Kilauea, Perhaps the World's Most Active Volcano

All of the paintings below were inspired by a visit to Lava Tree State Monument, Pahoa, Hawaii.

My intension in doing these paintings was to show honor to the Monument as well as the power of nature, the active Volcano Kilauea and Pele, the goddess of fire who does indeed watch over the land.

Pele is a goddess of fire, lightning, dance, volcanoes and violence, a daughter of Haumea and Kane Milohai. She lives on Kīlauea.

Check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pele_(mythology)
to learn more about Pele in Hawaiian mythology.

It is an awesome thought to realize that one lives not far from an active volcano!

Kilauea is Perhaps the World's Most Active Volcano (for more info click the link at the top of the page).

Going through Lava Tree Monument is almost holy as I have written before. The forest of lava trees almost seem human and ghost like. Amazing. For this reason I used titles like "Respect' and "Honor" because that is how I felt upon seeing the wonder of the park and its statues.




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




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




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




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





"ke ala o Pele"
48x36x2 gallery wrap, oil on canvas, completed 3/07

Art in Action|Artists Watch|Ala o Pele

Here is some work in progress.. more tomorrow

Kath

www.kathysart.com

This is ... I 'think' going to be my favorite when done. It is so far a toss up between this one and one other. I tend to like more edgy paintings rather than things that include landscapes so that is partly why. This is a 30x40 canvas. I LOVE doing giant faces for impact. This is just the first session of face tones, I will probably have at least couple more. The orchids will be done once I am pretty sure of the face.

Laying down really dark colors on a face like this is VERY uncomfortable at first. I fight myself over it. I know it is the right thing to do so I just say to myself... 'do it or you are going to be sorry because it will just have to be repainted to achieve what could have been done in the first place.

I lay down the colors from dark to light. I look for colors. I search out greens especially. If you look long enough you will see them.

Each one of the paintings I will be posting now will be of their first facial tone session. I do not walk away from it or let it dry, I want to be able to blend the colors. I am VERY careful not to muddy the work. This is another good reason for painting so many works at the same time. I can acknowledge that something is finished easier. I do not think I will ever paint less than 10 at a time because of this. I also have less nightmares. Painting one at a time keeps me up at night. I can't think of anything else. With 10 going at once small errors are not such a big deal. I know I will get back to them and things will be fine.

I want to add something about studio space. I have been thinking about that. I have done full series in a 500 sq.-ft. duplex before. I painted my Victorian Series in that kitchen. You can imagine how small the kitchen was if the whole place was 500 sq. ft. I will do just about anything to stay by the beach!
I have had large spaces and small spaces... NO EXCUSES not to paint...EVER!

OK.. good night!

Kathy

www.kathysart.com FREE ART GIFTS

Above is the painting I mentioned the other day that I have not shown yet. I am not a landscape painter, I just don't enjoy painting them but this is kind of different because of the location many of the photos were taken, Volcano Park.

Lots of different greens obviously. I don't premix paint at all. I choose to mix the colors every few brush strokes. I feel that pre-mixing a lump of color takes away from the spontaneity of the work. That's just me. Palette of color is shown throughout this blog.

The other pic is one of 3 paintings lined up by the framing chop saw. Sooo chic! These paintings have all had their first session with flesh tones.

I will post more tomorrow.. must make supper.

Aloha, Kathy

www.kathysart.com

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