Artist statement

In the fall of 2003, my journey with breast cancer began. My studio became a place of refuge between chemo treatments and teaching art to middle school students. I began to paint.

The fourth generation of my family to be born in the Hawaiian Islands, family, traditional Hawaiian patterns and native plants have had a long lasting influence over my work. The Book of Kells, Oriental rugs, medieval tapestries, Chinese and Japanese fabrics and scroll paintings have continued to hold great interest inspiring me to draw, mix colors and paint my designs.

They are first hand drawn in pencil and then painted with a variety of watercolors. While earning a masters degree in art education, I enjoyed exposure to many studio classes but have never taken a watercolor class. Remember those paint boxes with the hard cakes in elementary school? They made what I call “Kool-Aid” colors creating my frustration towards the medium. That is, until I discovered tube watercolors and the “glitz” of metallic and mica infused watercolors! These paints are viscose and lay down a palette of rich colors. Pens are then used to outline, pattern and further embellish the designs.

I have enjoyed hearing these paintings being compared to the Mandala, defined as “a calming focus.” Painting represents this for me.