It's just a hypothetical question, no need to give reasons for your answer. I thought it would be fun to celebrate Easter with a painting! My bunny looks so sweet, and slightly confused, while the chick doesn't have a care in the world. If only life was so simple: have friend to lean on?... Check! A colorful bounty to keep things interesting?... Check! Life is good!

The 'Anianiau is one of my favorite birds to paint. Whenever I want that pop of yellow, he is my bird of choice. Today, this 'Anianiau looks like he is waiting for a friend to come join him. For now, he will rest on a beautiful blooming bush of yellow hibiscus and enjoy the sunset.

It is good to take some time to yourself. Relish in the quiet moments, pause and embrace your own space. Before you can share yourself with friends, you must embrace the beauty that is you!! (And he is quite a handsome bird!)

So apparently I grew up under the cloud of misconception when it comes to this dinosaur... I don't know quite how I feel about this. Here's the deal: there is no such thing as a Brontosaurus and never was such a creature. I know, it hurts a little. In life, there are always people trying to one up other people, and the brontosaurus came into existence due to a petty competition between two scientist/archeologists that were more concerned with having more discoveries than the other to carefully examine remains prior to announcing new findings.

Back in the late 1800's, Scientist A found a new dino skeleton missing it's head and named it the Apatosaurus. He fashioned a new head using the skull of another dino and put it on display. When his team found a full skeleton (incl head) of a dinosaur two years later, Scientist A enthusiastically named it Brontosaurus to outdo Scientist B yet again. A few years later, it was discovered that Bronto was the same as Apato and therefore Bronto does not exist. Bummer.

Well, I'm a little stubborn and I refuse to start calling my beloved Brontosaurus an Apatosaurus. After all, Brontosaurus means "thunder lizard" while Apatosaurus means "deceptive lizard"... Seriously? Can't we change Apato to Bronto? If there is a petition out there, I'd sign it!

I've painted pineapples before, but I thought it would be fun to paint the pineapple still on the plant. And of course I had to add a couple birds to the mix! These two are Northern Cardinals. They are abundant here in Hawaii. The male has bright red plumage and the female is soft silver grey with peach and red tones. The male will court his lady every year, dating all over again each time. His song can be heard blocks away as he calls to her and asks her to make him a lucky bird all over again. Look how proudly he smiles here on this pineapple bush. Today, it's mission accomplished.

I love mangoes! Part of the reason we bought our house was because it had a mature mango tree in the backyard. Our tree produces yummy mangoes, but they are itty bitty. When we go on our morning walks, I get mango envy from the tree on the corner with its huge, almost indecent mangoes.

In "Mango Madness", I poured my envy into the painting with big, ripe mango treasure. Two little Japanese White-Eyes have discovered my bounty as well. Their big eyes make them look super excited to be here. As they should! Now, who's got a peeler?

The Palila is critically endangered and struggling to survive. Their habitat is shrinking and their favorite source of food, the Mamane, is depleted from invasive goats, birds and rats. Conservation projects focus on removing invasive species and protecting both the Mamane tree and the Palila. 
These two Palila are survivors. No matter what life throws them, they will be together. A kiss makes everything better. And with all these pretty Mamane flowers to keep a belly full, life is good.

This here little guy is a Red-Billed Leiothrix. Known for being shy and somewhat elusive, this Leiothrix has found a quiet oasis to meditate on life.

Every day I try to see life in a positive light. Some days it's harder than others, but I manage to turn my frowns upside down. I believe that whenever possible: be nice, be respectful and don't burn bridges where burning is unnecessary. I was speaking to a man yesterday who did not share my philosophy. He told me that he would come back in fifteen years and see if my outlook on life had hardened. I'm not worried, I've lived through over thirty years and in that time, my philosophy has been validated ten-fold. You can never assume to know what is going on in other people's lives, nor can you foresee the role that each person plays in your life. Sometimes the person you least expect is the one who saves your life. I feel blessed for every interaction with another human being because there is something to be learned (good or bad) from even the most negative of situations. Rather than dwell on the nasty bits of our conversation yesterday, I decided to write down my life motto in verse (easier to recite to myself that way)... I came up with two that are just a little different from each other:

Celebrate each Blessing

Of every single day.

And remember those along the path

Who helped you on your way.

Enjoy all the Blessings

Of Today and days to come.

Always offer thanks and praise

And remember where you're from.

When you find the perfect one for you, it’s a sure thing. My soulmates are enjoying a lush afternoon on a tree found in Hawaii called Cassia Javanica. To me, the flowers look almost like hibiscus except they are like tissue paper in texture and not as voluminous... And in a tree.

The two lovebirds are ‘Apapane, an endemic honeycreeper of Hawaii. They are easy to spot due to their bright red plumage and shocking white underparts.

Life is full of mystery, but one thing’s for certain. If you have the love of your life to share the journey, it will always be worth the trip!

The Hawaiian Creeper has it tough right now. They are fighting for survival against invasive species and deforestation. Conservation projects are currently attempting to curb their rapid decline. Let’s hope these projects succeed, because the Hawaiian Creeper is a beautiful representation of Hawaii.

These two Hawaiian Creepers are taking a break from the arduous task of survival for the moment. The plumeria tree is a perfect place for such an occasion. Plumerias have the light, sweet aroma that seems to lift your spirits and dissipate any worries into thin air. The aroma therapy is working, I can see these two having a wonderful afternoon together after all. Maybe it’s not so tough being green…

 

Song came first on this one. I was listening to Pandora and this song came on. I had already been working on sketches for a moonlight palm painting, so it all came together at that moment.

The two birds dancing are Saffron Finches. They are all over Hawaii and very easy to spot from their bright yellow coloring. There are two types of Saffrons and you can tell the difference from the female's coloring. She will be either a light shade of yellow or grey-yellow with striped markings. I'm not sure, but I think we have both types here. These two are having a good time, dancing in the moonlight on a beachwalk palm. So romantic!