Swinging among the mangoes is all fine and dandy, but it’s even more fun when you add a kiss or two in between! My little Mejiros, or Japanese White-Eyes, are taking advantage of the afternoon breeze. Swaying along with the bright fruit below, it’s easy to lose yourself in the moment here in Hawaii. It’s even better to get lost with the one you love!
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Sometimes I like to be alone and have some peace and quiet. But then I get bored and would rather be with my hubby or a friend. In the case of these two Leiothrixes, two is always better than one. They have each other to spend the day with and two pineapples to quench both thirst and hunger. Plus those ripe pineapples sure smell good! Now that I think about it more, peace and quiet is way overrated… Now let’s open up one of the pines!
Way up in the tree, you can’t see me…
Oh wait, we can see them! It’s two mejiros, or Japanese White-Eyes. They blend in so well with the papayas! If it wasn’t for their bright white eye-rings, we would have missed them all together. But there they are, enjoying some shade from the fanning leaves of the papaya umbrella. The next task will be figuring out how to get down to those ripe papayas for an afternoon treat! This painting was suggested by Iris at Wyland Beachwalk Waikiki and inspired by the little fruit stands on every island that seem to randomly sprout off the sides of gravelly roads. Of course I had to include all my most favorite fruits: avocados, bananas, mangoes, pineapples, coconuts, papayas, tomatoes, oranges and strawberries. If I had a few more baskets, I'd include lilikoi, lychee and some bags of roasted Kona coffee. The cash register is open and ready for business. You could even pick up your fruit supplies after a stroll on the beach. I'm sure they have straws and a drill behind the counter make your coconut into a refreshing after-swim beverage. One of the simple joys in Hawaii! My little yellow birds have found a wonderful birdhouse to raise a family. It is complete with fragrant plumerias outside and a safe room inside to keep those eggs warm. Although they had to travel far to find the perfect spot, they didn’t seem to mind. They know that home is not defined by what you have or how you decorate. Home is anywhere your love resides.
Sometimes you just need a new perspective and everything falls into place.
Our little Chihuahua friend is trying to make sense of it all, and tilting his head ever so slightly seems to make everything better. "Kapakahi" is a Hawaiian word meaning crooked, askew or out of sync. In this painting, I'm referring to his ears, one up and one sideways... I love when I talk to my dog (which is all the time) and he does the head-tilt. I will often just say things is an inquiring tone so that he will look at me with his big dewy eyes, cock his head to the side and really weigh my question’s merit to the fullest. The most important factor to him is probably whether or not finding the answer is rewarded with a treat. Gotta love that he’s got priorities and ambition! The mangoes are going crazy in my backyard and they are giving me lots of inspiration! 'Apapanes are usually found on higher ground where the lehua blossoms are plentiful and the air is refreshingly crisp. Today they decided to come down from the rainforest and swing like Tarzan and Jane on these candy-colored mangoes. Going in for a kiss was never more fun! A year or so ago, I painted an adorable Westie with a butterfly on his nose. I had an itch to recreate that design with another dog and chose the Papillon. He's a perfect fit, especially with his large ears and fur tendrils that inspired the species' name (French for "butterfly"). My Papillon is intrigued and surprised to find a beautiful monarch delicately kisses to top of his wet nose. Some friendships blossom out of the most unexpected moments of tenderness. A Warhol-inspired tetraptych of Birdettes! The Birdette is a name I use for a little fat happy bird that seems to have alit in front of us for a brief hello. He is cute, endearing and always looking for someone to love (which sometimes makes his head tilt to the side). My Birdettes come in all different colors and varieties, bringing a little joy to everyone with whom he crosses paths. 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! |
AuthorKaren Obuhanych (kto ART) is a Hawaii-based artist who relishes in the simple, happy moments of everyday life. Archives
May 2019
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