Tropical Inspiration for you from the Big Island

Very happy to be on the Big island of Hawaii again and very happy to report that life is still better at the beach.

It’s still 83F, sunny with cloudy periods,possible showers, an earthquake or two and the possibility of a tsunami. The lava is still flowing but, last I read, all is well. With 8 different ecosystems, mother nature is always up to something here!

For us, as a family, it is time to recharge and get inspired after the winter season in the mountains.

I love discovering new shapes, colours and textures over here. The flora and fauna is so unique and special to the Big Island.I am amazed to still be discovering new buds,seeds and pods after all of my years visiting here.

Always thankful for my big straw hat that spends more time carrying my finds,than on my head. I find it hard to go for a walk or run without picking something up.

Some tropical foliage for your drawing inspiration. Tropical is trending right now. Pineapples, flamingos and large-scale tropical leaves are everywhere.

I have a love on for large tropical leaves. I love any kind of leaf, seed or pod but the more unusual and the bigger, the better.

Sharing some of my favs with you all the way from the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Beach time sketching..

ONE of these things I will not be using for drawing inspiration. Centipedes, ants and the occasional flying cockroach seem to go hand in hand with the tropics.

Sending some Aloha your way!

Advertisement

Finding Inspiration in Tropical Flora and Foliage

Sharing some inspiration from the Big Island of Hawaii.

I love the assault of my senses here. The colours and shapes are bright and bold. The temperature and trade winds are gentle on the skin.The saltwater invigorating. And there really is nothing like getting pummelled by the Pacific to really feel alive

 

I love sitting here listening to the sounds of seaside living.

Lots of birds, crashing waves, the clatter of geckos and the early morning return of the fishing boats back to the bay. There are no boundaries between outside and in. It’s a bit like living in a treehouse

Everything is just so different from my usual back home in Whistler. I think that is what I love most about it here.

I can’t resist the urge to pick up almost everything on my morning runs here. It makes for a bit of a run/ walk, but is always well worth it.
This is generally how my hat returns home..

I often entertain the thought of moving here one day. It’s a topic of conversation that comes up often when we are here. It’s hard to say whether it would lose some of its magic.

For now I will continue to be a dreamer, taking pictures of all that inspires me here. I know it won’t be long until our next visit.

I was thrilled to wake up this morning and discover on Instagram that Michelle Osorio had also been inspired by my #florafoliage series posted there. (you can see them here)

Look at her beautiful, delicate water-colour. I have to say it made my day!  You can find Michelle here on Instagram

 

I am going to milk out this tropical feeling for as long as possible – pineapples are up next week!

Aloha

Mushrooms in the sketchbook!

Mushroom season is slowly coming to an end here in Whistler. The temperature has dropped, the clouds have rolled in and snow is slowly creeping down the mountain.

I will miss the whispering sounds of pickers scouring the woods. The different shapes, texture and colour peeking out from the most unexpected of places.
There really is something special about the enchanted, woodland forest complete with toadstools and fairies that brings your imagination to life.

Unfortunately, I have to admit I have still not picked any mushrooms for my own table.I am still a little unsure of what is good and what is not so good. I am not taking any responsibility for poisoning my family or sending a dinner guest on some wild, hallucinogenic trip. The latter could almost make a good movie though..

The Whistler Naturalist host a great weekend event full of talks and walks The Fungus among Us every October during the season. Next year I am attending. I have a bounty of goodness right here in my backyard and it’s time to start enjoying them…not just drawing and taking pretty pictures though that is fun too..

Some sketchbook love and mushroom illustration for you

 

It’s time for the snow to fly in Whistler.  We have a month to fill up the mountain and valley with that white, fluffy stuff.

Until then I will be off in my own little tropical world on The Big Island of Hawaii. Expect to see lots of  foliage mixed with beautiful, watery blues and shades of green here on my blog. I am bringing some watercolors and hope to learn how to use them.

See you!

Seeds,pods and a succulent or two

Bringing a little Aloha to you.

Most believe Aloha is just a greeting, but the word is a way of life for most living here on the islands. Here, Aloha is an attitude, guidance towards living  a certain way of life ~ the Aloha spirit.

A, ala, watchful, alertness
L, lokahi, working with unity
O, oia’i’o, truthful honesty
H, ha’aha’a, humility
A, ahonui, patient perseverance

I have written many times about the Big Island of Hawaii. It is one of my favorite places~ a place not too far from home  that has come to be my home away from home.Hawaii makes me feel alive –  a place that feeds the senses and the soul.

Sweeping coastlines, fields of black lava interspersed with green grasses and wonderful flowering trees, sand and sea. Lots of delicious fruit from the tree. The sound of birds.. at all hours of the day and night.Coconut M&M’s.

Island life is good!

One of my favorite pastimes here is early morning runs, camera in hand.These runs are sporadic with many stops along the way  to take a picture or pick up a pod..or two. I often arrive home my hands and  hat full of goodness.
I don’t usually get a lot of creative time here, as life is busy with family and friends, so sometimes a little floral arranging has to be sufficient to feed my fix.

Mother nature has a very humorous side to her on the island. She is quirky and fun-loving. She has created the oddest assortment of seeds and pods to date.

I havent a clue what half of these are called, but you will be happy to know that I finally have a book. Unfortunately, I haven’t had time to open it. Next time…

I have yet to figure out the “seasons’ here, but there is definitely lots of changes in between my visits. While one tree is flowering the next is on its way to hibernation.

This island is so diverse with all of its different ecosystems. I am slowly learning more about it everyday. It’s just so mysterious I keep wanting to come back for more!

Beautiful colors, shapes and textures.Actually, thinking out loud here, I should do a post on all the textures and patterns in nature found here.

Succulents grow very well on the Big island and are in nice contrast to flowering blooms.


I really do love my little bounty. I wish I could bring it all home and share with you…

Signing off with a sunset.Wish you were here!

Finding inspiration in the spirit of aloha

Very happy to be spending time in one of my favorite places, the Big Island of Hawaii.The moment my feet hit the ground here I feel a sense of coming home.

Lush tropical flora and fauna,dark streaks of lava rock, sun, sand, a warm breeze and the neverending sound of birds and crashing waves all come together to feed  the senses and the soul. The Big Island is charged with tradition and culture that reaches deep. This island holds a very special place in our hearts.

I always love to do a post or two from Hawaii. Its a lovely place to share. Lots of inspiration and color.

Mother nature also has a very good sense of humour here. The shapes, color and texture of the flora and fauna are so unusual.I am constantly in awe of some of the crazy things I find.

My goal for this trip ~ lots of computer free time. Time spent observing, drawing and feeling present.

My sense of urgency to do it all ~ designing, blogging #365 patterns ~ slowly takes a back seat to simply living life.

I  will admit I find it very difficult to switch off and it takes more than a few days. I continue to feel like I am missing out on something, but with time I come to my senses and realize that everything I need is right here ~ family, friends, love and life.

Most believe Aloha is just a greeting, but the word is a way of life for most living here on the islands. Here, Aloha is an attitude, guidance towards living  a certain way of life ~ the Aloha spirit.

A, ala, watchful, alertness
L, lokahi, working with unity
O, oia’i’o, truthful honesty
H, ha’aha’a, humility
A, ahonui, patient perseverance

Inspired by…the refresh button

I have just returned from my sunny little world deep down in the Pacific Ocean. I absolutely adore my happy place ~ the Big Island of Hawaii. It is always very bittersweet to leave.
I miss the color, the warm breeze and  the sound of early morning life on the island. I miss all of the unusual flora and fauna, the lava rock and coral. I miss the quality time spent with my friends and family.

I am already counting down the days until I am back there again.

I do love returning home though with fresh eyes and an armful of photos to keep me inspired throughout the long,cold winter months.The snow is starting to fall and I am inspired to make my home my sanctuary for the upcoming winter months. I think lots of color is the answer!

Funny, but here I find myself sitting in my studio paralyzed. I am excited to draw, paint, collage and get my hands dirty, but, for whatever reason, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. The list of things I want to accomplish is long . I know this feeling – it’s a good feeling, but a state of mind where little really gets accomplished as I busily hop from project to project.

I have come to learn to recognize this feeling and I know exactly what to do…

Just start!

Grab journal paper,paint, markers, crayons~ anything and just get started. No pressure to do anything of any importance but just get the creative juices flowing. Make marks, create texture, play with colors.

Just throw some paint around~ feels so good to get messy.

Lessons learned with every mark.

It’s Art Everyday month ~ Hop on over to Leahs blog for more info on Art Everyday.

See you in a few days!

Inspired by…a little creative license

When nature calls I come running. I work well with the sun shining, windows wide open, birds chirping and lots of life surrounding me. My perfect world.

My reality?

Dirty snow, mediocre temperatures, drizzle, socked in by low-lying clouds.  I love my home, but  I lust Hawaii. (Unless of course I can have a bluebird, spring ski day…)

I give Whistler the love it deserves most of the year, but I just have to work a wee bit harder to find inspiration during this time of the year. Spring is long and summer short. The grass is always greener…

Call it my own personal creative license, but as I slowly work myself back into my reality I am just going to keep dreaming (and blogging) of Hawaii.

Ahhh…doesnt that just make you feel better!?? All the senses  are activated by a little ocean time…

Lava tube formed by hot lava flowing down into the ocean. Looking for an active volcano and a goddess to go with it? The Big island has it!

A little heaven on earth. Ranch land, lush, tropical rain forests, waterfalls,volcanic desert, snow capped mountains…

The Big Island has 11 of the 13 ecosystems. Its the youngest island, but the biggest and still growing, thanks to Pele, the  volcano goddess. Home of the most active volcano, Kilauea, the tallest sea mountain, MaunaKea. ~ and it also has a Walmart, Target and Pier One,scheduled to open in September!

Still working on my comfort level in the water having lived in the mountains for over 20 yrs now… waves get my heart  a thumping. I will conquer them.

In our backyard~ free! $15/stem at my local flower store, here in reality. Mango, papaya and avocado ripe and ready to go.

And always more flora and fauna…

 Big Island graffiti ~ lava rock and coral. The perfect contrast.

A perfect end to a perfect day.

Bear with me a little longer as I transition back into my real world…but a girls got to dream!

Where’s your perfect world? The internet makes our big, beautiful world so accessible…I would love to check yours out!

Inspired by…pulling the plug

I am definitely on island time now… I know its Monday, but catch myself wondering if it’s not Tuesday and where did Sunday go? The days start early here and are very long and very full.

My goal during this trip was to disconnect ( from the computer that is…)…and as you can see that goal has now been changed to an attempt to try and disconnect. It is very hard indeed.

Call me a creature of habit, but my week “disconnecting” has been a mixture of relief …and anxiety. I catch myself thinking “oh I should blog about that…someone would find that interesting” I have had to stop myself many times.There is just so much to share though!

I am full of mixed emotions ~ good and bad.

The bad ~ I have a serious case of FOMO. For those not in the know…FOMO is a serious ailment known as Fear Of Missing Out..

I have had this all my life. I am familiar with it and have become quite good at handling it but I know there is lots going on in the online communities that I have become a part of. I know they are all up to good stuff ~ sharing, asking questions,offering tips..I want to be part of the action.I want to see everyones work, hear their comments, make my own comments and generally…be present.It causes me a wee bit of anxiety to think about all the fun I am missing out on.

The good ~ it really is true what they say about disconnecting and creating. I have had oodles of creative time. None of it has been a struggle. I am relaxed, focused and present.. here in the real world. It’s a very good feeling..the ideas are flowing freely.

No need to worry about me…I think I will be just fine:)

Back to reality…

Louise Gales creative color challenge for March was tranquil blues. It’s always fun to see how others use color…and the medium they choose to use.

Here is a piece I have been working on. This started out in my typical, intuitive painting kind of way….

Missing a few photos from above…to below, but I think you get the idea now..

This baby is now resting. I have lost all patience with it and when this feeling overcomes me ~it is time to face the canvas to the wall and  allow it to recuperate. Personally I would like to see this piece have a bit more softness, maybe a misty-like feel to it. It is not making me feel very tranquil. Funny, but when I think of the word tranquil I always imagine soft, misty pastels.

Anyhoo, I do like the top portion with the vertical lines and wondering if I should possibly make the reeds on the right hand bottom of the canvas similar? All suggestions welcome!

A great term I heard recently from Robert Genn  was that of strategic patience.

“Strategic patience” ~ It’s the strategy of letting time take care of at least part of the process. It precludes running off willy-nilly in a knee-jerk reaction–a reaction that often does more harm than good.

Half-finished paintings left deserted and grumbling in studio corners are often busy mending themselves. Pulled into the light, they re-boot the artist’s neural pathways. Solutions are often clearer, easier and less painful than originally thought. “All things come round to him who will but wait.” (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

Robert puts out a twice weekly newsletter smack full of interesting artsy tidbits of info. Have a look… It is well worth subscribing to.

And just because I am very thrifty with my paint, I have been keeping journal pages beside me to wipe all of my leftover paint on. These are the result.

Well, my friends, there you have it~ March creative color challenge complete! My time with blue and green paint also done. Time to move on to some bright and sunny spring colors.

Towards the end of the week I will be back to share all of the beautiful flora and fauna found here on the Big Island. I have spent hours, camera in hand, admiring. Until then, I hope everyone is well and happily creating. Dont hesitate to email me directly if you have anything good and juicy to share…wouldn’t want to miss out!

Inspired by…a hit of sunshine

Relaxed. Refreshed. Rejuvenated.

The Big Island of Hawaii is very much alive. Snow capped mountains, volcanic deserts, waterfalls, black sand beaches and fields of black lava. All of this  interspersed with big, bold colorful flowers and pockets of white sandy beaches and tourquoise water.

A sensory overload. A vast canvas waiting to be explored.

Beautiful, soft shades of green, blue and gray mingle together

Texture. Sand, lava rock, coral, old weathered wood, bamboo

Big, beautiful, bold organic shapes and colors

Fresh, juicy fruit off the tree. Mangoes,Papaya,Starfruit. The unbelievable taste of butter avocado.

The never-ending song of the surf.

I wish I could bottle up all of this goodness for the long winter months ahead.