Gulley’s Ascension Sunset

• Artist:  Niki Gulley
• Title:  Ascension Sunset
• Media:  Oil on canvas
• Dimensions:  60”x36"
• Date:  2013

Lush. Exotic. Beauty Untamed. 

Rugged and Wild. Rich and Velvety. Welcoming and Mystical. 

Warm and Radiant.

Escaping the high-traffic tourist areas, we found Hawaii truly enchanting. While these steps really existed, I incorporated them into my painting because of what they could represent, beckoning you on a personal journey of discovery and hope.

 Following her childhood in Glenview, Illinois, Niki relocated to Dallas to pursue an art major at Southern Methodist University. Since she disliked the long, chilly Chicago winters, Dallas seemed like the place to stay after completing her degree.

Upon graduating Gulley entered the world of advertising, working as art director for a Dallas magazine.

This work goes the furthest in the surrealism scale, incorporating Van Gogh sun flares and hyper colors.

http://www.nikigulley.com/ascension-sunset-hawaiian-palette-knife-painting/

Stewart’s Red Sky - "Lani 'Ula'ula"

• Artist:  Janet Stewart
• Title:  Red Sky - "Lani 'Ula'ula"
• Media:  Lithograph
• Dimensions:  21”x28"
• Date:  2004

Janet had her first one-woman show in 1978 in Pasadena, CA. She began accumulating ribbons and medals from juried shows. She says her works were most influenced by Corinne Hartley and by the Impressionists: “Degas for his draftsmanship and anatomy, Gauguin for color and atmosphere, and Sorolla for the handling of light.” It was Corinne who helped her with her ability to portray personality and emotion, the hallmarks of her paintings today.
Janet paints people in her own style. That style has been called “enhanced realism”.

The riot and gradation of the color palette in this depiction of a Hawaiian sunset is the focus here, and the woman and her garments augment this.  This reminds me of Monet’s water lilies and their reflection ponds.

http://www.islandartcards.com/wordpress/?p=109

Freeland’s Lahaina Beach Day

Artist:  BH Freeland Title:  Lahaina Beach Day Media:  12”x18" Dimensions:  Oil Date:  2008 Born Betty Hay Wodehouse, in Kohala, on the Big Island of Hawaii, she graduated from Punahou School, attended the University of Colorado, and continued studies in New York City. In 1961 she returned to the islands, married George (Keoki) Freeland of Lahaina, Maui, in 1963. Betty Hay, Keoki, and their three grown children presently live on Maui. Betty Hay began exhibiting her work on Oahu and Maui in 1969. She began one person exhibits in 1975, continuing those shows as well as taking part in special exhibitions throughout the state. She is active in the community, having served on a number of boards of non-profit organizations, and often donating work to their fund raisers.  Artist Statement: "Painted en plein air on the beach at 505 Front Street in Lahaina. Lots of fun activity with surf schools coming and going. There are a few canoes on the beach for the paddling clubs. Kahoolawe is in the distance. It is a very happy place for families to go!" - Betty Hay FreelandProbably the ‘loosest’ painting style of the group, this piece is telescopic in quality, as if it were being viewed from a great distance and the colors are the majority of what is seen, rather than shapes and lines.

http://www.bhfreeland.com/details_o_lah_beach_day.htm