosity and loving friendship.

P.S. Forgot to mention that they are sisters. Their relationship makes me wish I was closer, geographically, to my sisters.

Omigoodness - It's Been Awhile

These two commissioned paintings is why I haven't posted for a while. My granddaughter is the little ballerina and her cousin. The pose of my granddaughter has been so endearing to family members that her uncle asked that I do one for him. He was very specific about the background color.

Now it is on to other things. Thanks so much for visiting.

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.

Self Portraits

It has been a little over a week since I last posted…my goodness how time flies.

I’m told that in the process of learning how to paint, especially if one decides to delve into portraiture, one should practice by doing a self portrait. Before really getting into painting I often wondered why would someone do a self portrait…is it ego? I have discovered that it is a great way to practice. Your model is always handy and there is no charge for the sitting. Where can you find a better deal? I’ve gone onto artists websites and found that some of them have done several…one artist mentioned doing a self portrait at least once a month. Even the Masters have done self portraits, many of them more than one. So, if the Masters have done it, then why not me? I'm sure it can only help me hone my portraiture skills.

Sometime back I decided to give it a go and this is what I came up with…


This is my first attempt. Not very good, but my family did recognize it as me.


This one I call “Melancholia.” I did it for a challenge with the About.com painting website. The challenge was to do an expressive self portrait. I decided on this composition because I find myself in this position many times, especially when I’m studying a piece that I’m working on. Also, with the hands being such a large part of the overall composition, it gave me an opportunity to work on hands…something I’ve always had problems with. I was surprised that I did get some pretty decent feedback on it. I think its time to do another one. I could paint from photos, which I have done on many occasions and I do have some fantastic photos of people from foreign countries in their cultural dress in great poses, but I want to be able to paint from life; therefore, the self portrait.

These are both done in oil on 9x14 canvas board.

Until next time, mahalo for visiting.


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Family Portraits

As most artists, I have done my share of family portraits and I would like to post some of them here. I’ve already posted a few of them such as “Captive Audience” and “Mo’opuna” (both in the post of Sunday, June 21, 2009) which are paintings of my grandchildren. Most recently, “From Whence I Come”… a portrait of my son showing his ethnicity (post of Monday, July 20, 2009).

"Soul Mates"
Private Collection
(16x20 oil...son and wife)



“Kalani”
Private Collection
(11x14 oil…oldest grandson)









“Kai"
Private Collection
(11x14 oil…youngest grandson)

“Keohokulani”
Private Collection
(18x24 portrait of oldest sister)

I’m getting ready to ship my sister’s portrait to her. Hope she likes it.

Aloha…that’s it for now.