Art and wine inspire us to keep going

Imagine my delight when my oil painting students announced they wanted to exhibit their art work. I love to support initiative. It would be at Nani’s house. They would invite just family and a few friends for a private showing.

Each of us would bring heavy pupu which means hors d’oeuvres substantial enough for dinner. Wine would be served. Personally, I think it was an excuse to drink wine. Only people who drank wine would be invited! they said.

Grouping of paintings includes images of Moanalua Gardens. At left: Prince Lot’s cottage by Leinani Keppeler-Bortles. Center: Kamaipuupaa hula mound by Rebekah Luke. Bottom: Chinese Hall by Rae Gorman. Right: Lo’i kalo (pu‘epu‘e style) by Rae Gorman.

Some background: This is the first cohort of students, now in Painting III (Landscape En Plein Air). They completed Painting I and II  in the studio. Now students have graduated and are painting on location for the first time. They go out with me two times each to five locations, for a total of ten outings. After that students may finish their paintings on their own. It will be typical to repeat this course until they are comfortable in the landscape with its constantly changing light and weather.

Setting a show date turned out to be good incentive for finishing the paintings. We had paintings in progress from Moanalua Gardens, Byodo-In, Kapiolani Park, the farm at Castle High School, and Kaaawa Beach Park.

I kept out of the planning until about a week ago when Nani asked how best to display the art work.  I took interest because (a little ego here ) an invitation went out with my name printed prominently. I had not seen any of the finished paintings.

My reply was something like: “Usually a curator will look at the entire collection, and then decide where to place the pieces in the space. I will help you. Bring the work a day early so we don’t have to rush the installation. Hopefully the paint is dry, and your work is properly framed and wired for hanging.”

This is something I teach later, but in this case, students learned “on the job” by trial and error as we staged Nani’s home to look like a gallery. It reminded me of a restaurant opening, at which the carpenters are still hammering away as the first guests walk in the door.

About 50 people came to the show, expressing thanks, congratulations and compliments all around. It was a happy occasion, as you can tell by the smiles in the photos.

The students begged for a critique, so here it is. It will likely be the same whenever you ask:

Good work! I am so proud of you. Keep going! Continue to turn the form. Darker darks and lighter lights. Warm it in the light. Cool it in the shade. Avoid comparing your work to others’ because each artist has her own line. Paint what you see, paint what you know, paint what you feel. Oh, and drink wine!

Copyright 2013 Rebekah Luke

Linda Haynes Abbott with her artwork of Byodo-In at Kahalu‘u, a favorite location to paint en plein air (Jan McEwan photo)

Nani Ho captured the peacefulness of the Byodo-In with this wonderful composition. (Jan McEwan photo)

Leinani and her stylized painting of kalo and mai‘a (Jan McEwan photo)

Rae Gorman challenged herself to paint this view of the temple and the bell house, stream and hillside. Good job! (Jan McEwan photo)

Kids and me at the Filipino Fiesta

Anxious to finish another painting, I headed out to Kapiolani Park yesterday only to find the Annual Filipino Fiesta staged there. It’s Saturday. Duh. I didn’t care. It takes me an hour to drive there from the studio, and DH gave up the use of our one car, so I felt I had to take advantage of the opportunity.

I circumnavigated the park twice after deciding to not park illegally and before squeezing into a spot on Leahi avenue that my friend Pi‘ikea would term “in the next county.”

Plein air oil painters lug their French easels, paints, and what-have-you all over the creation. We need to be there for the light. So I hoofed it.

I visualized my painting spot empty as I walked toward the iconic ironwood-lined path, and it was! Right in the middle of a pedestrian aisle lined with two rows of tent booths and across from the food booths and their aroma, each with a long line of customers.

The tinikling and other Filipino and pop tunes from the bandstand blared, and I welcomed another of day of painting to music. The one I did at the recent Bluegrass Hawaii festival was successful.

“Bluegrass Hawaii,” 20″x16″ oil on canvas

As you might imagine there were a lot of spectators, photographers, and videographers who stopped to watch me paint. I’m happy to stop and converse. What I like the best are the children. Here’s a sample of their comments and questions (some adults ask the same things):

Kid: What kind of paint is that?

Me: Oil paint.

 

Kid: Did you draw that?

Me: Uh huh.

 

Kid: How long did it take you to paint that?

Me: This is my fourth or fifth time out.

Kid: Are the people in the painting still there?

Me: Try look. Are they?

 

Kid: What are you going to call your painting?

Me: How about “Ironwood Path at Kapiolani Park”? “Diamond Head” is too ordinary, don’t you think?

Kid: (smiles widely and nods approval)

 

Kid (noticing the vista): Oh, look! She’s painting that!

 

Kid: Wow, you have a lot of colors.

Me: Do you like to draw?

Kid: Yes.

 

Kid: Are you going to be an artist when you grow up?

Older kid (punching the first kid in the arm): She IS an artist.

Me: Yup, when I grow up.

 

Me and Taxx, who I just met, with my painting in progress, i.e., it is not completed. I am revisiting some places I painted about 20 years ago and painting them again. This is one of them. I hope to mount an exhibit to compare the art works. Is there any growth? Have I grown up?  (Photo by Taxx’s photographer)

Copyright 2013 Rebekah Luke

Story, laughter, song

Today’s post honors The Story. And a newly found twist. The Song.

My adult life work has been all about story—finding and writing it for the daily news, crafting ideas for a magazine, supporting college faculty with features, writing ad copy.

From the pen I gravitated toward photojournalism and photographic images to tell stories. Environmental portraiture, or people in their surroundings, became my forté for a time.

My Hawaiian landscapes in oil have no people in them. They represent scenes of which viewers may create their own stories. I paint pictures of places where you might have been and want to remember, and of places where you might rather be.

Three unrelated gifts support The Story, and I pass them on hoping they will inspire you as much as they have inspired me.

Tomorrow is Mark W. Travis‘s 70th birthday, and he is observing his big year with a trip around the world to continue his fine work as a film director and teacher of film directors and playwrights. Happy birthday, Mark! Hope to see you in the Islands.

Twice I took Mark’s Solo Autobiography workshop. I think he calls it Write Your Life now. Aside from drilling the class in clever techniques, Mark has the uncanny skill of listening to my lines and pinpointing the exact vulnerable spot in my heart that needs exploring. The real story. He stabs it right away, then twists deeper to that place where I don’t want to go. Unhhh. But that becomes the start of writing authentically. And it’s very healing.

I stopped going to his classes—too much crying—and he acknowledged, that’s okay, as long as you keep writing. I follow him on Facebook and read his blog, which is where I came across the second gift:

A story about an African tribe. It’s here: http://thegodmolecule.tumblr.com/post/48146343226/here-is-a-tribe-in-africa-where-the-birth-date-of

Since I’ve tuned in to my own music, writing down the melodies in my mind, this intrigues me. It suggests Song before Story. I hope you will click on the link to read the article. When Mark Travis swings by here in August, he will teach “Write Your Life/On Your Feet” for the first time, coaching the performance and delivery of autobiographical material. I’m on the waiting list.

Thirdly, I must point you to Playing Your Hand Right – Showing America How to Live, the funniest and sexiest writing I’ve ever read. Fact or fiction, seriously real or lovingly poking fun, it doesn’t matter, it’s hilarious! Oh, the stories! Definitely XX-rated. Damn educational if you’ve been sheltered and just read newspapers. Haha! Taylor Oceans is the author who “liked” and “followed” my blog (and everyone else’s) to attract readership to his. He says he needs to amass a following to prove to a publisher his work is successful, so he can make some honest money and buy his dream sailboat. At least that’s his story, and I say he’s there. Apologies if you find his writing offensive. It makes me laugh.

My take-away is that we always have Story. The best ones make you Laugh. But how about we listen more closely and tune in to our Song.

Copyright 2013 Rebekah Luke

What allowing brings

“Red Trunks” © 2013 Rebekah Luke, 16″ x 20″ oil on canvas board

Learning to relax, accept, and allow has opened an intriguing period of Creativity for me, both in and outside of the studio. I feel like I’m on top of a wave, and I don’t want to reach the shore. I’m going with the flow, and I like it.

Nine canvases are in various stages of completion for a show scheduled for August. (The oil paint needs the time to dry. ) I’ve gone out with my plein air students every week, sometimes twice a week, to paint at different locations on O‘ahu. Every time I say, “I have an idea,” DH says, “Uh-oh,” but this idea’s pretty good!

I’m revisiting some spots that I painted 20 or so years ago and repainting the scene. At first I thought my earlier work was better than my current work, but, after a little reflection and some feedback from friends, I now think the current work shows clearer intent and inner perspective. Sort of like when listening to music; you can tell the difference between someone who is reading the notes and a musician who already knows the piece and is playing it by heart.

Still, it’s all about the Light. Recently I’ve met other artists with a lot of Light — oh, so brilliant! We’re starting to explore the idea of collaboration. “It’s a hui thing, never just yourself,” a former colleague Lono points out. For this show, I’m sharing the billing with a talented 3D artist. We’re having fun planning it, and I’ll be sure to let you in on the details when they are final.

Next, I’m allowing the idea of providing reproductions of my art at affordable prices lower than that of an original painting to occupy a place in my product line. I can’t wait to see what the proofs look like, printed on both on art paper and canvas. Then it will be fun to take them to market.

Teaching is going well. Painting I and III finish up this week, and I plan to start new classes in June for children and adults. I’m encouraged by parents of youngsters who’ve requested more art lessons, and by my adult pupils who manage to come to class despite challenging issues with family, at work, and at home.

Art and making art is healing, and it is a gift to me to witness the progress. The folks in Painting III, who are coming with me to Italy in September, are so enthusiastic that they are organizing their own show and suggesting subject matter and locations that they want to paint this summer.

One of the pleasant surprises is my return to music. Since my teenage years, my parents, teachers, choir directors, and DH noticed I had “some musicality.” The path has always been available to me — beyond music lessons, performing in a group, playing instruments, study in college. While painting is on my students’ bucket list, arranging and composing music has been on mine.  But until last Christmas I didn’t really know where to begin to learn how to do it, and I was too shy to ask.

I’ve been encouraged by thanks from the performers in my glee club for my help in teaching them how to read music and hula dance, for sure, and I love the strokes. As for the melodies and lyrics that are coming to me at dawn right after my dream time, that’s a whole ’nother vibrational level. Stay tuned! I am so very grateful.

*   *   *   *   *

“Red Trunks” pictured above will not be in the new collection. I’ve framed it for this coming weekend’s Bluegrass in the Ko‘olaus Festival at Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Garden. I’m taking my easel to paint by music and a couple of finished canvases, including this one, to show folks what a finished painting will look like. My painting group comes here to Luluku regularly. I enjoy painting the mountains and the trees.

Copyright 2013 Rebekah Luke

Rain from Kaua‘i

From the beach this morning, this is what rain coming from the direction of Kaua‘i looked like. We have flash flood advisories. The wind has changed and big raindrops are starting to fall at the studio. The clouds are hanging low and down into the valley, not moving, covering any views of the waterfalls. I bet it’s raining already in the middle of the island. I cancelled my class en plein air in favor of everyone staying indoors to work on some unfinished paintings. I love the light of stormy weather, but I and my oil paint prefer to stay dry. Here’s hoping for a fairer-weather day tomorrow!

Copyright 2013 Rebekah Luke

A peacock posed for me today

Although these unbelievably beautiful birds are a nuisance to us at the studio because they regard our herb and vegetable garden as their personal salad bar, they land on the roof like the weight of an airplane, they hold conventions on the front porch, and they make both dogs crazy, I have to admit they have a certain visual grace and fascination about them. Their iridescent plumage makes up for their loud honk of a voice.

Analogous tomatoes and ice cream

Here, showing off their “Analogous Tomatoes” at this morning’s art show, are my 8- and 10-year old pupils from the neighborhood. Bright and early at 8 a.m. they came with their families, friends, and refreshments to share what they did for the past six Saturday mornings at the studio. Everyone pronounced it a success. There were requests for another round of classes.

Of course, the boy on the left is not holding a tomato. It is a balloon, that is a type of ball or sphere and his 3-D choice for the BCCC (ball, cube, cylinder, cone) lesson.

The tomatoes are analogous because to model their form they are painted with colors that are analogous on the color wheel. I teach the “Tomato Theory” so called by my late fine art teacher and oil painter Gloria Foss.

To warm and lighten a bright red tomato, we use red-orange and just a little bit of white. To darken the red, we move in the opposite direction on the color wheel to a red-violet. This method makes the object appear most vibrant and is preferable to darkening a hue by adding black or the complementary color.

Ice cream break

The ice cream truck came later in the day during my Painting I class for adults, just in time for lunch. Dessert first!

Copyright 2013 Rebekah Luke