Happy Aloha Friday!

Hope wherever you are, this Friday is treating you well:)

[These photos were taken last year when my friends and I swam out to a teeny tiny island about 400 yards off the coast of O'ahu called Mokoli'i.]

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originally posted: April 14, 2017

Balancing Studio Life and Living Life

Can you believe this is the one of the ridges overlooking my home valley of Palolo!?! I can literally see my house from up here - as well as a nice chunk of eastern O'ahu! (Below is a 28 second panorama of the incredible views which encompass Waikiki all the way to Hawai'i Kai!)

I took a short break from my adventure on the Lanipo Ridge hike to create a vlog all about balancing the right amount of work and play in order to get the most out of every day.

To me, getting the most out of every day is all about being productive as well as being happy. Happiness can encompass connecting with friends, making time for healthy habits, family time, and so much more.  It can be easy to feel like one must work all day every day when working from home and for yourself, but creating a work schedule with time off for your 'happy activities' included really does wonders all around.

Personally, I know I get more computer-y business-y type work done when I give myself XX number of hours to work (usually 1-3) and then it's break time or alternate project time, versus forcing myself to stay glued to my computer for 6-8 hours no matter how many times I let myself get distracted. Plus, being with close friends or going on a hike or visiting an art gallery really does wonders for inspiration and refreshment of the soul! 

Yep, that little dirt path is the trail! 

So have a little listen and enjoy the view, and maybe think about how you can incorporate a bit more joy in your life.... and not at the expense of production, but in order to enhance it!

Feel free to leave me a comment about any tricks or tips you've learned about balancing your business/creative/fun time effectively!

PS For all my $10+ Patreon Members, check out the next post for your two reference photos for the month of April from this ridge hike! 

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originally posted: March 31, 2017

First Solo Hike!! Jude-Nu'uanu Trail

Had an epic day yesterday, doing my very first solo hike here on island! It was a beautiful four hours through the woods going up the side of one of these old volcanic ridges to the very top with amazing views of the island.

Hiking out here can be pretty difficult and almost all hikes have at least some rock scrambling areas with wet rocks or mud or decaying trails or a host of other things that can make the trek a little precarious. So I felt very empowered doing all of those things on my very own yesterday for the first time.

 Was sweaty and a bit muddy and grinning from ear to ear by the end of the day:)

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originally posted: March 11, 2017

Just Catching Up

Hello loyal readers, I know my posts have been slightly sporadic lately but I have good excuses. I have been extremely busy writing a new artist statement for my current series (which I think is my most important collection yet), as well as getting my financial house in order (taxes, yay!), working on a new painting (and demo), and setting up a Patreon page (more on that soon to come!). 

Pluuuuuuus.... my wonderful boyfriend, Tim, and I just celebrated our three year anniversary with a little mini hike here on a ridge in our own Palolo Valley. There are so many ancient volcanic ridge hikes all over these islands and I really need to keep my New Year's resolution and hike more of them! 

Three blissful years:)

And to top it all off, I am FINALLY learning how to type properly instead of using my own little 'shorthand' keystrokes (don't even ask) so this has taken me f-o-r-e-v-e-r to type. 

But don't you worry, loyal supporter, I will have another great artist spotlight for this next Inspo Saturday coming up and am mustering the courage to create my first video diary about an issue that's very important to me. 

Have any suggestions on especially great ridge hikes here on O'ahu? Maybe in the intermediate category? (Folks out here are fearless and scramble around some seriously crazy rocks!) Let me know in the comments:)

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originally posted: February 10, 2017

My 33rd Birthday!!

Hooray! It's my time of year again - New year, new age, new goals, new me! 

I've been asked before what I think about aging or what age I wish I could be, and I always answer that I am happy being the age that I am currently because every year gets better and better. I strongly feel that as long as one is continually growing and advancing and learning, then there is always something to look forward to and therefore aging is a blessing rather than a curse. 

I am in the prime health of my life, am in the happiest relationship ever, and am moving forward by leaps and bounds in my artistic career (not to mention currently living in paradise!), and I know the best is still yet to come. Living a personally successful life takes a lot of time and thankless energy, and the returns are slow moving in the beginning, but I have found that having an inherently positive attitude is my greatest ally, which has brought me as far as I have come already, and I know will continue to see me though in the future. 

I always try to remember that each day is a brand new day with a brand new set of decisions as to how I want to lead my life....

So bring it on, 33. I am READY! 

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originally posted: January 10, 2017

Studio Escalier in Argenton Chateau, France

As I am about to begin the sixth and final week of this heavenly program nestled in the French countryside, I can't help but look back fondly on the previous five weeks and be amazed at how quickly they have gone by. My fellow art students, the ambiance of this picturesque, stone walled town with its abundant fruit growing on countless trees, and, of course, the traditional atelier classes held in the converted attic of a 250+ year old home have all contributed to a dreamlike experience I will never forget. Timothy Stotz and his wife, Michelle Tully, are the most knowledgeable, patient, and supremely skilled teachers one could ask for, and are the cherry on top of this magically crafted, old-world-esque, studio art workshop program. The camaraderie and encouragement of the other students, as well as our delectable weekly potluck dinners, have made me feel more comfortable and welcome than I could have ever expected, especially being so far from home.

On top of this serendipitous atmosphere, I have learned a great amount regarding figure painting from life. Tim and Michelle have taught me so much about mixing skin tones and really rounding and forming the figure in a true and fantastic way. I am more confident regarding how to portray light and atmosphere using hue, value, and chroma than ever before and can't wait to apply this new knowledge to my own works back home. Their artworks stand as a huge influence and inspiration, and having them give their weekly demonstrations and lectures has been incredibly helpful and insightful. 

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originally posted: October 8, 2015

Visit to the National Gallery, Washington DC

  I was fortunate enough to spend three and a half days at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. while visiting my boyfriend at his parents’ house recently. The collection is absolutely incredible; as good as any museum I’ve seen in Europe! I have always especially enjoyed visiting art museums by myself so I can spend as much time as I want mulling over whichever works tickle my fancy. Of course, I love the docent tours and headset tours and this time I even brought along a guidebook to the collection.  I did a few master copy sketches in the galleries and really just soaked it all in.

 A few of the highlights of my visit included the only Da Vinci painting in North America, a small room with four Vermeers, the four Raphaels, six Toulouse-Lautrec paintings, and a number of John Singer Sargent, Van Gogh, Renoir, Cezanne, Manet, and Matisse works, just to name a few. I was literally in constant awe! I will be posting many of my favorites on my Tumblr blog periodically.

I was really paying close attention to various artists’ brushstrokes and choice of light and color. I have been feeling so inspired lately and am thinking of doing a few master copies just for fun. 

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originally posted: June 24, 2015