Art and Color on the North Shore of O'ahu ~ Sunset Beach

'A'ohe loa i ka hana ke aloha

Distance is ignored by love

Finally! Hawaii, Christmas 2017-January 2018

My little Fabriano sketchbook ...

Sunset Beach

O'ahu

Naupaka Kahakai Plant

Hawaii is incredible! There is a reason why people from all over the world visit Hawaii in their lifetime. The colors, the water, the air, the beaches, the hiking and the flowers are magnificent. So, if you are going to have a long distance relationship, where you have to spend time on an airplane, might I recommend the North Shore of O'ahu?!

These colors make my heart sing! These plants are on the walk to Sunset Beach.

Kevin's place where he was living at the time ...

Waxing his board on the lanai ...

Kevin said geckos make the best roommates. They are a little messy but they are good luck, eat the bugs, very quiet and super cute so I guess it balances out!

In the neighborhood ...

"Mother's Beach"

It actually is where mothers love to take their kids to learn ocean awareness, surfing and swimming skills. Plus there is a huge shade tree, which makes for the perfect temperature on a sunny day. There are many local families, of all colors, including regal Hawaiian ohana there spending time together. Below, Kevin at "Mother's" getting ready to paddle out to the outside reefs of Sunset Beach.

More little watercolors on the beach! Often, at home, I do black and white sketches or ink drawings in my tiny sketchbooks but that's rare in Hawaii. The colors are so incredible around the island it was nearly always a watercolor.

Kahuna Nui Hale Kealohalani Makua

Love all you see, including yourself.

~Hale Makua

Here's a shot I captured of Kevin up the beach at Velzyland. Yes, he actually surfs and isn't just a poser! Haha!

Sunset Point

Sunset Point, on the North Shore of O'ahu, is a legendary surf spot. The thing is,  it is one of many on a stretch of beach called the 7 Mile Miracle. It starts at Haleiwa and goes up to Velzyland. When we drove along the Kamehameha Hwy, which runs along that stretch, you can catch sight of the ocean between beachfront homes in some places. While driving along Kevin would point and name all the famous surf spots without making a pause! Some of the most important surf contests in the world, like the Pipe Masters and the Triple Crown of Surfing, are held along this famous 7 mile stretch of the North Shore.

It's fun to hear about all the legendary surf and while it is very impressive ... I just keep seeing things to paint! Here's a rare graphite drawing in my sketchbook of the not so rare Pōhuehue vines that grow along the beach.

The reef makes for some great surf breaks but you have to be careful not to fall on it or let a wave drag you across it. That goes for swimming too, of course. Kevin loves to quote this Hawaiian proverb, "Never turn your back on the ocean."

I kept seeing a man cutting them open and then I finally got my Sunset Beach coconut water! When I was done I went back to the man who prepared it and he scraped all the meat of the coconut for me. And let me tell you, it went into some very delicious frozen adult beverages!

You can see that with so much beauty it is very inspiring for an artist. I did quite a few little watercolors and when I got home I painted two oils for my solo show which was last December. I'll be sharing those soon!

That whole trip we sang Mele Kalikimaka ... and it was!

The other song we sang and continue to sing, while Kevin plays the guitar, is Island Style by John Cruz. He shared this video with me on that first trip and I love it. They raise money for music in schools and the kids are adorable!

Aloha!

Blessings and light!

L.A. Arboretum part 2 ~ Sketching at the Cottage and One Amazing Peacock

I work very hard, and I play very hard.
I'm grateful for life,
and I live it.
I believe life loves the liver of it.
~Maya Angelou

After walking through the orchid house and some of the other lovely areas, in the Arboretum, I headed toward the Queen Anne Cottage, to do a little field sketch.

Mendelssohn: Spring Song

Love recognizes to barriers.

It jumps hurdles, leaps

fences, penetrates walls

to arrive at its destination

full of hope.

~Maya Angelou

Surviving is important.

Thriving is elegant.

~Maya Angelou

Queen Anne Cottage

built 1885

You might recognize from a previous post ... or as the house at the beginning of Fantasy Island! Yep, they filmed that here.

Lift up your eyes upon

This day breaking for you.

Give birth again

To the dream.

~Maya Angelou

A beautiful view from the terrace ...

And I found my spot!

A lovely view for a quick field sketch!

This was my "Vine" video, which has a limit of 6 seconds! Don't blink!

The arboretum is definitely known for its peacocks, though there are quite a few geese cruising around.

On my way out, I saw these ladies ...

And this beautiful gentleman!

I walked around, so I could see him from the back ...

And as you can see, he was incredible. These following photos were not taken with a telephoto. He let me get so close and for probably 10 minutes! It was amazing.

Nothing can dim

the light which shines from within.

~Maya Angelou

I wrote this post on the night Maya Angelo passed, as you might have guessed, by all the quotes. I'm always so inspired by her words, as so many of us are and I love the story she tells in this clip, below.

Listen to yourself

and in that quietude 

you might hear the voice of God.

~Maya Angelou

her final message on twitter

Many blessings and light!

San Damiano ~ Assisi

My aunt and uncle left for Umbria a couple of weeks ago. Before leaving, my aunt Penny, who had been to Assisi before, asked me where they should go. She asked me what places I loved, that perhaps they'd missed on their previous visit. San Damiano was the first on my list. It's just outside the old city walls and is a truly blessed place.

I love San Damiano. It is so peaceful and quiet and the area surrounding the convent is filled with olive groves and poppies and a wonderous view of the Umbrian valley. On my first trip here I sat and sketched while a little cat came to hang out with me, purring as I put pen to paper, crawling on my lap and rolling around on my scarf. It was so beautiful that day and I will never forget sitting there beneath the olive trees.

San Damiano is one of the most important places in the story of both Saint Francis and Saint Claire. It is where Francis, while meditating on a the "San Damino Cross" - A Siro-Byzantine icon, that he heard the voice of God telling him to "Go and rebuild my church." It is a huge moment for Francis and when Claire decided to leave her life of wealth and nobility behind, this is where Francis brought Claire. Here she began the second order of Franciscans,"The Poor Claire's." And at the end of his life, when he was very ill and being cared for by the sisters, he wrote his beautiful Canticle of the Creatures here, in Claire's tiny roof garden.

Claire lived here until her death another 27 years after the death of Francis. They say miracles happen for those that pray in her dormitory where she and her sisters slept, lined up on on straw mattresses. There are two windows that look down on the cloister courtyard, now lined with beautiful red geraniums. (see below) It is also where she died and is a very quiet place to pray and meditate.

To see photos of the interior (they don't want tourists snapping pictures) you can go to the official Santuario Website.

"You pray in your distress and in your need;

would that you might also pray in the fullness of your joy

and in your days of abundance."

~ Kahlil Gibran

Have a beautiful, amazing weekend!!!