Day 4 - Maui, Hawaii -

Today, I went back to Lahaina town....there are so many paintings just waiting to happen! This is a little park behind the library that's on the seawall. Looking north from the park, the seawall walkway goes for about a mile with shops and restaurants lining the street. It's a favorite place for the locals to eat lunch, relax and just "hang out". Several came over to see what I was painting. I met some very nice people today. One of the "perks" of working on location!

Lahaina - Maui, Hawaii

"View from the Sea Wall"

12x16 Plein Air Watercolor

Only 2 days left before I must return to the "mainland"....I'll be painting tomorrow near our condo on Ka'anapali Beach.....I love my job!

DAY 1 - Maui, Hawaii - Plein air

Here I am in Maui, Hawaii! I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to visit this beautiful island for the 2nd time in a year. Last year, I left my plein air gear at home, and traveled only with my sketchbook. This time, I brought all my gear with the intention of doing at least 4 good plein air paintings. On Tuesday morning, I drove to Ma'alaea village and boat harbor. The trade winds were blowing about 4o mph, and it was a challenge just to keep my easel upright! My whole setup blew over twice...but no harm done to equipment or the painting!

"Old but still Floats" - 9x12 Watercolor

This old teakwood sailboat caught my eye right away! the lovely brown weathered deck and bright blue sails in a harbor full of 'shiny new boats' just needed to be painted!

DAY 1 - continued - Maui, Hawaii - Plein air

After painting in the Ma'alaea Harbor, I loaded up my gear and drove back to Lahaina town. This is an old whaling village near where we are staying. There are probably 100 places to set up and paint and it's hard to make a decision....fortunately, the available sunlight helps me to decide. The late afternoon sun put this ice cream store in "backlight" and the main street in bright light....a great composition that didn't need any "tweeking".

"Ice Cream Store" - 9x12 Watercolor

I nearly out-stayed my available light! I was so intent on capturing some of the detail of the ice cream store building and the time got away from me....I looked up and it was nearly sundown! By the time I got my gear packed up, it was almost dark! A long painting day...the harbor in the morning and the Lahaina in the afternoon - great start to my "plein air vacation"!

DAY 2 - Maui, Hawaii - Plein Air!

Today, I wanted to paint in the "upcountry" of Maui. A local artist, Julie Houck, told me that the "upcountry" was a great place to paint! The drive time was almost an hour and I got a late start. (Breakfast on the patio of our condo was so nice! Chatting over coffee with my husband, his brother and wife was so relaxing....and I AM on vacation.....!)

9x12 - "Downtown Makaweo" Watercolor

Makaweo is called Maui's "Cowboy Town" - historically, it was the center of the ranching and farming area also know as "the upcountry" on the island of Maui. I was tempted to stop several times and set up my easel (the sugar cane museum & factory really caught my attention) but I was "on a mission"! I drove around in the town of Pa'ia (I hope I'll have time to go back before I go home) for about 30 minutes then continued on up to Makaweo. The "main street" (Baldwin Ave) is quaint with turn of the century, historic store fronts. Local art is popular here and there are several galleries. What a great day!

Painting in Paradise!

Here are two paintings in my sketchbook from a visit to Maui September of last year. I'm so excited to be returning to this location again this Sunday - staying for 7 glorious days!

It's a beautiful island with mountains, farms, beaches, and plenty of subject matter for an artist. I'll try to meet up with Julie Houck, an island artist and fellow member of International Plein Air Painters. Can hardly wait! I'm standing on one foot, then the other, just like a little kid....doing my "antsy-dance". :-)

I have my gear all laid out, checking it twice before I stuff it all into my carry-on backpack. I'll begin painting Monday or Tuesday, depending on other's schedules.

....better go back in my studio; can't remember if I have enough tubes of turquoise.....I'm painting in paradise, you know, and there's a lot of that color there.....

Saturday was a beautiful day for an art festival! Downtown Waxahachie, Texas was wall to wall people during the Bob Phillips Country Reporter Festival. I painted this 11x14 watercolor amid all the hoop-la! Plenty of distractions, but I managed to remain focused and turned out a nice one.

"A Booth Full of Buyers-a Festival Artist's Dream!"

11x14 Watercolor

Plein Air - Downtown Historic Cedar Hill

This was one of the nicest days we've had this Fall in north Texas. Taking full advantage, I went to Cedar Hill to spend the day and paint en plein air with Visual Artists of Cedar Hill.

The subject of my painting is a building on a downtown corner...named "Southwest Corner Gallery". Owner of this cute eclectic gallery and gift shop are Bill & Vicki Watkins. Bill spotted me painting and came over to see and to show me a book with some photos of the building back in it's "heyday". Originally the building was a bank and it's now a local "landmark" famous for being one of the banks Bonnie & Clyde robbed.

"Southwest Corner Gallery" 9x12 Watercolor

Below is a snapshot of my plein air setup with painting almost complete. Right after I took this photo, Bill came back over with his camera and took a photo of me as I finished up the last couple of strokes. Great day on "the Hill"......