"Maui Glow" is a new three hour workshop painting. This painting is done on an 11x14 canvas, all supplies are included. Class size limited to 4. Cost of this workshop is $75 a person.
 I'm super excited to have discovered the book I co-wrote, "The Art Of Painting In Acrylic" has won three awards! One of them is from 2015, four years ago, but it's new to me.
If you haven't read my book or even knew I co-wrote one, check out the description below. If you want a signed copy let me know. Book Descriptions: The Art of Painting in Acrylic: Master techniques for painting stunning works of art in acrylic-step by step (Collector's Series) by Alicia Vannoy Call, Michael Hallinan, Varvara Harmon, Darice Machel McGuire, Toni Watts, Linda Yurgensen. Ideal for beginning and intermediate artists seeking to develop or polish their acrylic painting skills, The Art of Painting in Acrylic features a range of techniques and valuable instruction for working with this classic medium. This comprehensive guide offers a fresh, modern approach to painting in acrylic. Beginning with detailed information for using acrylic tools and materials, The Art of Painting in Acrylic introduces artists to the basics, including paints and brushes, supports, mediums, and other essential information for working with this fast-drying paint. In addition to learning about basic color theory, painting techniques, and how to work with acrylic paint and textures, aspiring artists will enjoy putting their painting skills to use by practicing the step-by-step demonstrations designed to instruct and entertain. Professional acrylic painters provide easy-to-follow, comprehensive instruction and inspiration, enabling readers to learn techniques for mastering this lightweight, versatile, and easy-to-use medium. In-depth lessons cover a variety of subject matter ranging from still lifes and portraits to landscapes and animals. Along the way, aspiring artists will discover helpful tips and tricks for rendering a variety of textures, setting up compelling compositions, achieving accurate proportions, and more. With its breadth of content and detail, The Art of Painting in Acrylic is a must-have resource for any artist's reference library. Includes: Color Theory, Basic Drawing, Painting Techniques, Still Lifes & Flowers, Landscapes, Seascapes, Portraits, and Animals/Pet Portraits.  When it comes to art, the word ‘talent’ almost always comes up. It implies that you are either born with it or not. The reality is talent is developed through hard work and a desire or passion to become good or even great.
Have you ever considered why no one calls their accountant talented? Or even their plumber, doctor, teacher, or lawyer? These professions receive an education that teaches proven processes they can use to carry out their job. Yet when it comes to creating art, the idea anyone can learn how to create gets tossed out the window in favor of believing it’s all about talent. I have news for you: artists are not born, they are made. Every artist I know has gone through years of learning and developing their art. All of them have had to over come obstacles of frustrations, insecurities, rejection, and self doubt. Sometimes family responsibilities and money would take priority over developing their skills to become a good artist. The willingness to learn the skills of a painter, sculptor, singer, song writer or actor is no less important than the skills it takes to learn to be one of the other professions I mentioned above. The next time you are in an art gallery or museum and you are admiring a beautiful painting or sculpture stop, and consider the time and skill the artist put into creating such a piece. It didn’t take that artist 10 hours or 30 hours to create it. It took a life time. Some of the students who come to me are just wanting to do something fun and creative for the day. Others really want to know how they can get better at painting. I gear all my classes around each students wants, skill levels and goals. I want their experience to be enjoyable and as painless as I can make it for them. Art is fun, yes, but it is also a lot of hard work. Learning to paint a painting starts with learning the basics. How to mix colors, understanding composition, where your light source is coming from, knowing the values from light to dark…..and so on. To become good at painting, it takes practice, practice and more practice until it becomes muscle memory. Artists aren’t born, they are made.  This is one of two new paintings I now offer in my workshops. All art supplies and canvas are included. This class will take approximately 4 hours to complete. No experence necessary for this or any of my workshop painting classes. I walk each student through the process, step-by-step.  This is the second painting I've added to my workshops. This one is two hours. All supplies are included, except the frame.
The frame you see is for display only. It's to give you an idea of how beautiful this painting will look hanging in your home.  This photo shows some of my newest miniature paintings now on display at Village Gifts & Fine Arts in Lahaina. The one on the top left has sold already and I had the pleasure of meeting the woman who bought it.
Every Wednesday I work at Village Gifts & Fine Arts. Working there is a great way to get out of my studio for a day to meet and talk to people. I also have the added benefit of a free parking pass which saves us a lot of money and time in finding places to park in Lahaina. Working on Wednesday's breaks up my week and adds $$$ to my income, both are really good things. But the best part about working there is meeting people who collect my work. Last week, March 20th, was a pretty slow day as far as customers coming into the gallery/gift shop. Around early to mid afternoon a woman came in telling her husband she finally found the shop she was looking for. I welcomed her and mentioned I was glad she found us. She told me she had been here before but couldn't remember where we were located and had been walking all around Front Street looking for us. Then she headed straight to the shelves where my miniature paintings sit. She told me she bought one, a waterfall, last year and loved it and wanted to add another one to her collection. I mentioned I was the artist. She was quite happy to hear that and said she came close to meeting me last year. After looking over the paintings she said she was going to look around the shop a few minuets while she decided on which one she wanted. Her few minuets were the fastest few minuets I've seen in anyone trying to make up their mind. She had turned away from the shelf, walk around the display of purses, then turn right back around, went to my shelf, grabbed the painting she wanted and came over to me to buy it. She said she really didn't need to look any more because that was the one that spoke to her. After writing up her purchase, wrapping the painting and easel for safe traveling, I shook her hand and thanked her and told her I was very happy to meet her. I hope I get to see her again next year. I don't get to meet a lot of my collectors. Many of them purchase my paintings at the other three galleries I'm in or on the days I don't work. So when I meet one I'm very grateful and excited to be able to talk with them. It makes my heart feel good to know my little gems give them pleasure and fond memories of their time on Maui. Art is more than just pretty pictures.
Art is creative thought. Creative thought solves problems and drives us to figure things out. Creative thought inspires everything man made. Without it we wouldn’t have anything we enjoy today. Including the cloths we wear, the homes we live in, the cars we drive, the phones we use and even the chairs we sit on. Creative thought has brought us out of the caves and into the modern world. It will continue to expand and shape our future as long as we let it.We need to encourage young minds to think creatively so that they can continue giving us more wonderful useful things. To me, the best way to do that is through art. Art promotes creativity It allows children to process the world around them and express their interpretations in a creative way. Art promotes confidence Children become more imaginative and innovative trying out new things while finding ways of solving problems in a new way. This gives them a certain degree of freedom they aren’t usually allowed to have while learning other subjects. Art makes children more confident. Art promotes problem solving skills Creativity can be learned. Children who draw, paint or sculpt learn to see things from different perspectives, they craft using their memory or imagination or both. Their young brains face various obstacles and are challenged to overcome them using different approaches. Art engagement is one of the best ways to practice creativity & problem solving that will ensure a child’s “Think-out-of-the-box” habits later in life. Art promotes patience and determination Children who practice drawing or painting (or any form of art ) learn how hard it is to achieve what they want and how much time it takes to do it. The only way to master the skills of an artist is through continuous practice. This is a skill that children can learn as they create art. Working through frustrations and learning to be patient with themselves develops their determination to reach the best out come they can get. Art promotes focus and concentration Working on a painting requires a lot of focus. Through art, children realize the importance of focus and concentration. Children who learn art can usually pay attention to more details in different aspects of their lives as they grow up. Art promotes dedication and discipline Dedication to finishing the work rewarded by the satisfaction they receive from their accomplishments nurtures right work ethics. Children who practice art understand that practice makes perfect. They develop habits like keeping their tools cleaned, arriving to class ready and on time and appreciating the efforts of others. There are many benefits a Museum can give to a child’s education. Museums offer a dynamic opportunity to expose children to new experiences and explore new things in a rich and educational environment. Through interactive exhibits children have the ability to take ownership of their own learning and develop and explore their own curiosities. This unique exposure provides the foundation for creativity, critical thinking, and connection to the world around them. Bringing children to museums opens their eyes to different ideas and perspectives that are relevant to their lives. Museums help to develop a love of history Museums are the caretakers of history, they offer connections to history that can easily be overlooked in traditional classrooms. Here on Maui our local history is rich in how our community has developed into what we are and how we live today. Showing history and telling stories through art is critical for our children. They will develop a better understanding of the world around them and how they fit into that world. Museums offer opportunities for children to compare and contrast what is important for them. An art museum will contain various types of artwork and as they stroll through an exhibit there will be differences in the style, subject matter, and techniques demonstrated in the artwork which will ignite their own imaginations. Through exhibitions of varying art, children are exposed to new ideas and concepts. They learn about what has inspired artists and will develop their deeper appreciation for art. Through museum programs and activities, children are exposed to opportunities that spark creative moments. Visiting a museum opens the door for a child’s curiosity. Museums inspire us to wonder, imagine and dream of possibilities that are beyond what we know.  December 14th was the big reveal of the "Lahaina 2019" poster. The reception was held at the banyan Tree Gallery in Lahaina. We had a good turn out with lots of my friends coming to support me and many new people I met.  Ted kept me laughing while trying to sign his poster. What else are good friends for? He is such a tease!  Being the winner of the 30th Lahaina Poster Contest has been such an honor and an amazing journey. I have so much gratitude for all the people who made this night possible. Nichole Balangue and lynn Donovan from LahainaTown Action Committee were amazing to work with. They worked hard to put on the contest and the reception for the reveal. These two ladies are very special.
I'm also grateful for Lahaina Arts Society for donating the gallery space for both the completion and the reception. Their support for local artists is awesome. It's truly a fine organization. I also want to thank my good friend Anita Marci and my number one favorite person, Charlie Osborn for all the photos they took during the event. All the photos above are credited to Anita Marci. Charlie's are still being processed, I'll post those soon. LahainaTown action Committee is the organization that puts on all the great Lahaina events such as the huge 4th Of July and Halloween celebrations. They also host all the "Town Parties", the lighting of the Banyan Tree at Christmas and many many more events Lahaina is famous for. The proceeds from the sale of the poster each year helps pay for these events. You can purchase the "my" poster and some of the years past at the Visitor Center located in the Old Courthouse in Lahaina. Or go to their website visitlahaina.com I'm so excited to start the long process of signing and numbering the thousand "Lahaina 2019" posters. In the picture below you see the first stack of 100. I actually managed to get 300 done in my first sitting. The posters debut reception is on Dec 14th, 2018 at 6PM in the Banyan Tree Gallery. The posters will not be offered for sale until that date. Every year the "Lahaina Town Action Committee" and "Lahaina Arts Society" sponsor the annual Lahaina Poster Contest. I'm so honored to be the 30th annual winner. The posters will be available online through the "Lahaina Town Action Committee's" website after Dec 14th 2018. Click on this link They will also be available in various retail locations around Lahaina. Including the Visitor Center at the old Courthouse in Banyan Tree Park.   "Reef Dancer" won the Lahaina Poster 2019 contest and art show on August 17th.  Here I am receiving the $3,000 cash prize. That's a pretty big smile plastered on my face! Look for the singed and numbered posters starting this winter.  "Good Night Lahaina" was my second entry into the contest. It sold the first day of the show.  Diane and her husband John are the happy owners of "Good night Lahaina"
I have been offering round beach towels through my art website for about a year. What's special about this wonderful product and all the products I offer is they are printed one at a time right here in the good old USA. It took me a long time to decide which image I wanted to order on this wonderful, huge beach towel. Any one of my round paintings work perfectly for it and many of my other works can be crop to fit. I decided on Honu Amakua because I love this painting! I recently started selling round metal prints of it and was really impressed by how those turned out. When my towel arrived I was more then thrilled by how wonderful the colors looked and how crisp the print was. And the size is most impressive. Big enough for two to lay on. Here is a link that will take you directly to the image featured below ( click on blue words). Honu Amakua   |
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