For one day we were transported to another time and place, one that had previously only existed in my wildest dreams. Leaving all thoughts of our overcrowded, noisy world behind. Together, the 5 of us, we were experiencing this beautiful drive with a shared sense of wonder, exploration and adventure. In this place, Mother Nature is so strong that only a small road could be winding through, and even then She still takes over the road. The light can be dim, trying to peak through the layers and layers of foliage and earth.
Driving through it feels like you are driving through nature itself. Human activity is so scarce. There is hardly room for humans with the roads hanging on the edge of the cliffs, carving their way through the extreme coast line on the windward side of the island.  There are over 600 hairpin turns, 59 one way stone bridges, countless pools and valleys over the course of 64 miles. Every corner has a new waterfall, a new natural wonder, something to marvel at. Vistas of the ocean surrounding the island peeking through the heavy brush. It feels remote, untouched, mysterious and secluded. The feeling of seeing something we had never witnessed before was powerful and breathtaking.

The Hana Collection was created with an intention of capturing the beautiful day of adventure spent with my family in a place that will forever be burned into my memories. It is so dear to my heart.
The Road to Hana in Maui, Hawaii was such an astonishing surprise. This series of work was created from my memories of this experience.  I hope you enjoy it. 

collection notes

the Hana collection was painted with the intention of bringing the wonder and mystery of the beautiful rainforest. All of the pieces from this collection speak with unique energy.  Scenes crafted with palettes of deep thick velvety purples and grayblues, the lush blues, aquas and greens, lime green leaves, long bamboo shoots curving over us. Acrylic paints, washes, paint crayons and markers create the many low contrasting layers of foliage on top of each other. Each composition is different, each size is different, transporting the viewer through the lush landscape demonstrating the emotional wonder and mystery of the space.

I devoted quite a bit of time creating studies from both the photos and videos, but also from my memories. As we spent time driving the road, my mind was capturing the shapes and lines and how they played against one another. I have a major love for the studies as much as I have for the canvas work. I love the quick raw gestures of the ideas before they presented themselves within the paintings.

I got more inspired as I created this collection and had so many ideas that I wanted to work out on the canvas. My visions got less wide in scope, but more focused, especially on the higher branches, the exact foliage versus the view of the road. The shapes, the colors, the looser messier work and more abstract.