What's new, I love me some kisses!

This 'Akepa pair has made it to the beach for a sun-filled afternoon. Actually it's a little hotter than anticipated, so they decided to find some shade in a nearby coconut palm. With a little breeze, the palm fronds begin to sway just like a built-in fanning system. Such a perfect place to enjoy some much needed time together!

" 'S wonderful! 'S marvelous!
You should care for me!
'S awful nice! 'S paradise!
'S what I love to see! "

The lyrics of 'S Wonderful immediately spring to mind when I finished painting this little paradise scene complete with rushing waterfall and big lush Kokio Kea (Hawaiian white hibiscus). My 'Akepas are so in love and couldn't be more happy with their current setting. Certainly is 'S Wonderful to be in Hawaii!

This painting derived from "swinging on a star" and morphed into one bird reaching from the moon and the other coming up for kisses from the brightest star.

From initial concept, I moved away from what I normally do by breaking from reality. Usually I'm concerned with being true to the favored environment and flowers of a specific bird species and the birds themselves. Today, my bird friends and I went into outer space and beyond!

What a perfect spot for a lei shack and some rolling waves! My little orange kitty is so very content on his blue stool, watching over his stack of leis. For this shack, I wanted the architecture to be a little more old school than some of the others. There's the tin prop-up window shutter and a lanai that meets the ground without any raised foundation. Although its an older structure, the lei maker has made sure her house is clean and brightly painted. Complete with a full plumeria tree and pink flowered bushes, all you need for an amazing life in paradise is right at your doorstep! 

This male Canary knows how to romance his lady like a pro! We have the full moon overhead, the sweet smelling Hawaiian Plumeria under foot, moonlight cascading on calm ocean waters and a diamond-filled sky complete with shooting star. Who ever said chivalry and romance is dead? 
Not me!

I am having a blast with these vintage poster-inspired paintings! From the beginning, I knew I had to create a California poster painting showcasing the state bird, California Quail, and the state flower, California Poppy. I knew I had to have the male quail with all his color as the feature, surrounded by beautifully bright poppies and "CALIFORNIA" scrawled above. My hang-up was: what should the other words be on the painting? I knew I wanted more than just "CALIFORNIA", and I considered writing out the state bird and state flower, but that just seemed like an overkill of  "California". So I went with the state nickname and the date of statehood. I love all the bright color I was able to attain in this painting. This is the Pop-piest poster painting I have done to date! (pun intended!)

How much fun did I have painting "Sail Lake Tahoe"? A whole lot. From the get-go, I wanted to paint a sailboat with the mountains and pines behind. I kept the sailboat very basic. It was difficult at first because my brain wants to go more detailed, but I wanted to go for more block colors and simplify the painting as much as possible. 
My boat looks like it is really taking off! There must be a good breeze in the air. With clear blue skies and a little snow on the mountains, I bet this boat ride would be the perfect treat on a Tahoe getaway!