A while back I made an awesome painting called "Hey Me, Hey Mama" and when I sold it, I was happy and sad. Happy because it found a new home with people who loved my artwork. Sad because I loved it so much, I had it in my house, on my wall, not intending on selling it at all...
So I knew there would come a day when I wanted to paint this scene again, and that day has come. "She Loves You" is a great song. Full of "yeah, yeah, yeahs" that make me want to sway side to side from my torso up. I thought it would be the perfect song choice because this little 'Akepa female (right side) looks so very happy to be next to her man (on the left). The Koa tree is a special tree in Hawaii. It only grows here and mostly just on Big Island. The 'Akepa nests in the Koa tree. It looks like these two have found their forever home. He loves her too, very much, in case you were wondering...

I did a little adjustments to "Love Aplenty". Sometimes I make myself stop working on a panting and consider it finished, but in my head I need to fix something. So I was looking my finished "Love Aplenty" with a yellow background and purple flowers, and I got that itch to fix!

I am loving the results of my mini makeover. The colors are brighter, the Lehua blossoms look like fireworks going off and celebrating the love of my 'I'iwi birds. Every kiss should be a memorialized in this way!

I have painted lots of 'Akepas because the males have that great bright orange color and the females are adorable too. This pair is playing Tarzan and Jane on a bunch of mangoes.

The mango is my favorite fruit. If I order a smoothie somewhere, better believe it's going to have some mango in it. There are many types of mangoes as I've discovered over the years, this type appears to be the Hayden mango. Big, juicy and oh so tasty! But for now, these 'Akepas will just be playing on their food.

Way back (about a year ago) I painted a little chickadee. A client saw the image of "My Little Chickadee" in my book and asked if I could make a similar painting for her. So I came up with this fluffball.

Requirements were pretty basic: lots of fluffy feathers, fatty shape and cuteness galore. I think he fits the bill! So very cute, so glad he's got more to love!

Ah, romance is in the air:)

I was given a suggestion to paint birds with Diamond Head in the background, and this is what I came up with. Two little canaries on a honeymoon/anniversary/hot date getaway, kisses all evening under the full moon gaze and twinkling stars.

Need I say more?

I had a lot of fun painting Kirby here. I learned a lot as well. I didn't know that Mini Pinschers (and the larger version too) vary in color from black to rufous red-brown. Initially, I painted Kirby with a black coat and then realized that he has the rufous tone. From the get go, we (clients Dorothy, Johanna and I) wanted to put the flowers in the background. I had to improvise on the ground because I didn't have a picture with the floor in view. It looks like young Kirby here is having a great day in the sun. He gets his picture taken, gets to smell the beautiful flowers and warm himself on the sunny patio stones. What a handsome boy!

Usually, I will not use a song name again, but I had to make an exception for this larger painting, "Somewhere Over The Rainbow II" because it's all about the song...

Here we have a pair of Mountain Bluebirds on a plentiful branch of apple blossoms. The lady bird is quite content to snuggle up with her man. She's sure that her dream has come true. The male bird is dreaming of what's to come, always looking out for his lady ahead of time. Making big plans and following them through.

"And the dreams that you dare to dream, really do come true."

My friend from afar, Margie, has a beautiful little girl, Hayley, who wanted cute birds, hearts and cherry blossoms for her room. I came up with this painting for her and love how it came out! Because Hayley is so amazingly adorable and I know that her mom loves her very much, I chose Stevie Wonder's song written for his baby girl that pretty much says it all when it comes to the love between parent and child. Lyrics follow (just insert appropriate names in last verse)...

Isn't she lovely? Isn't she wonderful?
Isn't she precious? Less than one minute old
I never thought through love
We'd be making one as lovely as she
But isn't she lovely made from love?

Isn't she pretty? Truly the Angel's best
Boy, I'm so happy, we have been Heaven blessed
I can't believe what God has done
Through us He's given life to one
But isn't she lovely made from love?

Isn't she lovely? Life and love are the same
Life is Aisha, the meaning of her name
Londie, it could have not been done
Without you who conceived the one
That's so very lovely, made from love

It's springtime when the flowers start blooming and the birds are singing. The Royal Poinciana is a beautiful flowering tree that blooms orange-red blossoms that create a canopy of warmth. My two Cordon Bleu Finches are all puffed up, relaxing on the Royal Poinciana branch. I love the Cordon Bleu Finches. They are so colorful, and the male has rosy red cheeks. Spring has sprung!

Coffee is big here in Hawaii. The pride and joy is Kona Coffee. If you drive down the main road in South Kona, you will know immediately when you have hit coffee country. Signs start popping up left and right for multiple coffee farms. All are tasty and all have their own unique notes (if you get really into studying the flavor profiles). Around the world, people have tastings, similar to wine tastings, that attract coffee aficionados, purveyors and the cuppa joe drinkers alike.

These two 'Akepas decided to host their own coffee tasting. Nothing better than waking up to a clear blue sky and a strong brew at hand!