The Waimea Arts Council presents two artists from North Kohala this month at the Firehouse Gallery in Waimea. ADVERTISING The Waimea Arts Council presents two artists from North Kohala this month at the Firehouse Gallery in Waimea. Carolyn Lancaster and
The Waimea Arts Council presents two artists from North Kohala this month at the Firehouse Gallery in Waimea.
Carolyn Lancaster and Julie McCue will share their watercolor and acrylic paintings. The subject is “Flora and Fauna,” and each artist contributes her own unique perspective on the plants and animals they come in contact with.
An opening reception for the exhibit, which runs through Sept. 30, is 3-5 p.m. Sept. 10 at the gallery.
Lancaster and McCue have been painting together weekly for the past several years, as part of a small, informal group of artists in North Kohala. They have found the support, comradeship and sharing of ideas has helped them to grow as artists, while at the same time they have formed deep friendships. It is a day in the week that they all look forward to and find that not only does it encourage them to paint on a regular basis, it becomes almost a form of meditation.
McCue has been painting watercolors since a few years after she arrived in North Kohala in 1994, moving from Minnesota with her husband. Her first love has been the wide variety of flowers found on the island, often concentrating on close-up views that show minute details of the flower.
A few years ago, she carried this idea over to close-ups of tree bark. The first of these paintings, “Eucalyptus Bark,” won first place at the Helen M. Cassidy Memorial Juried Art Show in 2014 and was subsequently purchased by the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts in Honolulu for its Art in Public Places Program.
Currently, McCue is experimenting with pouring watercolor and then creating a detailed image over the interesting colors that happen by accident when they mix together on the paper.
“I want to keep growing in my painting — trying new methods and creating more interesting works. I simply love watercolor because there is so much to learn about it — I never get tired of it,” she said.
According to Lancaster, “Georgia O’Keefe once said ‘first one must do the daily chores that keep life moving before allowing oneself time to paint’… and this is certainly true in my life.”
Lancaster lives on a 15-acre ranch in North Kohala with her husband. They have a 28-year-old horse they rescued, seven cows, a goat, a dog, and 50 coffee trees on the land.
She paints at every opportunity possible, usually working from photographs she has taken.
“Watercolor painting is my passion. My paintings have a photo realistic quality while drawing the viewer in with the serendipity of watercolor,” Lancaster said.
In fall 2014, Lancaster was asked to paint the cover for the 2015 North Kohala Business Directory. She also loves to paint pet portraits and has completed several commissioned paintings.
“It is so rewarding to try to capture the inner spirit of each animal I paint. Pet owners often call me when their beloved dog or cat dies to thank me. More recently, I have been painting animals in acrylic, bringing yet another dimension to my artwork; however, I still remain passionate about watercolor,” she said.
In the back gallery, small solo shows by several new council members will be held during the same dates. Sculptures, 3-D artwork and jewelry by Christian Marinello; abstract oil paintings by Patricia Marinello; watercolors, pastels and exotic silk designs by Patti Pease-Johnson; watercolors and mixed medium works by Chris Kutler; and jewelry, oil paintings and ink work by Alissa Mattson will be on exhibit.
The Firehouse Gallery, located at 67-1201 Mamalahoa Highway, is open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and Sunday, and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays.
Info: www.waimearartscouncilgallery.org.
