Kumu Ehulani blessing our community art show at Arthur Johnsen’s studio.

“No Place Like Home”: A Celebration of Community, Art, and Healing
On July 27th I had the privilege of hosting a community art show themed “No Place Like Home” in my neighborhood,  This event was not just an exhibition of artwork but a culmination of a year-long journey made possible through my the Vibrant Hawaii Artist Fellowship.

This event was part of the Arts for EveryBody campaign, an initiative of One Nation/One Project, a national arts and health initiative designed to activate the power of the arts to repair the social fabric of our nation and heal our communities. Simultaneously, ten other Vibrant Hawaii Artist Fellows presented their artist showcases on the Big Island of Hawaii, along with 18 different cities across the nation, all using the same theme No Place Like Home.

Art as Healing: The Fellowship’s Impact
I focused my fellowship year by teaching art and hiring other community artists to share their passion and skills, and by partnering with our neighborhood hub, the Seaview Performing Arts Center for Education. By teaching and encouraging others to make art, I’ve seen how this creative expression fosters healing, well-being, and community.

No Place Like Home
The theme “No Place Like Home” resonated deeply with each artist who participated in the show. Home is a concept that transcends physical space—it’s about belonging, comfort, and connection. Throughout the fellowship year, I explored these ideas with the artists and students I worked with, using art as a tool to delve into what home means to each of us.

Each piece of artwork was a personal reflection of what home means. Some artists focused on the physical spaces that evoke a sense of home—landscapes, familiar objects, and places of comfort. Others delved into the emotional and spiritual aspects of home, expressing feelings of safety, belonging, and identity. 

A Day of Celebration and Community
The day was not just about art—it was about coming together as a community. Our local Seaview Baroque Trio provided beautiful music, setting the tone for the day. Kumu Ehulani Stephanie and her hula dancers performed a Hawaiian blessing ceremony and dance, honoring both the space and the legacy of Arthur Johnsen, whose studio we were fortunate to use for this event. Each artist had the opportunity to talk-story to visitors and share their personal experience making and showing art.

Looking Forward
As I reflect on this incredible experience, I am filled with gratitude for everyone who made it possible—the artists, the students, the volunteers, and the community members who came out to support us. This show was a testament to the strength of our community and the healing power of art. I look forward to continuing this journey, creating more opportunities for artistic expression and connection. 

Video
Watch the 11-minute Youtube video of the art show, focusing on artists’ talk-story about their art.

Over the weekend, I embarked on my inaugural artists’ “collab,” an experience that completely took me by surprise. I hadn’t realized how much of a phenomenon collabs had become until then, and I must say, the two days spent collaborating with a diverse group of about 15 fellow artists left me feeling truly inspired.

Hosted by the Queer and Abled Hawaii Artists Art Collective, the event extended an invitation for me to represent our local non-profit, S.P.A.C.E. (Seaview Performing Arts Center for Education), where I’ve been leading painting classes over the past year.

Gathering in a spacious art studio, we were encouraged to either initiate a new art piece or contribute to ongoing works started by others. Tables adorned with a plethora of art supplies and boxes brimming with found objects—ranging from organic materials to driftwood, discarded toys, and various odds and ends—beckoned us to delve into our creative realms. With an emphasis on play rather than striving for “high” art, each day offered opportunities to exchange knowledge, experiment with novel techniques, and foster a spirit of camaraderie.

It proved to be an extraordinary avenue for connecting with fellow artists while relinquishing any sense of ego. This experience has ignited within me a fervor to pursue future collaborations and extend the joy of collective creation to others.

This past December I had the most wonderful experience sharing my artwork in the Hawaiian Paradise Studio Tour. It was my first time participating in the tour, and it was an honor to show my paintings at the home of my friend Henry Bianchini, one of Hawaii island’s most talented artists. He let me convert his large carport into a gallery space for the weekend. Hundreds of people stopped by and several of my paintings found new homes. Having the opportunity to share my paintings in person with so many friends and art fans was a thrill. 

Aloha Art Enthusiasts!
I just led my winter Abstract Painting Retreat and I’m still buzzing with excitement.

The retreat was held on the scenic Puna coast of the Big Island of Hawaii and the location was the perfect backdrop for a week of creativity and inspiration. Though the weather was wetter than usual, no one’s spirits were dampened. Our fabulous art studio proved to be an artistic haven, where my students had plenty of space to spread out and wasted no time getting to their easel each day.

We gathered each morning at the studio where I offered students a visual concept or lesson to help guide them forward with their abstractions. Not everyone followed the prompts, nor did it matter. With our magnificent light-filled studio surrounded by a mature tropical garden, there was no lack of visual stimuli to inspire some very exciting large abstract paintings.

Over the course of the week, I watched as my students became more and more confident in their abilities. Though each came from a different artistic background, everyone brought their unique perspective and style to their work.

One of the things I loved most about this retreat was the sense of community that developed among the students. They supported and encouraged each other, shared ideas and techniques, and celebrated each other’s successes. Gathering for delicious catered meals every day allowed us time to relax and deepen our connection.

On the final day, we held a critique that showcased each student’s work. It was incredible to see the variety of styles and techniques on display, and I was so proud of each and every one of my students. They had all grown artistically over the course of the week, and it was an honor to be a part of their journey.

As a teacher, there’s nothing more satisfying than watching your students discover their creative potential. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have taught this Abstract Painting Retreat on the Big Island of Hawaii, and I can’t wait to see where my students’ artistic journeys take them next. Mahalo!

Student paintings from five artists/students who participated in Part 1 of my Online Abstract Expressionism Painting course. Their work is based on the various visual parameters that I assigned each week over an 8-week period. I continue to receive deep satisfaction in facilitating a creative experience and witnessing each student develop a unique abstract voice.
If you are interested in participating in an art workshop or retreat, please join my email list so I can inform you of upcoming classes.

Elias

Abby Jane Wiltse

Steven Whaley

Miriam Dretler

Kathleen Dragoon

The 2022 Hawaii Painting Retreat was a huge success!!
A creative, FUN, inspiring time was had by all participants at this year’s 2022 Tropical Painting Retreat here on the Big Island of Hawaii.
We had sold-out retreat with 8 artists/students who traveled from across the US.
They came to Hawaii to join for this year’s winter getaway art retreat that included daily painting instruction, morning yoga classes, healthy catered meals, exotic excursions, and transformational healing.
Blessed with sunny, perfect Hawaiian weather, students painted pleinair landscapes outdoors, observing the lush, tropical landscape and black lava coasts to inspire their paintings.
Several students who had previously studied abstract painting with me chose to continue with their abstract expressions, inspired by the energy of the island.
Next year in 2023 I plan to offer two separate painting retreats in Hawaii, a pleinair painting retreat and an abstract, intuition-based painting retreat. 
The Big Island is literally a hot-bed of inspiration with exotic tropical vegetation, seascapes, lavascapes, and an active volcano.
Please sign up on my email list to get updates on the dates for my upcoming transformational art retreats.

Just weeks ago my students and I completed Part 3: Painting in a Series. This was the third module, a series of 8-week online courses in Abstract Expressionism. The focus of this class was on creating paintings in a series. Throughout the workshop, students created paintings that were based on the painting exercises I provided each week. The exercises were developed to provide a platform for self-inquiry. The students had completed the two previous courses with me, so it was extremely rewarding to see them further extend their vision and develop their artistic voices.

The following student painting gallery represents the artwork from five artists/students who participated in my Online Abstract Expressionism Painting course. Their work is shown chronologically and is based on the various visual parameters that I assigned each week over a 16-week period. It’s been my joy to facilitate a creative experience and witness each student develop their unique abstract voice during this time period.
If you are interested in participating in an art workshop or retreat, please join my email list so I can inform you of upcoming classes.

Amy Zone

Inika Spence

Steven Whaley

Miriam Dretler

Kathleen Dragoon

I’m thrilled!
Yesterday we held our first online critique for the 8-week Abstract Expressionism painting class that I’m facilitating.

Each student sent in several paintings that they had created using the first exercise of the course.

The exercise was to use primarily black and white on a large surface of paper or canvas. They could use thick or thin brushes, charcoal, or other drawing media. The process was to try not to think, but intuitively make a mark or stroke, and then step back several feet away to pause and look. Then when they felt the impulse, they could respond to their mark by approaching the canvas and adding another mark or stroke. I asked them to continue this process until they felt done.

Additionally, they could use white as a way to cover or delete marks they had made.
Using colors was optional as long as they used a limited palette,

It’s exciting to see the unique response and style of each student. Fortunately, everyone in the group is already comfortable using paint, and some are accomplished artists already.

The students work independently during the week, using new exercises that I introduce weekly.
We meet once a week to share our experience and share feedback on one another’s work.

I look forward to the next 7 weeks of co-creating this workshop with this passionate and expressive group of painters.