“Duet of Color,” an exhibit of paintings by Hawaii Island artists Lynn Chapman and Julie McCue, will be on display with original paintings, prints and cards for sale from Wednesday through July 27 at the Firehouse Gallery in Waimea. These two artists’ colorful oil and watercolor paintings capture the island’s beauty from flowers to seascapes. Although they have different subjects, styles and mediums, this unique show harmonizes their creativity, use of intense color and shared love of the island. They are both accomplished painters and longtime members of the Waimea Arts Council and have given much time and energy to the Firehouse Gallery.
A reception will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. July 5 at the gallery. Attendees may meet the artists and enjoy pupu and chocolate delights.
Chapman has been painting island images capturing the vivid island colors and light in oils since she and her husband, Gary, moved here several years ago after living in the redwood country of northern California for 35 years.
“I find that my paintings are influenced by the island’s warm, soft atmosphere. Whether painting outdoors or in my studio, I try to capture color and beauty from my surroundings, and I find that my paints and brushes are the force that help to create the paintings from my basic ideas. I am so happy to have the honor of sharing this show with Julie McCue. She’s a wonderful artist and we do seem to harmonize well.”
Chapman has displayed her art in several galleries and shows, including the Artists Plein Air Show in Hilo this year. She has a painting included as a full-page illustration in the book “This We Believe,” and she has been an active member of the Waimea Arts Council, displaying her paintings at the Firehouse Gallery in Waimea. Chapman’s paintings have won two Helen Cassidy Juried Show awards. Chapman is also a member of the Kohala Plein Air painting group.
McCue started painting watercolor somewhat late in life. She grew up in Minneapolis, with a creative mother who did pottery and sculpture and an architect father. She did needle work – sewing, needlepoint, crewel and knitting and was involved in the creation of a huge embroidered wall hanging that hangs at Plymouth Church in Minneapolis. She also worked for a company that created cards and decorative packaging and worked closely with their artists. This exposure helped develop a feel for color and composition.
In 1994, McCue and her husband retired to North Kohala and the creative urge kicked in more strongly, now that there was more time to pursue it. The natural bright colors of Hawaii, and especially North Kohala, are her inspiration and she tends to use bright, clear hues in her paintings.
McCue started out doing florals, and they are still a big part of her repertoire, but she enjoys the challenge of other subjects – fish, animals, and portraits. Currently she is developing a series on “textures in nature”, initially focusing on tight closeups of interesting tree barks.
“I started taking photos of trees and when I zoomed in close, I found the most interesting colors and patterns.” The first in that series “Eucalyptus Bark” won first place at the 2013 Helen M. Cassidy juried show and was purchased by the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts for their Art in Public Places program.
The Waimea Arts Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the arts on Hawaii Island. The Firehouse Gallery is at 67-1202 Mamalahoa Highway at the intersection with Kawaihae Road, in Waimea. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and Sunday, and from 9 am to 3 pm. Saturday.
Call 887-1052 for information or visit waimeaartscouncil.org.