Win win, Ruth says, but I call it bartering!

All of a sudden, things are starting to move around here, and everyone is tuning in to the new energy. Even Alice Brown and Ula feel the change.  But first, an announcement:

Rebekah Luke is the solo guest artist starting Sunday, Feb. 26, at the residence at 914 Kainui Drive in Kailua! I’m thrilled! My sister Ruth and her colleague Karyn have staged the home for sale with my oil paintings, and I must say, both the house and my paintings look great! Instead of seeing my work in my virtual gallery, people can now see what the paintings look like hanging in their frames and imagine what they will look like in their own home or office. There is really no substitute for seeing the original.

Ruth phoned and asked if they could borrow an easel to set up an area as an artist’s studio. Sure, I said. Then she asked if I had any paintings they could use to decorate the freshly painted walls. Indeed, I’m always looking for opportunities to show my art, and, really, no problem. Ruth, an equestrian, did help me out once by providing a horse I needed for a photo shoot.

DH and I loaded the paintings — nearly all my available inventory — into the car. I wanted a large enough choice from which Ruth and Karyn could select. I also packed up other props, like a palette, some paint tubes, some brushes, even some “leaners” (unfinished or unsaleable canvases).

When I reached the venue I could do whatever I wanted, in any of the rooms, to install an art show! The public would come to see the property, and at the same time they would view the art. The realtor associates needed interior decor, and I welcomed gallery space! “It’s a win win,” Ruth said, quite pleased with herself. I’m loving it too.

I arranged the paintings on the floor in front of the wall they would hang on, and the three of us concurred as to their placement. Naturally, I deferred to my hosts, and I’m so glad I did! All of the paintings are on display!

About the property: Conveniently located at the edge of Kailua, on an avenue lined with coconut palms. Renovated 3BR, 2B, single story, large back yard, new landscaping. The current owner is our mom Ivalee, and the home has been in the family since the 1960s (or earlier) when Grandpa and Grandma Haus lived in it. Ruth can give you the asking price.

About the paintings: My original Hawaiian landscapes and still life in oil. $125 to $800.

If you are on Oahu, I hope you’ll take the opportunity to meet us and see our work.

The Special Showings and Open House dates and times are:

Sunday, Feb. 26, 2-5 p.m.
Thursday, Mar. 1, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Sunday, Mar., 4, noon to 5 p.m.
Thursday, Mar. 8, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Sunday, Mar. 11, 2 to 5 p.m.
Sunday, Mar. 18, 2 to 5 p.m.

Thanks, Ruth and Karyn!

In the next post I’ll give an update on my teaching adventures, travel adventures, new energy, etc., Meanwhile, here are today’s snaps of the studio animals.

Alice Brown, our adorable puppy, keeps me company in the studio.

Ula, the bossy cat. Look out! She's old now.

Copyright 2012 Rebekah Luke

Our dog Alice Brown, one day at a time

Alice Brown's ultrasound test. She asks, "Hey, Mom, may I have some Reiki now?" — Peter Krape photo

No, she’s not pregnant, but she does have a thickened heart valve. Our beloved dog Alice Brown, 8, is aging like the rest of us. Hearing a heart murmur last week, “Doctor Sterling” recommended an ultrasound to give us more information. This morning we watched the images of Alice Brown’s heart and valves, and we saw and heard the abnormal back flow of blood. With our okay, the vet prescribed some heart medicine, saying, we have the luxury of finding this condition early so that it might be monitored and eased with meds. This condition is common in small dogs, he said.

Copyright 2011 Rebekah Luke

Good mornin’ everybody!

Image in motion: Alice Brown, studio dog

May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii

Today, let’s make a lei, wear a lei, give a lei! May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii! This lei is strung kui style with yellow plumeria and orange kou blossoms from the garden. Aloha to you.

"Mommy tricked me. I came when she called "Walkies!" but she just wanted to give me a lei and have me pose. She even gave me a big smooch on my nose." ~ Alice Brown

Copyright 2011 Rebekah Luke

If you are new to Rebekah’s Studio, here’s my 2010 Lei Day entry. This year’s celebration at Kapiolani Park Bandstand—the 84th annual— runs until 5:30 p.m. today.

http://rebekahstudio.wordpress.com/2010/05/01/in-hawaii-may-day-is-lei-day/

Waterfalls and the wet season

I can see three waterfalls from the studio this morning when normally there are none. The stream is running fiercely when normally it is dry. It’s ho‘oilo, the wet season, all right!

The lightning flashed as I drove home from a meeting in Kahana Valley last night. I covered Alice Brown with a blanket to minimize the agitation she experiences from loud thunder. DH and I battened down the hatches.

What was most irritating was a sudden bloom of mosquitos, just when I was about to fall asleep for the night. I don’t know where they came from—with all the water, could be anywhere—but we were under attack! Ack! After DH appeared with the insecticide in the bedroom, Alice Brown and I took a sleeping bag and moved to the sofa downstairs. The price of paradise.

It’s my painting day, and the worse of the inclement weather is supposed to have passed and moved down the island chain, so I’m thinking of heading out. Then again . . .

Deep in the valley—a double falls

When this third falls runs, it means there's a lot of water coming down on Oahu

Looking downstream from the studio

Copyright 2011 Rebekah Luke

A birthday ritual to remember

Just a bit of silliness here. Today’s my birthday. Some girlfriends toasted me last night, and this morning some other girlfriends took me out for brunch and a movie. My car is in the repair shop, so they picked me up in a yellow Mustang convertible and whisked me to Boots & Kimo’s restaurant in Kailua. Gorgeous day in paradise, no clouds in the sky. Lots of presents—things I wouldn’t get for myself—like these very cool birthday glasses.

Boots & Kimo’s Homestyle Kitchen is very popular with local people and visitors alike; we waited an hour for a table. But the wait staff made up for it by bringing the banana macadamia nut pancakes with a birthday candle and singing Happy Birthday!

After stuffing ourselves with omelets we went to see the movie “Country Strong.” It had good songs, some new acting-and-singing talent and parts that made me cry. Checked in with my Facebook news feed to see many birthday wishes sent my way.

This evening DH and I ate hamburgers with Miss Marvelous and her mom. Miss Marvelous, now 20-months, surprised us by saying “Alice Brown” instead of just “Brown,” referring to the mutt on the masthead of Rebekah’s Studio. No complaints on this very fine birthday. Thanks, everybody, for celebrating with me.

Copyright 2011 Rebekah Luke

Guest dog is here and Ula meows no thanks

Alice Brown and Pua

Pua is at the studio. I call her guest dog, but she’s really Alice Brown’s cousin and part of our extended family. On most days DH stops by her house to take both of them and Miss Marvelous for a walk down the beach. Yes, we’re dog sitting.

The one most inconvenienced is Ula the cat. She hates it. When Pua arrived, the cat made a mad dash to under-the-bed in the guest room. You might wonder, if Pua is the guest, then why doesn’t she get the guest room? Well, she doesn’t fit under the bed. Ah, now you understand why Ula hates it. And besides, Pua comes with her own bed. And food.

Pua chasing her mom chasing Miss Marvelous

She’s a good guest, and we make her welcome, though. As soon as she arrives, she immediately gobbles whatever is in Alice Brown’s dish and slurps up the cat’s food on her way out to the dog run to relieve herself. This, while the cat makes her escape.

Ula under my easel

How did we do it the last time? asks DH. Pua stayed over on the Fourth of July. It was some combination of a child gate and, hmm, what did we do?

We started with the gate to cordon off the second floor. Then we moved Ula’s food and water station to the guest room. Now, picture the cat having the use of the whole upper level and the rest of us on the main level.

When it was time to turn in for the night, I looked all over for Ula, as she was not under the bed anymore, and I finally found her under my desk behind a curtain. She’d been right there by me most of the evening.

Not a peep did she make. Ordinarily she is very talkative. A big brown bossy New York cat who meows loudly and frequently. Let me in. Meow. Let me out. Meow. Feed me. Meow. Now! She’s old now, still healthy as far as we and the vet can tell. But she’s also aloof. She won’t let anyone touch or pet her much. Please don’t try it; you might get shredded.

I reminded DH who was watching TV downstairs with the dogs to make sure he separated the animals when he came to bed. I fell fast asleep. At 4 a.m. loud barking and scurrying and hissing! Pua had found Ula and had cornered her! My guess is that Ula had come out of her hiding place and was hoping to make her way to the litter box.

Okay, so now we separate the animals. DH takes the dogs out to the dog run, and the coast is clear for Ula. My last act of service before starting this blog post was to move the litter box to the guest room, coax the cat back into the temporary quarters, turn the lights down low and close the door.

You see, at the studio Alice Brown is the Princess (see the masthead), but Ula’s the Queen.

Copyright 2010 Rebekah Luke