Art~ "ke ala o Pele"

"Lei Hilo"
Ua hilo 'ia i ke aho a ke aloha: Braided with cords of love.
30x40x2 gallery wrap, oil on canvas, completed 12/05



"ke ala o Pele" (Path to Pele or Pele's Path)
48x36x2 gallery wrap, oil on canvas, completed 3/07




"Giant Ferns of Lava Tree Park"
48x36x2 gallery wrap, oil on canvas, completed 3/07




"Honor"
48x36x2 gallery wrap, oil on canvas, completed 3/07




"Ho' okalakupua" (Magic)
40x30x2 gallery wrap, oil on canvas, completed 3/06





"Ipu"
40x30 oil on canvas, completed 2/06
(Solid Koa Frame optional)




"Respect"
40x30x2 gallery wrap, oil on canvas, completed 3/07





"Wind and Silk"
40x30 oil on canvas, completed 3/07
(Solid Koa Frame optional)




"Inside the Wind"
40x30x2 gallery wrap, oil on canvas, completed 3/07




"Path To Pele"
40x30 oil on canvas, completed 3/07
(Solid Koa Frame optional)




"Orchids"
40x30x2 gallery wrap, oil on canvas, completed 3/07

$ Original SOLD




"A Rainbow of Silk"
40x30 oil on canvas, completed 3/07
(Solid Koa Frame optional)


Aloha!

"ke ala o Pele"

About the opening:

The dedication of my One Woman Show, "ke ala o Pele" was written on my show information handout:

"I would like to dedicate this body of work to my husband Dennis Magnusen,
Dr. Douglas Hiller, Anne Carlson, Rehab of the Pacific, Shan and Mailin Moy and Carrie Johnson.

On the back of the handout was my poem about my process of healing and what I learned about myself in that adventure of the soul.

"I Stood Inside A Rainbow"

I stumbled to find myself
wanting to be lifted
and yet
I fell to smell the earth.

I stayed there for hours
me in brown beginnings
researching the treasure
that before
I had only walked upon.

I pointed my finger
into a tiny hole.
I hoped I might discover
one thing different
I had not known before.

Alas I found myself mesmerized
as an ant climbed from its cave.
One ant, one tiny ant
a delicate treasure, and
a focus in my day.

He became like none other
I had ever seen before
because
I chose to lean my attention
sit in pause
and hear life, and its
unmistakable roar.

A reflection in a pond
beyond the ants tiny hole
I leaned to meet the journey.
Who knew a lake would open
by the magic of my own smile.

I found myself host
to a thousand tiny angels
and an afternoon of solace.
I toasted all the Universe
and from roses
I sniffed a glistening vapor of hope.

I knew thirst to touch the dew on roses
and treasure all they had to say
found comfort in their voices
as the sun met their moisture
of an ever so brilliant day.

I stood inside a rainbow
Its colors met my skin.
Stepping then outside myself
decoding past objections
I accepted miracles were calling
and stood back to watch them grow.

by Kathy Ostman-Magnusen




For the opening I was blessed to have Codie King, the director of Wailoa Center help me in a zillion ways. Codie took special efforts in preparing my hand outs, hung the art on the walls with a wonderful volunteer. Her son helped before the opening in setting up tables for cookies, I made my famous chocolate chip cookies of course, and punch.

Thank you dear Codie King, volunteers and friends.


Dr. Hiller came with his mother, Anne Carlson came with her husband, Shan and Mailin Moy came and of course my dear husband Dennis was there. Such dear and sweet people in my life. Carrie Johnson lives on Kauai and could not make it but I felt her love.


There was and is a quilting show going on at the same time which is upstairs. Lovely ladies who made beautiful quilts with their hearts and hands. I thought of them that evening of hours they must have spent together making their wares. So dear.

I met some lovely people during the opeing and it was a very blessed time.

I am thankful to my friends and for all those rainbows known thus far and the ones yet to come.

I will post the final paintings throughout today and tomorrow along with my thoughts about each one.

A hui hou,

Kathy

Kathy Ostman-Magnusen Art Opening Tonight

My art opening is TONIGHT! YAY!

Here below are a few of the paintings being shown. I will add more in the following days.

Fantasy Art Women | Stealing Saturn

"Orange Star Bromilead" 18x24 oil on canvas
I did 6- 18x24 flowers and orchid paintings at the last.... this is one.



"ke ala o Pele"
48x36x2 gallery wrap, oil on canvas

Taken at Lava Tree Monument.

OK... I will post more tomorrow, I am off to pack up my van to set up for Friday's opening... YAY

Check out the link at the top titled Fantasy Art Women | Stealing Saturn, to see how I stole Saturn! purchase of my art can be done there also. YAY

Earth Goddess Art | Bed of Dreams Site

Earth Goddess Art | Bed of Dreams, the above link is from my main website.. check it out to see my new E-cards, purchase my art in cards, posters and giclees as well.


40x30 oil on canvas, done and waiting to be named. Hummm I will do it tomorrow.

Click the image to see it larger.

I hang the show tomorrow so took pics tonight. I also painted 6 other works in the last few days of flowers, mostly orhids. Big Island is the Orchid Isle.

OK.. tomorrow and the days following I will be posting the completed paintings.

YAY!

Hawaiian Art Prints Photos Posters

I look like a woman obsessed huh? Yes, I guess I am.

I think I need chocolate... cookies or cake. Nothing like chocolate cake for breakfast huh? gotta go paint.

I worked on one of the paintings that actually did bother me enough to worry and fret over yesterday. I will post it tomorrow and write about what bothered me. I will post the 'before' image. I won't be taking photos again til I have finished all the second sessions of work on the facial tones. I havn't even posted the first session as yet. OK... onward!

www.kathysart.com FREE ART GIFTS

Below are differnt elements in progress of the ten paintings I am working on. as I have written I am painting all 10 at once. I am just amazed at how much easier it feels to paint 10 at once rather than once at a time or 2-3 at a time like I normally do. I think now that I will always paint this way.

There is one more painting that I have not shown images of that I will try to photo today. It has the background almost all done so I need to get it photographed before I move on with it.

I am finding a new confidence that I did not have before my fall last April. Part of it is because I have a purpose in mind but most is because my 'comeback' is more than I had considered possible for myself. I CAN still paint and I CAN do it with more passion towards my goal than before. I find that I am often overwhelmed with the fact that a goal set is being met. It is much like physical therapy. I will to get the use of my hand back... I WILL!

Aloha, Kathy

www.kathysart.com

OK... that is all I am posting today. More tomorrow!

www.kathysart.com FREE ART GIFTS

OK... moving along here. I will post progress on the backgrounds tomorrow.

Are we having fun yet? Yes.

www.kathysart.com FREE ART GIFTS

I have been working on this series for a couple of weeks now. I have, as I said, finished all the backgrounds and am ready to move on. I am posting the images in their rough state thus far.

www.kathysart.com FREE ART GIFTS

As I drove to physical therapy today I thought about my paintings and how far I had come from last April. I thought about the people who have helped me on my way... wow. Where would I be without those people.

As I have said I fell down a flight of stairs last April and have been trying to get full use of my hand back ever since. I have what is called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. UG!

I am so thankful to Dr. Hiller and his staff who took me on, monitored me and encouraged me because I am an artist and Dr. Hiller has a soft spot in his heart for them. Such a kind and dear man.

Anne Carlson and the people at Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific. They have worked with me and helped me every step of the way when I was sure I couldn't do it. I am getting closer to my goal of recovery because of them.

Carrie Johnson... oh my gosh she is my savior on so many levels. She does my website and anything else I need for my art. More than that though she is a level head. When I write emails to her feeling like I am scattered and insecure she comes back with logical thinking and even describes pathways for me. She is my acting buddy, my soundboard and my partner in business. She is an amazing woman and I adore her.

Ahh my dear, dear friends Shan and Mailin, who came to visit me and remained friends even when I would not come out of my bedroom. I was so sure that I would not paint again. I love them for calling me and loving me anyway... wow. I love them for taking me to the Volcano Artist Studio Tour, I felt back into the art world somehow.
I needed to come out of my house. After 6 months I finally did. I cannot describe the dark hole only that I was in one.

Most of all though I thank my husband Dennis, my soul mate, my high school sweetheart and love of my life. He is in fact the most unselfish person I have ever met. He went through a lot with me, tears and fits of rage. He took care of me in body and soul. He has ALWAYS believed in me and the reasons I paint. He nags me when I need to be and strokes me when I am crazy... which perhaps it a lot! He has sacrificed so much for this life of an artist.

I thank Cody King at Wailoa Center for the show coming up... wow! A reason to paint with vigor.

Thank you Bob Hogge at Monkdogz Urban Art in New York. He called me at my sisters house in Nevada to see how I was after my fall. My show came up in New York just weeks after. He has also set up a show for me this April. Thank you Bob Hogge and Marina Hadley his business partner.

NO ONE stands alone right? We all at one time or another rely on the propping up of people who come across our pathway.

Blessings and Aloha for today. Kathy

www.kathysart.com buy cards,posters,giclees

I apologize that so many photos are blurred. I move quickly so it is just the nature of things. I must say that vanity causes me to be secretly happy about the blur! ha ha.

I have finished the background of 9 of the paintings and need to take new photos to show my progress.

I am going to block in 2 more canvases today that I had not included in my frenzy.

www.kathysart.com buy cards,posters,giclees

Art always calls for wonderful cookies, special coffee and tea. Here, because it is in fact Valentines day is my famous cookie recipe.


HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

I SEND YOU RAINBOWS FROM HAWAII

and


I send you cookies!

"Kathy's Chocolate Chip Cookies"

Cream together:
1 cup 'real' butter (not margarine!)
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 Tbl. black strap molasses
1 tsp. salt
add and blend two eggs
don't overdo this part or your cookies will turn out weird.

sift together then fold into sugar mixture:
2 1/2 cups flour, 1 tsp. baking soda

add and mix to above mixture:
1 cup coconut
3/4 cup old fashioned oatmeal
2 full cups chocolate chips

Bake at 325 degrees for about 12 minutes. Use only an old junkie cookie sheet... not one of the new ones, they tend to make these cookies cake. Take the cookies out 'just a hair BEFORE they are done'. Let them finish up after they come out of the oven.


Kathy @ www.kathysart.com
has FREE gifts!

www.kathysart.com for purchases

The portrait above is of "Jackie Hashimoto" It was a 18x24 oil on canvas. Giclees, posters, cards are available upon request. The original belongs to Jackie's daughters.

The reason I insert this painting here is to compare emotions.

Jackie Hasimoto had passed. I never met him. Before I started to paint him I asked his wife for more images and stories about him. I wanted to know who he was before I tried to understand how I would paint him.

At Jackie Hashimoto's funeral his family parked his truck as it had always been. It was filled with things to help people out if he drove by and saw someone in need. A throw net and fishing equipment was also inside. Jackie Hashimoto was a fisherman.

I painted the above piece in two sessions. I cried the whole time. I had felt a connection to him that was very dear. He was a kind man. In the end isn't that what we hope people will be able to say about us, that we were kind?

The connection I hope to make in this new series "Ala o Pele" is to the land and its own mind. Lava Tree Park shows the wrath of Pele, and yet the forming of new land. The Big Island is the newest island, Kauai being the oldest. The Big Island is still a work in progress, forming and having its own say on how it will develop. So amazing isn't it?

I asked my model to stand in awe before the statues of lava that Pele had left behind. The lava formations almost come to life there and I wanted to capture that. Dennis caught the moment for me on camera. I will then take those images and bring them to canvas hoping to bring the connection together and breath life into them.

I have in the past described myself as a figurative artist. I do paint that but more importantly I paint emotions. I hope to connect with this series as I did with my painting of Jackie Hashimoto. I find myself breathing out recognitions of a world I am trying to understand. It is a holy experience as I have said before.

Painting in Action ~ Hawaiian Art

Photographer: Dennis G Magnusen

Because I am painting all 10 paintings at once I have them all over the room. I am moving from one painting to the next. I am doing this for several reasons the first being to keep continuity to the series. I love the flow of doing several paintings at once. Emotions generated connect the dots so to speak. Kind of a funny thing too... it saves on paint. It should... maybe it doesn't really.

I have always loved to have every color imaginable squeezed out onto my pallet. Just when I don't I find myself longing for a certain color. I guess I do waste a lot of paint this way. It gets me there though so that is what feels important to me.

This is all very emotional.. painting. I often cry esp. if there is music that lends to feeling emotional. Ahhh emotions NOT an enemy right?

After drawing out my images on all the canvases I was overwhelmed. My beautiful model gave me insight into her heart with her photos. I hope to do them justice.

Denny caught those moments an artist hopes to see. Ahh I see it and it moves me. my young model let us see her heart and capture it on paper.

Well... I must run. I have a physical therapy appointment at 1 and want to get in some painting before I go. Last appointment I painted way too long and wound up going with paint all over my hands. Funny.

Setting Up the Canvas'

Hawaiian art in honor of Merry Monarch Festival.
Photographer: Dennis G Magnusen

I have blocked out 9 canvases. I am using photos taken by Dennis G Magnusen of my models. Two are 38x48 and the rest are 30x40. Some are gallery wrap so the sides are 2 inches and the paintings will extend over onto the sides. The others will be framed in solid koa. I am planning one more to add to this collection along with 3 others that are already painted using another model.

I usually block out paintings with lavender or purple. I just like it.

I will show the 10 paintings mapped out along with me painting them over the next couple of weeks and then move on to my progress with the backgrounds.