Sea Turtle Rescue!

WE RESCUED A SEA TURTLE FROM THIS FISHING NET!!!!!

If you don't mind, dear reader, today as a special treat I would like to regale you with an exciting tale of honu* liberation and feminine strength in the face of danger that happened just this past Thursday on Kaupo beach, O'ahu. Have I gotten you at all intrigued...?

The story...

My girl Oli and I decided to come out to the beach and we wanted to chill in  more secluded area so when we scoped out and got set up at the perfect spot we noticed this 30 yard long weighted dragnet which was suspended with tiny buoys on top. It was set up perpendicular to the beach in the water attached to a bunch of rocks throughout and heavier weights on either end.

We couldn't figure out what it was doing there all day with seemingly no one around and at one point we noticed a young sea turtle swimming close to the shore. We quickly realized that due to the tide the honu was headed straight for the net! We looked at each other and ran out to the waist-deep water just as the turtle hit the net and got all tangled up. He was probably about 18 inches long and was struggling so badly, getting more and more caught up.

We tried grabbing him and pulling it off but he was really flailing around and smacking us away with his flippers. We just couldn't get it off and I could see it was tightening on his neck so finally I just grabbed the turtle by the shell and bear-hugged him belly to belly and started speaking soothingly to him to calm him down - which actually worked!!- while Oli pulled the net from around his neck and flippers.

It was so scary yet so exhilarating! As soon as we got the lil guy free Oli held the net down so I could release the turtle to the other side and he zoomed faster than you would even believe. Thank goodness he was okay! 

We called DNR to come cut it down but as we were waiting up on the shore we actually saw another turtle probably three times as big about to go into the net as well. Once again we jumped up and had to run out in order to scare off that turtle, and then at that point we felt we had to go ahead and just gather up the huge net. We both scratched our feet on the coral as we struggled to untangle and drag this big heavy net but it was worth it because in the next hour or two we saw at least 3 - 4 more turtles that would've got caught in it too! I honestly think we saved at least five or six turtles' lives on Thursday.

The worst part is, through speaking with the DNR guy we found out there were reports of other nets similar to this being set around the island, most likely to catch turtles. I am positive the turtle capture was no accident because this was a new net purposefully set up like this in an area where there are almost no fish and plenty of feeding sea turtles. Ugh, it just makes you sick!

Anyhoo, the good news is that DNR now knows the spot and will keep an eye on it. Plus my journalist friend said she might do a story in order to shed light for the community to keep an eye out and report any nets set up like that.

Honestly Oli and I felt so blessed by Pele herself to be able to be there to help those beautiful honu. It was certainly an experience we will never ever forget!!

*honu - Hawai'ian for sea turtle

Please Note: These are not my photos of sea turtles (I wish!) but they are the same kind as the fellas we rescued. Click image for source. 

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originally posted: July 29, 2017

10 Ways to Connect With Your Inner Artist

Today's post is something I am especially passionate about because I firmly believe that we all have creativity within us, from visual, music or performing, to culinary or entrepreneurial, and with the right circumstances and surroundings our inner creator soars! 

Since I am a visual artist, I want to share with you 10 ways that I have found to tap into and excite that specific part of your brain to get it bubbling and overflowing with new ideas. And honestly, a lot of these tips could be slightly reworded to satisfy all kinds of inspo cravings for various creative enterprises. Hope you find some fodder for all your right-brained activities to come!

(And stay tuned because I'm working on an accompanying YouTube vlog that delves into each of these ideas a bit further!)

Here we go!

1 - Visit art in person: I know saying, 'Hey, look at art in order to be inspired to make art' can sound like a cop-out, but there really is something to experiencing artwork in person versus online. Go to a local art museum or gallery either alone or with another art-loving friend and really mull over any pieces that catch your eye, making sure to notice the brush strokes, scale, composition, chroma, and subject matter. Try to figure out what specifically about those works speak to you. Take photos if you're allowed and/or collect artist info for further artsy research. (Even though I'm a realist painter and this was a conceptual collection, I still had great sparks of inspo on my visit to the Honolulu Biennial)

2 - Pick up a new medium: This should be totally just for fun. It's really daunting to pick up something relatively new and make "good" art with it, so don't even try. At least at first simply approach the new medium like a first-year art student. You know, like just poking around with line work with a Chinese ink brush or doing tonal exercises in pastels. Same is true for 3D work as well. Make a pinch pot in clay or carve a spoon in wood. Doing an uncomplicated task that no one will ever see will jog your mental and physical muscle memory and open you up to feeling more confident when you do get that creative idea. 

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3 - Take a hike: Go outside and experience a little energetic awe as well as some of Mother Nature's most vibrant hues. If you're on the coast, take a beach walk; in the city, find a nice atrium or park or try to go camping for a weekend. Do whatever you need to do to be in nature mindfully. Just like when visiting artwork in person, the absolute best way to do it is either alone or with someone who shares that wavelength. Trust me, it's no fun to go on a soulful inspiration quest with someone who's uninterested or gets bored with these precious activities. Even as a predominantly figure and portrait artist, I still garner so much artistic inspo from being outdoors. (Photo from my Kuli'ou'ou Ridge hike a few months ago - #luckywelivehawaii for real!!)

4 - Play artistically with a child: Kids are little original-idea factories! I used to teach after school art classes to kids aged 4 to 16 and, especially with the younger ones, I was always delightfully floored with the wacky creatures and scenarios they would come up with when painting or drawing, or even journaling and sculpting!

A really good way to get those creative juices flowing is by active storytelling in which the child/children are illustrating a story that you are making up together. Kids are the best for trying new mediums together too because whatever you make will look incredible to them! A built-in cheerleading squad will help you get your feet wet!

5 - Give it a break: That's right, a good way to get artistically inspired is to stop trying to get artistically inspired. Go read a book or do some yoga or organize your studio or learn to juggle. Maybe even for a few days. Sometimes forcing the next 'great idea' will actually do the opposite since our brains can freeze under too much pressure.

That being said, any professional artist will tell you at some point you must 'paint through the pain' and keep working in order to maintain all the hard work flow that goes into being a successful artist, but little breaks are ok. Hopefully you'll have some emails to send, blogs to write, or art supplies to shop for that will make your time away from the studio productive still. (I'm an avid hula hooper in my free time; it's a wonderfully meditative yet energetic way to free my dancing spirit!)

6 - Check up on your favorite artists: Assuming you have favorite living artists still producing work, go pop in on their websites and blogs. See what they're doing these days as far as subject matter, themed group shows, workshops, or possibly even changing up and evolving their styles a bit. If you don't have favorite living artists, go find some!! There are sooooo many incredible people creating so many great works in this day and age.

Some good ways to find new artists are by following up on any works that stood out from shows you've seen in person, by following and subscribing to contemporary art mags (like Juxtapoz, Art Collector Magazine, Aesthetica, or ARTnews), and by surfing social media like Instagram to see what your like-minded friend folks are liking (find me on there too! @caleighbirdart).

7 - Go somewhere new: Plan a trip to someplace you have never been. It can be anything from a week in Tuscany to an afternoon stroll through those local botanical gardens you've been meaning to see. Anything that gets you out of your usual element or routine will help rejuvenate the creative flow. If you embark on your new adventure alone, feel free to bring some contemplative or relaxing music along. When I was able to spend four whole days at the Louvre in 2015 I listened to just about every piece Chopin ever composed! 

8 - Join a creative crowd: Put yourself around other creative people. Help a fellow artist with a project, attend an art lecture or art opening; join a book club or attend a poetry slam. Just be in the same space while other artistic ideas are being discussed, performed, or shared and you will soak up tons of inspo like a sponge. And not to mention, you might even make a new artsy friend!

9 - Watch your favorite visually beautiful movies: Enough said, really. We artists are emotional and visual creatures so digging down deep to tap into those heartfelt passions and buried feelings should absolutely stir our love for creation. For this exercise stick with movies that are shot and edited so gorgeously that you have to catch your breathe every single time you watch them. A few that come to mind for me are Hero, Avatar, Fantasia, and basically everything directed by Wes Anderson. 

10 - Attend a new kind of art class: This one is similar to trying out a new medium, but in this case you might use a familiar medium but in a different way. I'll use myself as a figurative oil painter for an example. If I wanted to change it up, maybe I would sign up for a plein air landscape painting course. Or focus on my drafting skills by taking a still life painting workshop. The difference between this one and Number 2 is that since you're actually paying money to sign up for a class, you will hopefully be challenged over an extended period of time and will gain new skills to go along with your new inspiration. 

Well, I hope this list helps :) I know after I enjoy any of these activities I come back to my studio bursting with color or design or subject inspiration, whether or not I was even seeking it to begin with!

We really do live in an amazing time on an incredible planet surrounded by epic adventures and glorious people. Each of us has the ability to focus our energy into learning how to tap into that higher creative vibration which is absolutely there for the riding! Woo Hoo!

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What are some great ways you have found to tap into your inner artist? Leave me some tips in the comments!

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originally posted: July 22, 2017

Goal-Worthy Contemporary Galleries

Hey-o friends! This week it's all about stepping up the game and vying for some face time for my recent goddess portraits so I've been doing a ton of research these last two weeks deciding what kinds of galleries might be a good fit for my Bohemian Goddesses oil paintings.

While diving down multiple awesomely artsy rabbit holes I discovered a few super cool galleries whose artists are totally inspiring me with their use of color and skill in technique. I'm not yet sure if I'll actually apply to all of these by any means, but they are definitely cool enough to share and hopefully visit when I'm in the neighborhood one day. 

So pop around the mainland with me for a lil contemporary art gallery tour:

Arch Enemy Arts

Philidelphia, PA

"Located in Philadelphia's Old City Disctrict, and with an emphasis on the lowbrow, pop-surrealism, urban, and macabre in a wide range of mediums, Arch Enemy Arts was chosen as Philadelphia Magazine's "Best of Philly"™ Best Art Gallery"

Helikon Gallery & Studios

Denver, CO

"Helikon Gallery & Studios is Denver's premiere art space for contemporary Illustrative Arts, ranging from portraiture, illustration, and figure work to imaginative and narrative art from around the United States."

Principle Gallery

Charleston, SC

"Principle Gallery Charleston finds joy in sharing museum-quality works from established American and International artists within the realm of Contemporary and Classical Realism.  The gallery invites you to explore its light-filled space for monthly shows featuring fresh, exciting work."

Sirona Fine Art

Hallandale Beach, FL

"Sirona Fine Art is a grand showcase for artists who embrace classic academic structure and technique, yet have an understanding and facility within the modernist landscape in which their work is viewed. Art can appeal to the senses, the emotions and the intellect equally or separately, as long as it connects."

Thinkspace Gallery

Los Angeles, CA

"Thinkspace was established with a commitment to the promotion and dissemination of young and emerging art. The gallery is a catalytic conduit for the emerging New Contemporary art scene, and is dedicated to the exposure of its tenets and its artists."

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Well there you have it folks! Some super sweet places full of artists you could literally drool over all day. If you know of any gallery spaces that may fit my style I would be so grateful if you drop a name in the comments. I'll keep you posted on any submissions or acceptances on this end! Fingers crossed:)

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originally posted: June 3, 2017

Two New Bohemian Goddesses!

I am always beyond thrilled to finish any piece of art really, but these two oil paintings of contemporary women from far reaches of the world have turned out especially beautiful and full of character, in this humble artist's opinion. 

So get inspired by these fashionably creative Bohemian Goddesses!

First let me introduce 'Nubia', a marvelous muse who is an experimentally creative and artistically gifted modern South African woman that treats the face, both her own and others', as her preferred canvas. Nubia enjoys using bold, eye-catching color application when practicing her unique brand of makeup artistry, as well as trying out basically every hairstyle under the sun. She is a ground breaking and inspiring fashionista, and I personally can't wait to see where her skills take her!

12x16 inches, oil on linen mounted on birch panel; pricing and prints here.

If you would like to see more of her makeup artistry visit @nubiasilvermakeup 

And on the other side of the planet....

'Zumee' is a loving and supportive wife and mother in Sulawesi, Indonesia. She is a watercolor artist who has a real eye for color coordination, whether on the page or in her wonderfully put together fashion sense. Zumee not only enjoys painting in her own time, but she and her artist husband also make a point to pass their love of creativity down to her young daughter Aluna.

10x14 inches, oil on linen mounted on birch panel; pricing and prints here

To see some of Zumee's watercolors check out her Instagram @zumeeoscar

I really feel that my Bohemian Goddesses series is my most important body of work thus far. If you haven't yet read why, check out my Artist Statement here. 

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originally posted: May 20, 2017

Studio Tour :: Art Wall and Studio Storage

Welcome back to the studio! Last Tutorial Tuesday was the detailed tour of my painting station, with tips and examples on how to be efficient when creating artwork, and today I'm happy to show you the other half of my studio, which includes my inspo art wall and my teeny tiny office desk/supply area. 

When I moved to Hawai'i in 2015 I was incredibly limited on what I shipped out here, plus we are pretty much tiny house living, so I have made it a point to stay very minimal and highly organized. Hopefully seeing my studio with these certain constraints can be an inspo for others' creative spaces as well!

PLUS, check out my very first tutorial ever all about creating the perfect art wall you see in the vid here.  

Do you have any especially easy or effective ways to keep your creative space organized? Feel free to share in the comments! 

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originally posted: April 15, 2017

Inspo Saturdays :: A Special Hawaiian Project

So in my personal life as a working artist, I try to be a "yes" person as much as possible. Even when I am first approached to do something that seems outside of my comfort zone or area of expertise, I suck it up and put on a smile and secretly cross my fingers hoping that I'll figure it out well enough along the way. 

Over the years one life lesson I have picked up is if you really want to make it in this business, you have to learn to not doubt yourself and just get excited about whatever opportunities come your way. 

Not my photo, but taken in a spot where I got to swim with two sea turtles

What came my way recently has been my first opportunity at art licensing! Woo Hoo! Some friends-of-friends out here on O'ahu are going to be making mini surfboards as a collectors item and they had a few specific Hawai'ian designs they were looking to have created as .png images and then  mounted on an entire series of different colored boards.

 Lo and behold, I meet one of the developers, he sees my snazzy business cards and website with my charcoal drawings, and boom! I've got two new commissions.

Certainly landscapes and wildlife are not in my normal repertoire, but I have learned to throw self-doubt out the window and tackle commissions with aplomb. Not to mention that I live in Palolo, which is a valley directly behind the legendary Diamond Head Crater so I see it every day. Plus, I've been blessed with Aloha and have enjoyed the magical experience of swimming around with sea turtles twice since moving here.

It can be scary to put yourself out there (terrifying, in fact) but I think it was my mother who told me that if someone wants to hire me for a creative gig, it's because they believe I can do it and so should I. Sage advice I think all of us creatives can all take!

My drawing of more of a classic pre-settlement Diamond Head Crater with canoe surfers in the water

Diamond Head today as seen from a harbor cruise

In summation, Hawai'i is fan-freakin-tastic (thanks, Captain Obvious!) and I love it here. I just realized during the writing of this post that today actually marks the one year anniversary of my living here on O'ahu - incredible how time flies! So here is a little slide-show of this past year's adventures here and on my trip to Big Island. (And that handsome chap you see me with is my loving boyfriend and the reason I moved out here, Tim. Lucky me!) Enjoy:)

Have you ever visited Hawai'i or any other Pacific Island? I have yet to venture towards Asia, but I can't wait to do so! I'd love to hear about your experiences in the comments! 

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originally posted: December 31, 2016