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!

originally posted: December 31, 2016

artist blog about finding inspiration in the outdoors

I spent a few hours in my garden today, but instead of working on my beets or green onions, I decided to give a little love to my decorative and indoor plants, which they sorely needed. I noticed the dirt getting quite low in a few of their pots and figured the nutrients in the soil had pretty much run its course. Poor little guys!

Much happier with full, fresh, composted soil.

As I was enjoying feeling my hands in the dirt and admiring the intricate geometric patterns and striking colors within these favorite studio companions, I started to remember just what had inspired me to do my grad school thesis project about human bodies juxtaposed with succulents and other plant life. The little fat fingers and petals of these succulents look and feel so much like animalia rather than plant creatures, and working with them today just brought all those energized and full-of-wonder feelings back.

Succulent buddies lined up in front of my big basil bush

The similarities between us and plantlife are present because we are all connected; the same matter, the same energy is what makes each creature on the planet, and after we expire, we will all become the same dust.

Ready to come back in and cheer up my studio!

If you want to learn more about any of the paintings pictured here, you can also view the full gallery and artist statement from my Figure & Flora exhibition.

originally posted: October 19, 2016

Inspo Saturdays :: A Special Hawaiian Project

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.

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!

Plants as Inspiration for Figures