Girls night out - the back 40 - and some art

Tuesday evening the wild bunch (?) went out for drinks and pu-pu's (appetizers for those not on island) . . . Ashley has a fun group of ladies, almost all of them have been in the island between 15 and 25 years. (sigh)

Mary-Karen-Annie-Theresa-Ashley-Donna as the evening began . . .

Ashley is ordering pu-pu's with Theresa

two new arrivals - Karen and Annie - let the fun begin (Donna has the best pictures and i will add them when i get them)

of course last time we were together we made up nic-names for each other and i was voted to make the name tags. since i have been working so much it was a breeze and fun!

Donna is a professional photographer at the Hyatt - ergo the camera

this one is an inside joke - Karen

this is miss chirpy and the life of the party,  Theresa

and last but not least is the shoe queen, or shall i say the 'Sandal Tree' queen

and now it's time to mow the 'back forty' as Ashley calls it

is she a thing of beauty or what

duct tape can be used for anything - ask Ashley

and here we have the "object of our affection" - Cezar, always a joy to have around.

OMG - the sky is on fire! - hows this for a view while you are having dinner . . . from Ashley's back deck

some colors huh . . .

as dinner dwindles down, so fades the sky

and of course it's always time for more art with marionette - wednesday, watercolor, thursday pastel, and tomorrow, friday is 'sumi-e' - using Chinese brushes and ink plus watercolor. oh boy!

learning a new medium - Pastel - with Marionette

another one who comes to Marionette each year to learn and practice, she (?) like me also has a degree in art - artists just like to hang together

pastel - my first attempt - i like it, i like it ! ! ! !

these are called 'Ti" - pronounced tee - leaves - i could start to like this medium for some things

watercolor from wednesday - my favorite - chickens!

until we meet again!

Sunday in the Garden with Art

sunday was a glorious day at the south shore botanical garden. "Women Artists of Kauai" had a show and sale at the garden and the weather couldn't have been more beautiful. i took some pictures of the show as well as a few flowers. did a little shopping at the volunteer table and just enjoyed the time there. friend kathy came with me. ashley was laid up with terrible sinus and allergy headache and stayed in bed most of the day.

the beautiful sign for the Garden tour

garden store and information

it doesn't get any better than this - sunday stroll through the gardens looking at art

waiting for buyers

lets talk art

marionette and husband at her table

Marionette and artist

kathy with artist

mom is a nurse at UNC hospital

a budding artist watching mom's table

chenille plant - each of these are from 12 to 18 inches long

flame bush

the ever present hibiscus

just another color of the hundreds

kathy calls this her five color plant - and you can see why, all of these leaves are on the same stalk

Antherium

until we meet again . . . watercolor on wed, pastel on thurs, and acrylic on fri. then its time to start thinking about the trip home and packing. i will be happy to see larry and family but will sure miss the weather and deserted island atmosphere. no news, no politics, no nothing. its too bloody far and the mainland has closed for the day by the time we get moving.  6am here is noon in NC and 6pm is midnight. so all bad news is closed for the day! "I'll be back" - but don't tell ashley, she's hoping i will leave her alone and go somewhere else. only kidding.

painting and taking in local color

ok what does everyone want to see first - what i am doing, what i am seeing or what i am painting.
it is truly a tropical paradise here. check out the flowers.

$6 bunch of flowers - whole foods eat your heart out

i have been working nearly everyday doing some piece of art. not all can be done in one day so i will work a little on one and then work on another, this keeps me from overworking a painting and gives me a chance to try a few different ways with the mediums.

work in progress watercolor — hen and chicks

wip  acrylic — hawaiian woman from the Hawaiian Festival

watercolor + pastel pencil — napali coast

painting on silk — my favorite rooster

water color — sleeping giant

here are some pictures of other painters at Marionette's studio in Wiamea for the silk painting class. one of Ashley's friend's Kathy came with me and had a excellent time. tomorrow the 3 of us are going to the south shore Botanical Garden for an art show of women painters here on Kauai and Marionette is one of the exhibitors.

my completed silk

robin @ water color class

Kathy @ silk class

victoria @ watercolor class

 

other silk students

next we'll look at some 'eye candy' that is made up of this island . . . everywhere you look there is someplace beautiful to see or that i want to paint. i am driving to go to point A and along the way i need to stop at point B C D  etc. don't leave home with out it . . . . your camera that is.! every inch of this island is photogenic.

immaculate conception church

beautiful interior

okd plantation/mill houses

jesus and mary church in wiamea

cottage at the Wiamea Plantation Cottages Resort

last night, friday, i went to a 'Bon Dance' - a Japanese tradition that mimics the mexican 'day of the dead' except that this goes on for 3 months at the local Buddhist Temple (just fri and sat evenings) - it was outdoors and is held at different shrines/temples throughout the island from june until august. it is to celebrate and remember your dearly departed. there is music and drums and costumes and all go in a circle around a 2 story platform and dance the same footwork and same hand movements. there are about 13 - 15 different dances all using the same 5 dance movements. apparently they start practicing in early spring to keep sharp on the hand and footwork. it's like a festival with food and trinkets. the costumes (kimonos) were stunning, its called a Happy Time because of the 'remembering' of your loved ones. men, women, children, haoles (white), hawaiian, any and all can join in. joiners usually wear what is called a Hapi Coat (it is like the kimono only it is short to the knees and the sleeves are not as deep. time for me to make one.) or street clothes.

gathering for the Bon Dance

dancers waiting to begin - notice the three to the right have on 'Hapi Coats'

the circle begins and all follow

she was just too cute, stayed right up with her 'grandmother'

look at this woman - you could imagine yourself in japan

costumes were just too beautiful

inside of the buddhist temple