Holton Gallery

Welcome and Aloha

2012-02-01T16:20:00.001-10:00

Aloha and welcome to the official website of Maui born artist Matt Holton.

Upcoming Events

World Whale Day is on Saturday

February 18, 2012

9am-8pm at

Kalama Park, Kihei.

Maui celebrates humpback whales winter journey to the islands with an all day festival. The day starts with a Parade, followed by live entertainment, food, and a Silent Auction. In the spirit of the celebration, Matt has donated a life size portrait, Kamehameha. More about this event at:

http://mauiwhalefestival.org/events/world-whale-day-event

About the Artist

Bonfire Orchid in a custom pine frame

Artist Matt Holton was born and raised on Maui, and has been creating artwork his entire life. His full-time dedication started in 2005. Since then he has created over 180 pieces of art including wood carvings, and custom frames. When not working on the canvas, he spends times teaching art, running (mauirunner.com), coaching, cooking (upcountryrecipes.com), and cycling.

Hiking through the crater

Prolific in several different subject matters, it is always exciting to see what will come next.

Read more about Matt here.

Latest Blog

The painting of Maui is Matt's tallest to date. The massive painting fits into only one room of the studio and measures 44" x 88". The movement of the ocean, combined with the intensity, and perspective of Maui looking down on us creates a dynamic painting.

Maui 44" x 88"

2012-01-23T12:11:00.006-10:00

Maui 44" x 88"

In my last blog post, Maui (study) 12" x 21.5, I had just finished a much smaller painting of the story of Maui. After over a month of painting and patience I have finished the final piece.This painting is a depiction of one of the Myths of the demigod Maui.

Maui, was the rascal of his family. According to one legend Maui tricks his brothers while they go fishing. Using his special fishing hook called the Manaiakalani he grabs the ocean floor. Fooling his brothers he tells them that they have caught a giant fish. In order to catch it they must paddle as fast and as hard as they can. By tricking his bothers multiple times he is able to pull up the ocean floor and form the Hawaiian islands.

study

In the final piece I added some elements to the story. To the left of Maui I added their canoe sail. The sail helps highlight the prospective in this piece and gave more movement to the sky. To the bottom left I also added one of Maui's brothers. He has his back turned to Maui but is paddling the canoe as hard as he can. The sail and his brother are helping in the effort to pull up the ocean floor.

Besides adding the canoe sail and Maui's brother I also changed the look and perspective of his face. In this piece he is looking strait down his fishing line with determination and focus.

Close-up of Maui's determination

Below are more detailed photos of this piece.

Maui's brother and canoe mast.

Manaiakalani pulling up the ocean floor

Maui (study) 12" x 21.5"

2011-12-12T10:45:00.006-10:00

Maui (study) 12" x 21.5"

The legend of Maui exists throughout the south Pacific. In Hawaii, Maui is one of four sons of the Gods Akalana and his wife Hina. One day Maui gets his brothers to go fishing with him, however, he has another plan instead of catching a fish. Using his fishing hook, he grabs on the ocean floor. He then tells all his brothers in the canoe that he has caught a giant fish and they all need to paddle the canoe as fast and as hard as possible. Maui is a trickster and is able to do this same trick with his brothers to pull up all the Hawaiian islands. Another legend of Maui involves a trip to the top of Haleakala and lassos the sun and slows it down.

This piece is a small study for a much larger painting that I am about to start. In this piece I used an irregular canvas and perspective to highlight the act of pulling up an island. The top of his fishing hook is just above the water pulling up the rocks that can be seen to the left. Maui has both his feet on the edge of the wooden canoe for extra leverage. Behind him are giant billowing clouds with the sun shinning high.

Shipping

first sketch

To the right is a small sketch that I did before I started this piece. There are more elements that I am thinking about adding to the final piece - maybe part of a canoe mast. or the back of one of his brothers paddling the canoe.

Kaupo Store 15" x 30" Occupy Wall-street 13" x 21"

2011-11-28T08:05:00.004-10:00

Kaupo Store 15" x 30"

Me holding Kaupo Store framed

After working on a life-size portrait I have taken some time to work on some smaller pieces of art. What I came up with was two very different pieces. Kaupo Store, depicts a store that is a flashback in history. This old simple store sits on the back side of Maui. For this piece I used a panoramic photo that I took after a two day hike from Haleakala to Kaupo with two friends. You can see Doug by the faded rainbow sign smoking a cigarette. Jimmer is in front of the store with his pack and a limp. I decided to add the VW bug and the old truck to fill up the parking lot with color and add some nostalgia to the piece.

Occupy Wall Street 13" x 20"

Occupy Wall-street is a piece with a different feel then Kaupo Store. In college, I was a Political Science and Philosophy Major. Those two fields have surfaced in my artwork over the last 5 years. Eastern Religion has been a subject of pieces as: Buddha 24" x 24", Valley of the Temple 24"' x 48", and Letter to Dogen 18" x 24". Political Science has shown up in my art as well, but in most cases more subtle. Uhini in the Moonlight is based on the work of Jules Joseph Lefebvre (1836-1911) the, La Cigale, or the cicada.The Cigale is social commentary on the political figure Nepoleon Bonaparte. Arab Spring and Color War are two other pieces of my art with political undertones.

Uhini

In this art the symbolic king of beasts is standing unrestrained in the distorted city. He is painted blue to show his representation of peace despite his intimidating stance. The skyline is distorted and cartoonish, showing the absurdity of large cities. A mix of fog and pollution make the city even more murky. Who knows how the Occupy Wall Street movement will effect the future. One thing that is clear is their presence and existence is a loud statement in-itself.

Fractal Matt (life-size portrait)

2011-11-08T14:37:00.002-10:00

Fractal Matt

Haleakala Experience '07

This is my second self-portrait in the last 6 years. One of my first portraiture was "Haleakala Experience" from February 2007. Since that painting I have been working hard on my portraiture work and at my artwork in general. "Fractal Matt" is an experiment with a bunch of concepts. The shape of the canvas and the background are based on Fractal Geometry.

Fractal Geometry is a mathematical construct that is also found in nature. Fractals are geometric shapes that have a property called self-similarity. This means the the whole geometric shape is made up of smaller copies of the whole. The elements of symmetry and mathematics within fractal geometry have been intriguing to me since I attended college at Bently in Waltham, MA. I was reminded of the complexity and beauty of Fractals when Cristina and I watched a special: Benoit Mandelbrot - Hunting the Hidden Dimension Nova (2008). If you have the time the whole 53 minute special is below.

The canvas was streched on a frame based on one of the earliest fractals the Kock snowflake or Koch star. On the canvas I used the famous Mandelbrot set to bring the background to life.

With an colorful background I was able to start on the self-portrait. I used a large mirror set on an easel to work off of. Even though I have done numerous portraits, this painting was my introduction to using a live model for an extended period of time. I started with a developed sketch for my foundation of the painting. Once I started adding the layers of colors to the canvas I payed close attention to light details. As the painting developed I used a smaller mirror to capture even more detail. In this piece I was able to capture creases in my face and the small elements of light reflecting around my eyes; all details I hope to capture in future all my future portraits.
Working on a self-portrait is challenge and journey. Most of us are very conscious of what we look like, whether we have a mirror in-front of us or not. Our interpretation of our perception of ourselves is a philosophical journey of self reflection. If art is a form of self-expression, then self portraits are a very intimate form of self-expression.

Separate Paths 37.5" x 25.5"

2011-09-14T11:09:00.002-10:00

Separate Paths 37.5" x 25.5"

Set in the labyrinth at St. John's Episcopal Church, these two little girls are finding their Separate Paths, even though they are traveling to the same destination. The movement with the girl on the left is accentuated by her necklaces, and bracelets in motion with her legs, and even her hair is moving in the breeze. Where as the girl on the right is at a decision, and is still in her body, deep in thought. The bright colors in her dress make her almost glow, and the patterns on her dress play off the symmetry found in the labyrinth.

This painting will be available in a silent auction on Saturday, September 24 at St. John's Episcopal Church. Go to our Events page to find out more, and go to the St. John's website for more information by clicking here.

-Cristina

David Rudisha 33.5" x 43"

2011-09-05T13:02:00.025-10:00

Close up of Rudisha 31" x 42"

$1450
Shipping Included US

Matts' passion for running has been revealed once again in his latest painting of the great David Rudisha. This runner has continually inspired Matt with his spectacular talent. His expressions while running are always full of emotion, and this is what I think drew Matt to paint the fantastic runner in this particular piece. The photo realism of Rudisha's intensity paired with the surreal, and colorful background make for a dynamic composition.

The eyes of a champion	shoulder and arm	Hand in motion
Cristina and David	David	Signature on the jersey

On August 30th the work of over two years earned David Rudisha the World Title for the 800 meter final in Daegu, China at the World Championships. Please visit letsrun.com to read more about the exciting final, and this incredible runner here: http://www.letsrun.com/2011/rudisha-worlds. Shipping to Hawaii, and the mainland United States. Please contact us for international shipping rates.

The Great Gebrselassie

This painting is one of many in an athlete series of paintings. The great Haile Gebrselassie.
Click here to read the blog: Gebrselassie.
Matt has also painted the following athletes:

Vlasic Levitas 34" x 73"Blanka Vlasic the world leading high jumper from Crotia,
Steve Prefontaine 8" x 10" Private Collection
Usain Bolt Private Collection
Emile Zatopek Private Collection

Mauna-Hina 73" x 47"

2011-07-29T15:24:00.000-10:00

Mauna-Hina 73" x 47"

working on the base colors

Paintings often take on their own life. With all my artwork I start with at least some vague ideas or concepts that I want to express. With my largest painting so far, I did not have a clear image of what I wanted the piece to look like. I had no story. What I did start with was a black and white image of Lord Frederick Leighton's (1830 - 1896) Flaming June (47" x 47") .

The only thing I know is I wanted to practice and test my portrait skills on another life-size person. As I was working on the initial sketching of this painting, I was pulled away to go on a amazing 4 day 3 night stay in Haleakala National Park. Our trip started from Kaupo, we stayed two nights in the Paliku Cabin, and one night in the Holua Cabin. Read more about this trip:

Maui Runner - Haleakala Experience 2011

Sitting on Kalapwili Ridge - Kipahulu (left) , Kuiki (center), and Kaupo Gap (right)

Spending that amount of time on untouched parts of Maui had an impact on all of us. For me I carried many elements of the experience in the crater onto the canvas. After our journey I now had a surreal environment to place the sketched out sleeping beauty.

The mountain ridge in the background of Mauna-Hina, is the Eastern ridge of Kaupo Gap. The somewhat flat peak to the right of her head is called Kuiki (quilt). The small cinder below Kuiki is called Oili Pu'u, an older cinder cone covered with many small light green shrubs. Many of the colors that I decided to use in the painting comes from the very dramatic sunrise and sunsets that we watched inside the crater. Finally, I extended the contrasting and surreal elements of the crater onto the colors and patters of her skin.

Paliku 12" x 36" Sept. 09 (Kuiki - center, Oili Pu'u - to the right)

The last thing that I needed was a name for the painting. Before going into the crater I had finished two books about Haeakala. The first is An Archaeological survey of Haleakala (Google ebooks) by Kenneth Pike Emory 1921. The second is Haukai Makaikai a Kaupo Maui (A Visit to Kaupo Maui) by Thomas K. Maunupau - As published in Ka Nupepa Kuokoa June 1, 1922 - March 15, 1923. Both books are a must for anyone interested in learning more about Haleakala.

Mauna-Hina and Hanakauhi

Mauna-Hina is the name of one of the larger cinder cones on the edge of Kalapawili ridge. Above Mauna-Hina sits the majestic summit of Hanakauhi (8910 feet). To the West of Mauna-Hina is Pu'u Kukumu (the parent of all cones in the crater). In Thomas K. Mannaupaus' visit to the crater he writes, "Mauna-Hina...it was named for a God, an important name, but the people of today do not know the story of why it was so named."The mystery of this cone seemed appropriate for this piece. It also compelled me to find out more about the God and myths of Hina.

Hina is a Polynesian Goddesses most commonly associated with the moon and tapa cloth making. She is described as attractive and smart young woman who is weary of living with people. There are a number of early documented Hina myths from Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand, and other pacific islands. Read all about Hina myths - Hawaiian Mythology by Matha Warren Beckwith 1940 (Google ebooks).

Petroglyph Press- Hina, The Goddess
ISBN 978-0912180-66-3

One myth is Hina-Hanaia-i-ka-malama (the woman who worked in the moon). In this East Maui myth Hina is the name of the Hawaiian diety Pele (Fire and volcano goddess) when she appears on earth. Hina was incarnated at Kauiki Hill located next to Hana Bay. Kauiki is a special cinder cone; it marks one of the last active eruptions on Maui as well as the birth place of Queen Ka'ahumanu. According to the story, Hina would pound tapa (bark that is made into a light cloth) on the smooth rocks where Kauiki meets the ocean. In many of the myths Hina is either lured or driven to escape her home to the distant and desolate moon. In one myth she has a cloud servant the "ao-opua" or the quick moving warning cloud. In another myth Hina uses a rainbow to travel to the heavens. In her escape to the moon, Hina finds her peace and a place to make her tapa.

Close-up of Hinas' face.

In my painting, the myth of Hina is told visually. Before the sun has set in the Crater, Hina is seen resting in the swift moving clouds inside the crater floor. Perhaps she taking a break from her tapa making on the moon and sleeping in the tranquil landscape of Haleakala. Mouna-Hina would be an ideal resting spot for her. The colors of her skin make her appear to be an evening rainbow in the clouds. Once the sun has set and the stars and moon rises, she will be gone from Haleakala and back working on here tapa making in the moon. This is the story of how Hina filled my canvas.

Hawaiian Sky Aloha 35.5" x 13.75"

2011-07-23T19:19:00.003-10:00

Hawaiian Sky Aloha 35.5" x 13.75"

Matt creates art through story telling, and there is always a strong emotional element to his work. Since the beginning of Matt's professional path of artwork around six years ago, he has studied several artists. One of those artists is Herb Kane, Hawaiian artist, and historian.

The female pictured in Untitled, is surrounded by such a dynamic atmosphere. Her hair intertwined with the shadows, and leads up to her haku lei contrasting in color to the glowing background. Her expression is one of complete contentment, and her skin is radiant in the relaxing warmth of Hawaii.

Herb Kane has proved inspirational to the subject or background in the following pieces:

Making the art his own with his own signature style of creating a photo real quality in the subjects juxtaposed to the dreamy, surreal, vibrant, and out of focus background. The depth created makes the subject seemingly come right off the canvas.

To learn more about Herb Kane, and his art click here.

-Cristina

Summer Sunrise - Holy Ghost Church 11" x 14"

2011-06-08T11:43:00.000-10:00

Summer Sunrise - Holy Ghost Church 11" x 14"

Louis von Tempsky

2008 donation

The Holy Ghost Church sits directly below the studio and has a very long history in Kula. It was founded by Father James Beisssel in the late 1880's, and the land donated by ranchers Louis and Randel von Tempsky. According to the Kula Catholic Community website: "...the building was financed by weekly auction of cattle by local ranchers." Now the church sells delicious Sweet Bread as a fundraiser and has an annual Festival.

The feast features a live auction and food. Sunday has a FREE feast meal for lunch that you do not want to miss. I will be donating Summer Sunrise this year to the auction. This painting is based on a photo that I took after an early morning run last week.

Here's more information about the Feast:

This year's Feast will be on June 11-12, 2011.

June 11 ––– Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – Feast opens.

5:00 p.m. - Auction begins.

June 12 ––– Sunday, 9:30 a.m. –Mass and Procession

June 12 ––– Sunday, 10:00 a. m. Auction continues until 11:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m. – Feast opens; Free feast laulau meal.

For more information and a complete schedule of the Holy Ghost Feast please go to their website

Kulacatholiccommunity.org - Holy Ghost Feast

View Larger Map

Vlasic Levitas 34" x 73"

2011-06-03T10:46:00.004-10:00

Vlasic Levitas 34" x 73" Acrylic on Canvas June 2011

Almost done

Vlasic Levitas is another piece where my passion for sports and art have intersected. Track and field is filled with amazing feats and personal stories that motivate and impress all the fans of the sport. Blanka Vlasic is charismatic and graceful Croatian high jumper. She is coached by her Father and has jumped 2.08 meters ( 6 feet 9.8 inches) which is the second highest cleared in history. Her resume highlight includes two gold medals in the world championships (2007, 2009) and a silver medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Vlasic was also named female athlete of the year in 2010.
In Vlasic Levitas, I wanted to highlight her athleticism, her passion, and the amazing feats of modern high jumpers. I made her life-size with the intention of hanging the piece so that the bar is at 2.08 meters. This lets viewers experience her amazing feat. Below is a video of her jumping in slow motion.

Flowering Jacaranda 42" x 29"

2011-05-16T15:09:00.004-10:00

Flowering Jacaranda 42" x 39" Acrylic on Canvas

Spring in upcountry Maui is filled with vibrant colors from the many flowering plants and trees. The Jacaranda tree is one of the more colorful trees that dot the upcountry landscape. These trees can grow up to 100 feet tall, and when in bloom will turn completely purple. Many of the main roads in Kula are lined with these large trees. This painting is based on photo of a tree blooming at the bottom of our driveway. Currently this painting is for sale at Gecko Trading Co. in Makawao, on Maui.

Steve Prefontaine 8" x 10"

2011-05-04T13:22:00.002-10:00

Fire in the Eyes "Steve Prefontaine" 8" x 10" Acrylic on Canvas

Steve Prefontaine "Pre", (1951-1975) was a charismatic American middle and distance runner from Coos Bay Oregon. After two years of running in high-school "Pre" found his passion for running, and he became almost unstoppable. In his short life he held seven American records and had an impressive winning streak, winning 120 of his 153 races (78%) . "Pre" was known for his very aggressive running style, making sure that the pace was blistering fast from the start. Besides his charismatic personality, he was also know for the fire in his eyes. His personality and matching running style has made him a keystone to the running movement of the 1970's. The fire within "Pre" has been an inspiration to an endless number of runners.

Often my running and art collide. Below is a list of other runners that I have painted.

Arab Spring 30" x 73"

2011-04-29T12:16:00.002-10:00

"Arab Spring" 30" x 73" Acrylic on Canvas

This piece is something that I have been thinking about for awhile. I have been wanting to focus more and more on the human eyes. In addition, I have been wanting to incorporate Girih tiles into a large portrait. I have been using a set of homemade cardboard Girih tiles in the following pieces of art:

Color War 52" x 48" - pentagon canvas with overlapping patterns and tiles.
Color Puzzle 18" x 24" - a small study for Color War.
Color Test 38" x 38" - tiles used in the background of a portrait.
Patterns of Color 32" x 32" - experimental.
Standing in Colors 72" x 53 - tiles freehanded behind a life size portrait.

In Arab Spring, I decided to wrap the tiles around the contours of her face. This was somewhat of a challenge. After creating a detailed sketch of the whole composition, I created a grid over her face. The grid allowed me to warp the tiles along the contours of her face (see video below).

The colors and emotions in the painting are influenced by the turmoil in the Arab world. I wanted to put together hot and cold colors together not only in the composition, but in the texture of her skin. I wanted her to be mixed with emotions and thought, but yet explosively expressive. One can only image the landscape of emotions that many in the Arab world are experiencing this spring. Below is a composition of three weeks of photos to make a speed painting of Arab Spring.

Intense Eyes 27" x 34"

2011-04-12T12:33:00.006-10:00

Intense Eyes (Bruce Lee) 27" x 34" Acrylic on Canvas April 2011

Focus and intensity are the best words to describe Bruce Lee. Eyes tell a lot about an individual. Pictured here in the yellow jumpsuit he wore in the movie "Game of Death" that was later glorified in Quentin Tarantino's, "Kill Bill", his gaze is fixed. Matt has been studying Lee by way of sketches, and acrylics since high school. Take a look at Matt's other pieces in his portfolio of Lee: Bruce Lee (painting), Bruce Lee (sketch). For links to the blogs about these two pieces click here for the painting, and here for the sketch.

Close-up of this painting - click to view the images larger.

Cristina and Bruce

the eyes

the hands

signature

Sunset Serenade 11" x 14"

2011-03-30T09:55:00.002-10:00

SOLD

Hula dancers are a large part of the culture of Hawaii. Images of these iconic figures have been around at least as long as the camera. In this small painting I wanted to highlight this young hula dancers focus and passion. Her eyes are fixed on her ukulele as she sits at the shore of the Pacific Ocean. The sun is setting and lighting the sky with vibrant yellows and oranges; just enough for her to play her sweet serenade to the end of the day.

Delicate Balance 18" x 24"

2011-03-22T08:05:00.002-10:00

Sold

Delicate Balance 18" x 24" Acrylic on Canvas 2011

We have a small cactus plant that sits above our kitchen sink. A couple of weeks ago I captured a photo of a small soap bubble resting on the spiny cactus. I thought the composition would make an interesting painting and I am still puzzled how this bubble was able to rest on this prickly plant.

Feels Like Yesterday 42" x 35"

2011-03-15T12:22:00.001-10:00

Feels like Yesterday 42" x 35" Acrylic on Canaes

In todays fast paced world we often forget how much life still feels like yesterday. This painting is based on photograph I found while looking for historical photos of Hawaii. I was captivated by the story told by this photo. Behind the family members on the porch you can barley see their passed out dog. To the left, "ma" and the youngest "keiki" (Hawai'ian for child) are peeking out of the doorway. "Pa" is barefoot, probably as always, and has his pants rolled-up for doing some manual labor. The steps of the house are well worn and are desperate need of some repair. It feels like the family has had a long day in the demanding Hawaiian sun and this is one moment of relaxation. These are moments we can all appreciate and are timeless.

Color War 52" x 48"

2011-03-02T08:39:00.000-10:00

Color War 52" x 48"

Most of my artwork is based on a subject, such as a person or landscape. Over the last year I have been experimenting with colors being the subject matter for a piece of art. Colors have such strong personal emotional meanings. It was probably no coincidence that I started working on "Color War" while Egypt was uprising. Lots of emotions in the air.

My idea was to put as many vibrant colors into a pentagon canvas as I could. In addition, I wanted to use patterns and designs to give this piece depth and complexity. The background has elements of water or sky (wtih the heavy use of Prussian blue and Maganese blue). The center of the painting and many of the patters were filled with many "hot" colors such as magentas, oranges, reds, and yellows. At the end I used gold foil to add one more element of color and light into the painting.

Color Puzzle 18" x 24"

2011-01-06T07:11:00.011-10:00

Color Puzzle 18" x 24" Acrylic on Canvas Jan 2011

Color Puzzle is another exploration into patterns, symmetry, and color. I have used similar style in Patterns of Color, Color Test, (links to photos) and more. In this piece I wanted to focus on depth and detail. Much of my time was spent sketching many of overlaying patterns. Then I slowly filled in the colors, starting from the inside and slowly working to the outside. The exploration of filling in the canvas with colors is unplanned and very rewarding. Other pieces with colors and patterns:

Color Test 38" x 38" - Blog post

Patterns of Colors 32" x 32" Blog Post

Study of "Graziella" A Girl of Capri 30" x 36" and Christmas Kitties 8" x 10"

2010-12-27T12:02:00.001-10:00

Matt has been selected for the Aloha Art Gallery online for this years 38th annual Seabury Hall Craft Fair, Saturday, May 7th. This painting will be featured. Visit the Aloha Art Gallery page at seaburyhall.org for more information on the fair, and when the painting will be available online.

I enjoy studying old masters works. Not only does it make me slow down, but I gain useful insight into composition, anatomy, and color theory. "Graziella," was painted in 1878 based on by French figure painter Jules Joseph Lefebrve (born 1836 - died 1911). Below is an exert from the Metropolitan Museum of Art description of the original piece of art.

From the Catalogue of the Paintings in the Metropolitan Museum of Art - 1905

For Christmas, I was able to create a painting for Cristina. The painting is based on a photo of our kittens Billy and Turbo.

Christmas Kitties 8" x 10"

The Great Haile Gebrselassie 44" x 72"

2010-11-18T06:53:00.026-10:00

The Great Gebrselassie 44" x 72" Acrylic on Canvas

My latest project is a life size painting of living distance runner Haile Gebrselassie. Distance running has been a big part of my life. Since I started running I was motivated and mesmerized by Gebrselassies running. While I was challenging my own limits he was breaking world records. In this painting I used two images of this living legend. In the background, "Geb" is smiling and proudly holding the Ethiopian Flagn after his victory. In the foreground, Gebrselassie is running relaxed and focused. Below is a slide show of the progression of "The Great Gebrselassie" and some music I was listening to while painting.

DJ KAYPER LIVE SET @ BUNGALOW 8 LONDON by djkayper

Girl Talk - All Day by walt74
Luke Porter - Insomnia FM Guest Mix Nov2010 (Download enabled) by Luke Porter
Check out some of my other paintings of runners:

Usain Bolt

18" x 24"

Blog post - here

Zatopek

36" x 48"

Blog post-here

Bekele

18" x 24"

Blog post - here

Paniolo Days 44" x 30"

2010-11-15T08:28:00.010-10:00

This piece is currently available through the Studio.

Hanging at Alexander & Baldwin Properties, Kahului, Maui, HI

"Paniolo Days" is based on an old photograph of three cowboys pulling a steer in Kawaihae Port, on the the Big Island. You could say that cattle existed in Hawaii before the cowboy or paniolo. The story started when 5 cattle were given to King Kamehameha. Two decades later, John Parker, a 19 year old sailor who had jumped ship in Hawaii was given the okay to start the beef industry. However, it was not until Kamehameha the III visited California (still Mexico) that the modern day skills, technique, and culture of the Paniolo were adapted. The word Paniolo may come from the Hawaiian pronunciation of the Spanish word for Spanish: espanol. (Hawaiian language has no s and all word end in a vowel). I felt that the photograph captured the felling of established cowboys working in the unique Hawaiian atmosphere. In the painting I wanted to bring life back to this point in history by adding many colors into the background and water. In addition, I focused on the movement of the paniolos working in unison. While researching this photo and paniolos in Hawaii I came across - The Paniolo Preservation Society . To my surprise, they have a whole series of photos of this specific steer and paniolos. Below is the website embeded:

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Lahaina Royal Ho'ike - Celebrating Crown Princess Ka'iulani 135th

2010-10-17T09:07:00.002-10:00

Holton Gallery

Welcome and Aloha

Maui 44" x 88"

Maui (study) 12" x 21.5"

Kaupo Store 15" x 30" Occupy Wall-street 13" x 21"

Fractal Matt (life-size portrait)

Separate Paths 37.5" x 25.5"

David Rudisha 33.5" x 43"

Mauna-Hina 73" x 47"

Hawaiian Sky Aloha 35.5" x 13.75"

Summer Sunrise - Holy Ghost Church 11" x 14"

Vlasic Levitas 34" x 73"

Flowering Jacaranda 42" x 29"

Steve Prefontaine 8" x 10"

Arab Spring 30" x 73"

Intense Eyes 27" x 34"

Sunset Serenade 11" x 14"

Delicate Balance 18" x 24"

Feels Like Yesterday 42" x 35"

Color War 52" x 48"

Color Puzzle 18" x 24"

Study of "Graziella" A Girl of Capri 30" x 36" and Christmas Kitties 8" x 10"

The Great Haile Gebrselassie 44" x 72"

Paniolo Days 44" x 30"

Lahaina Royal Ho'ike - Celebrating Crown Princess Ka'iulani 135th

Upcountry Irises 16" x 20" (Framed)

Kalapawili Ridge, Maui 10" x 36"

Sketch of Princess Kaiulani 8.5" x 11" Pencil on Paper and Framed Color Test

North Star 16" x 48" and Reaching 11.5" x 35.5"

Summer Sunset 58" x 16"

Color Test 38" x 38" (pentagon canvas)

Patterns of Color 32" x 32"

Bruce Lee (framed) 50" x 68"

Standing in Colors 72" x 53" and Joe Joe 12" x 12"

Charlie Chaplin 8" x 10" and study of Young Shepherdess Standing 11" x 14"

Study of William Bouguereau's portrait of Gabrielle Cot 11" X 14"

"He Loves Me...He Loves Me Not" 22" x 28" (framed)

Remember When 30" x 38"

Whole Foods Maui - Local Artists on Display

Hot Coffee 14" x 18"

Gecko Trading Co. Boutique

Photos of Jewelry Work

The Three Brides 18" x 24" (framed)

Blue Peace 29" x 52"

Bonsai Ohia 18" x 24" and Charity w/ custom Pine Frame 23" x 53"

Alice Liddell 23" x 53"

Happy New Years

Merry Christmas

Giant Surf at Jaws Maui

Uhini in the Moonlight 16.5" x 31" (custom handcarved frame)

The Three Brides (Based on Jan Toorop 1893) 18" x 24"

Framed "Ka'iulani (study) 8" x 10"

Bruce Lee 36" x 48"

Uhini in the Moonlight 16.5" x 31"

Ka'iulani in San Francisco 11" x 14"

Bruce Lee (study) 11" x 14"

Keiki Silversword 8" x 10"

Ka'iulani (study) 8" x 10" and small framed Ka'iulani 5" x 7"

Paliku 12" x 36" and Hibiscus Kokio 11" x 14"

Contemplation 17.5" x 23.5"

Cakes, Cakes, Cakes, and Passion Fruit Flower 11" x 14"

Usain Bolt 18" x 24" (Framed)

Hike through Kaupo Gap Trail

Hawai'ian Hibiscus 18" x 24" and New Framed Works: Bonfire Orchid, and Sunset Wave

Ka'iulani (sketch) 11" x 14"

Sunset Wave 24" X 30" Acrylic on Canvas

Polyhymnia 36" x 24" Acrylic Canvas

"Untitled Sketch" 11" x 14" pencil, ink, and oil pastel

"Princess Ka'iulani" 24" x 36" and "The Pink Pareu"

"Lost in Nature" 24" x 30" Framed (Mixed Media)

"Angled" 11" x 14" Framed

"Spring" 16" x 37"

"Cumulus Nimbus" triptych 88" x 24"

Colorful Koa 5" x 7.5"

"Backyard Sunset" 18" x 24"

"Mucha Moore" 24" x 30"

"Peach Blossoms" 36" x 48" and "Drop-In" 12" x 12"

Kaupo Hike and "Mountain Berries" 18" x 24"

"Moonlit Maui" 20" x 60"

"Lemon, Limes, and Oranges" 11" x 14"