“Hawaiian Rainstorm” is an ongoing series inspired by a dreamy experience I had while living in the heart of Paia, on the north shore of Maui.
A substantial hurricane was coming in, and I was walking home from work while our little town was shutting down. . .
* * I actually passed Jamie Lee Curtis on the sidewalk!!! * *
I stopped by Paia Bay to look at the waves and stormy skies rolling in - it was entirely quiet and deserted.
The vacant beach felt like it was taking big cleansing breaths.
For a few minutes, I stood there soaking up the experience. I felt the heavy winds coming off of the ocean. I watched the angry waves crashing onto the shore. I listened to the palm fronds rattling frantically above me.
It was eerie, ominous, mystical.
I try to harness that memory every time I paint these pieces, and convey the energy that is specific to a tropical storm - the color of the sky, the mist, rain, wind and humidity coming in from the ocean.
The Beauty of Nature in a Bad Mood.
I envision myself on a deserted island - watching a storm roll in on miles and miles of palm trees. I love to think of what Old Hawai'i used to be like (I imagine it was very quiet and peaceful), and I love the smell and the sound of the rain.
One of my favorite high school english teachers taught us that in literature, rain often signifies change. Rain presents an opportunity to reset and let all of your anxieties be washed away. Do not be afraid of change, embrace it. The rainbow is to symbolize that there is always something miraculously beautiful that comes from change - even if that change is really painful or hard.
My process for these pieces includes sandwiching layers of palm trees, paint, and texture so the viewer can "feel" the wind. Like most of my paintings, I like to work faster than I can think, because I want all decisions to be based on the feelings, and energy, of that moment.
