My South Pacific studio and a Historical location with UskOahu

Michele Cooper in Hawai’i

Dec16, 2017–My son and I, along with my two granddaughters joined USK Oahu at historic Washington Place from 2:30-4:30  to enjoy its 170 year history.

The Eternal Flame is a bronze and copper sculpture dedicated in 1974 to the men and women of the State of Hawaii who served in the Armed Forces of the United States. The memorial is located just outside the estate. 

Over a dozen urban sketchers met on the grounds and former residence of Queen Lili'uokalani as tours were given of the interior. 'Aha Mele Hawaiian musicians and dancers performed on the lanai.

Docents in long white dresses and leis led the tours indoors where two lovely parlors displayed rare Koa wood furnishings.

The Greek revival palace was built in 1848. It was the former residence of Queen Lili’uokalani and later became the official residence of the Governor of Hawai’i. It is a National Historic Landmark, designated in 2007. The current governor’s residence was built in 2008 behind the historic residence and is located on the same grounds as Washington Place. 

I began with a sketch of my 8 year old granddaughter, Leila.

A “backstage” tent was set up on the side lawn for performers.

My finished spread includes a group of performers, garden lamp, section of the mansion and side garden landscape. Leila has been going out sketching with me since she was 4 years old.

Leila likes sketching trees and people.

Leila's sketch of the hula chanter with her drum. Her 4 year old sister, Ocean, sketched the lanai roofline and trees. 

I took advantage of the opportunity to abandon a hand painted greeting card near the lanai. It vanished within 20 minutes!

Thanks to USK Oahu for making this rare experience possible at Washington Place.
Be sure to check out our sketches on Flickr !
See Urban Sketchers Oahu blog for more about this event.

Evening Sketching at Kahala Mall

While visiting family on the island of O'ahu, Hawaii, I get to enjoy lots of experiences that are unique to this beautiful tropical paradise. This year I had a rare opportunity to sketch with my 7 year old granddaughter along with USk O'ahu. We met at 6pm tonight.

Leila's sketch of fruit bins, Kadomatsu and a customer at the entrance of Kahala Whole Foods.

We met at the north entrance to Whole Foods Market where Leila and I got a head start on the display of Kadomatsu. These are traditional Japanese New Year's decorations made of bamboo, pine branches and tied with rope. A pair of them are usually placed on either side of the entrance of a home between Christmas and January 7. Kadomatsu means "gate pine" in Japanese. Click here for more information on this tradition. 

Inside Whole Foods, there was a plethora of subjects from which to choose. Sebastian appeared at a table outside between sketches and inside I made a makeshift table of some wine boxes while juggling sketch materials and tiny "bears" filled with locally harvested honey. Kristie, an employee, came over to learn more about urban sketchers. She got a business card from Harald and gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek as she left for her break. All too soon it was time to share our sketches and say farewell.

See https://oahu.urbansketchers.org/2017/01/06/and-2017-kicks-off/ for photos by USk O'ahu.

On my way through the check out stand I picked up a small bottle of organic "Ocean" vodka made on Mauii and a tiny brown shopping bag (used to hold a Whole Foods gift card) I added these, a bit of lettering and some narrative to finish off my sketch spread. Here's the result:

Windy Day at Kalama Beach

12.24.16 It was a very windy day at Kalama Beach on O'ahu with the family. We had a view of the "Mokes", two islands off Lanikai Point. The windsurfers and kiteboarders were having a great time while swimmers and body surfers watched from the choppy surf closer to shore.

Tanning your octopi

So, we're driving along Oneawa Street, going back home from Sunday brunch at the crepe place and.......Whaaaaat!?

Screech! We slowed way down, then had to drive round the block, and drop me off to take a few shots of this batch of octopi drying in the sun. I could have sketched this, I guess, but sometimes it's just better to take a photo.

Tanning a batch of octopi

Closer, closer, closer! Sorry, but I just can't stop looking at it! It's so typical of Hawaii, yet to a mainlander like me these look so alien hanging there on the line, securely attached with clothes pins!

Plein Air at Waimanalo

Are all beaches the same? Although a few things were different, like the 77 degree weather, the surfers, the ironwood trees and the soft, deep, caramel colored sand; the beach in Waimanalo reminded me a bit of home in the Pacific NW. People walked along the shore, passing the impromptu structures hand built on beaches the world over. I sketched a similar one of these structures at home recently for my Inktober series. Most familiar, however, was the wonderful experience of spending the morning painting with some local friends.

"Captain Howie" performs a beach wedding. Website

I interrupted my initial sketch to follow a wedding couple down the beach and to sketch them at a distance as they conferred with a local officiant known as Capt. Howie. See my last photo below to view his home, known locally as "the Hobbit House". Another couple were having their wedding photos taken on the other end of the beach. See photo collage below.

After a morning of painting and sketching, watercolorists and oil painters shared a delicious lunch in perfect compatibility. Great conversation, hospitality and a serenade on the ukulele rounded out the day. Many thanks for everything, Adrienne and Lawrence. It was lovely. 

Happy painters after a morning on the beach and delicious lunch with our hosts, Adrienne and Lawrence. Photo: (left to right) Me, Adrienne, Mark Brown, John Dixon and (in front) Spencer Chang.

See a brief news clip about the "Hobbit House". http://youtu.be/sUQqLPPEmgs

We walked past it on our way to go painting at the beach.

Green Sea Turtle cupcakes

Triple chocolate fudge cupcakes, cream cheese frosting, gummies for decoration. 

Leila's friend, Charlie, came over and I made some "green sea turtle" cupcakes for everyone. After all the baking, frosting and letting the kids decorate them, it was a matter of moments and there was not a crumb left! This was so much fun!

Photo credit: (Top) turtles dot com (Bottom) National Geographic Kids

The real turtles live nearby. I know a place where I can swim out and watch them graze on the seaweed on the ocean floor. When they come up for air, you can hear a loud exhale while they rock around in the waves like a platter with feet.

To the North Shore

We took a family Sunday drive to the north shore on a windy, stormy winter's day. It was cooler than usual, about mid 70 degrees F.

My post card size sketch of Kokololio Beach

One of my favorite shops in Haleiwa. I REALLY like this tea pot!

They had some new rubber stamps in the shop so I got the "honu" (turtle) which means "family" in Hawaiian. Couldn't wait to try it out on the back of my watercolor post card. 

Sunday Market

My sketches of the fresh coconut stand, the flower vendor and her flowers at the Sunday Farmers' Market. 

We all went out for breakfast at the Kailua Sunday Market this morning. It's situated next to the elementary school and has vendors selling fruit/veggies, flowers/potted plants, smoked fish, grass fed beef, smoked fish, jams, jellies, butter, cheese and free range eggs:
yelp.com/biz_photos/kail…yelp.com/biz_photos/kail… We sat at tables under the tents, facing the fresh coconut stand while eating our crepes.

Had to buy some flowers for the house. So pretty!

Sandy Beach Gouache

A rare gouache painting en plein air by Michele Cooper

I always tell myself that this will simply be a sketch, no big deal. I know one thing, I will learn something.  So every attempt on location will be successful in some way. I liked the result of my on location gouache at Sandy Beach. In this case, I would call it a plein air painting, not a sketch. 

Before there were children to watch, my daughter-in-law and I would take a deluxe collection of plein air equipment, including lunch, and spend hours painting on location. You pull into parking right off Kalanianaole Highway, there's sometimes an ice cream or food truck, and facilities with a water fountain. This is Sandy Beach, off the southeastern shore of Oahu, sometimes called Obama's beach. If the swells are up you can see the blow hole from there. 

Set up to spend the day at Sandy Beach

A Day Late and a Latte' Short

Possibly you've heard the old saying, "A day late and a dollar short". I'd like to amend that to "A day late and a latte' short." It expressos my recent experience here in Kailua. (Ha! Pun intended!)

My fellow sketchers back in Seattle met at the new Starbucks Roastery on Capitol Hill yesterday for their usual Friday meet up. Sadly, I missed it, since I am "stuck" here in paradise for just a bit longer. :) In a show of solidarity, I decided that I would also sketch at a coffee roastery. I knew just the place right here in Kaiua! Morning Brew Coffee House and Bistro, or simply "the Brew" as locals call it, is 5 minutes from where I'm staying....3 minutes if you don't worry about make-up and your shoes are flip-flops. 

My morning at "Morning Brew" Coffee House and Bistro, Kailua

So I really was going to go on Friday morning, but the "fam" wanted pancakes and I do make the yummiest, fluffiest ones ever! We also slept in. Then laziness and island time took over and before  you know it, it was pizza night already! I'm a day late with my coffee roaster sketch. Sigh! It's just so busy here on vacation!

Anyway, here's my Saturday sketch of the Morning Brew roaster for their in-house coffee. There's a small curved rail in front of it and a sign asking you not to touch. It's nowhere near as elaborate as the one in Seattle, but quite a piece of machinery nonetheless.  I understand that their coffee blender uses locally sourced artisan coffee and that the beans are roasted on sight in this very same equipment.

Local artists are wholeheartedly supported at the Brew. They have live music from 6-7 p.m. on Fridays and hang the work of local artists on the walls. Currently, the work of Mark N. Brown is still up from his December show. I have painted on location with Mark before and hope you get to see his large plein air pieces before they come down. The shop also sells logo merchandise like shot glasses, T-shirts, mugs, etc. I love the tasteful designs they come up with each year and the Hawaiian style hieroglyph of the sun for their logo. 

The "latte' short" in my title for today refers to the fact that there is no such thing as a small cup at the Brew. That is, unless you want to count the shot glasses. Espressos start out as a double shot. Sizes start at 12 oz. then 16 oz. for medium and 20 oz. for large! Huge! And it's great tasting coffee, too!

Note: For technical reasons I only added color to a few of the brass fittings and tubes. Anything left white on the roaster is really brass.

Wind at Kailua Bay

Kailua Beach is consistently rated as one of the 10 best beaches in the world. If you have ever visited or better yet, live there, you know why.

Today was quite windy, with a bit of chop in the waves. More than the usual number of those using kites and surfboards were out on the beach; newbies and tourists were giving it their all while experienced surfers took the conservative approach. I spent a nice hour in the shade sitting on a log, watching the people come and go, as they alternate with the waves. There is just something so calming, listening to the sound of the surf, regular and as constant as breathing.

"He's gonna make it, he's gonna make it......Nah, he's going down!"

As usual, I make sure that movable objects are sketched in first, such as featured objects and figures. Not quite finished here, but already the ocean has changed color, the wind surfer has come in for a break and a whole new group populates the beach.

He' Eia Kea Pier Fishing Dock

View from the indoor lunch counter at the General Store on the dock.

The four Cooper girls went on a fishing expedition yesterday. Well, we went to He' Eia Kea Pier fishing dock looking to find something to sketch.

At the general store, we had Kuahiwi Ranch hamburgers, meatloaf style patties cooked like you would at home with toasted bread instead of buns. My granddaughter, Leila, wanted fish and chips. Bryan, the cook of the day, said he would make some for her even though it wasn't on the menu.....and piled on the fries, too.

We watched tour groups come in and go out on huge double catamarans while we ate outdoors on picnic tables under the shade of the patio roof. A grandfather and his two grandchildren took a table, too, parking their child size fishnets and bucket. He said they never catch anything, but it's fun for the children to try fishing anyway and gives them a day out together.

I would come sketching here multiple times of the year if I lived on Oahu. There are so many views from which to choose; mountains, shorelines with volcanic cliffs, a marina busy with all types and sizes of serious fishing boats, tropical forests across the bay dotted with homes and hotels, people fishing off the dock, kayakers launching from the beach, and the lunch trade, too.

My 5-year old granddaughter and I sat inside (remember this for rainy days) and shared the lunch counter with a massive pair of binoculars, a half full ketchup squirter and a cork board with two photos of proud anglers. One picture was of a fellow who had a crab the size of a truck hubcap and the other some sort of giant eel-like thing which displayed two prominently sharp teeth.

Note: You may have seen the store and kitchen on Guy Fieri's show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives on the Food Network.

My DYI Sketchcrawl Along the King Kam Hwy-Part 2

Continued from yesterday's post.........

After finishing our sketches at Fumi's Shrimp Stand, my son and I kept driving toward the famous beaches on the North Shore route of King Kamehameha Hwy. We weren't quite ready for lunch yet so we followed the slow line of traffic, with passing views of Shark's Cove, Sunset, Pipeline and Waimea Bay. NOW we were hungry. We had lunch in Haleiwa, a charming town famous for Matsumoto's Shave Ice. The line out the door at Matsumoto's was two and three people wide all the way around the building and along one side of the parking lot. Too long! No dessert for us! The light was perfect for sketching so we headed back the way we came toward Turtle Bay.

We literally drove to the end of the road and found a wonderfully secluded beach. Two men were reef fishing.  They allowed us to see their catch, two unicorn fish or "kala" in Hawaiian. I got a quick glance in the bottom of the bucket and drew this fish from memory. Sorry, no sketch of the orangey pink one.
As the light began to fade, an unusual optical illusion made the figures on the distant reefs seem comparatively much larger than you would expect.

We needed to get home before dark, so reluctantly returned to the car with the sound of the surf in our ears and a little salt spray on our skin.

Matt's photo of the surf at our hidden beach. 

My DYI Sketchcrawl Along the King Kam Hwy-Part 1

With two little granddaughters to enjoy and lots of shopping trips the past week or two, my correspondence with painting friends at home near Seattle and here on Oahu has been sadly neglected. Aloha, guys, I know the holidays are a busy time for you as well. Hope we get a chance to sketch together in Hawaii before I return to the freezing weather back home.

Meanwhile, my son who does not claim to be an artist, took me on our own independent South Pacific Sketchcrawl yesterday. ( Is it a crawl if you drive from spot to spot?) I'll post more pages tomorrow, but for now:

I sketched in my Stillman and Birn Beta while Matt used a stylus and an app on his smart phone. 

The wind farms and shrimp farm aquaculture exist along the same stretch of the King Kamehameha Highway along the North Shore of Oahu. The wind farms are on hilltops and the shrimp stands sell their garlicky, buttery wares on the right hand roadside on your way to the famous North Shore surfing beaches. 

We caught our first sketch at Kahuku Wind Farm. A wide turnout with an unused approach to another facility provided us with plenty of parking room to get the right angle and sketch from the cool air conditioned leather seats in the car. Luxury! Zoom to read more notes on my journal page. 

We have always pulled over at Giovanni's, unable to resist the promise of the intense flavor of fresh hot shrimp swimming in garlic and butter, piled on top of "two scoop rice". This time we parked on the shoulder about 500 yards ahead of the parking lot at Fumi's. Their shrimp are cooked whole, heads and all and don't seem to have as much garlic as other stands. Each stand has a covered area with picnic tables where customers can enjoy their hot, fresh shrimp. We were there for the sketching this time, however. The scene was a colorist's dream, with a powder blue shack next to a bright yellow van, overlapping an orange tour bus. Then cosmic forces somehow took over and the two vehicles drove off before I could sketch them. Whyyyyyyy! It never fails.....look at something long enough and it will move! Just for that I recorded the flat tire on the pickup/road sign.

Part Two coming up tomorrow!

Winter in Kailua

These two pages describe winter in Kailua this past week.

A glass float with light coming in through a window while it rained outside, a sunset walk on the beach and a marshmallow snowman who sat in a big cup of hot chocolate. 

Marshmallow Snowmen

Since it got down to a chilly 63 degrees at night, we warmed up with hot chocolate and marshmallow snowmen. I made them by stacking three large marshmallows onto a straw. Then I used tiny gold pearls for the eyes, a sliver of orange Starburst candy shaped as a carrot nose, black frosting for the smile, and pretzel sticks for arms. His cozy scarf was a sour belt wrapped around and tied.

It was such fun to make these while everyone slept and surprise them in the morning! Seems all ages love snowmen, real or marshmallow ones!

(I don't have a scanner here, so sometimes the exposure on the photos isn't the best)

Chicks in the Median

Here's a perfect combination of urban and rural sketching. We crossed the street on our way to Macy's and there in the median was a hen, digging for a little snack for her chicks.

She was a very diligent digger, so between the far flung leaves coming our way and the temptation of Macy's One Day Sale right there across the street, this was a very quick rough sketch indeed. 

Where is the Sketchbook Project Tour now?

From my Sketchbook Project 2014
"The other side of the jungle."

I posted the left side of this two page sketch here.
My challenge was to show both sides of the tropical landscape at a coffee plantation.

I am used to a lot of green here in the Pacific NW, but this landscape tops it! Follow this link to see where the tour of my book is now.

All Green

All green.......that's what you see. And then, you realize this little ranch house is tucked away in the perfect spot off the road at Kualoa ranch.

I finally had an opportunity to sketch this for my 2014 Sketchbook Project.

It's just the left side of the 7x10" composition.

This sketchbook is currently on an international tour. Head to the official tour page for even more details.