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.

Kekaulike Mall with USK Oahu

When you have blue skies, warm breezes, palm trees and a bustling market square in Chinatown, it begs to be sketched. A few of the USk Oahu sketchers were kind enough to meet with me on Saturday afternoon for an impromptu outing at Kekaulike Mall in downtown Honolulu.

Here's my finished spread with my cool new USk Oahu fridge magnet from AJ! Thanks, AJ!

Check out more photos by Sebastian and our sketches on Flickr!

We met at the intersection of Kekaulike and North King St at 1:30, exchanged sketching stories, browsed each other's sketchbooks and realized we should probably get busy! That's Sebastian, Harald and A.J. (above) making the most of the hour of intense sketching we did during our visit to Kekaulike Mall. Sebastian wore an official orange USk Oahu tee shirt for easy recognition.

We felt that we could have spent a lifetime there, but accomplished a decent start in our sketchbooks. As we shared our sketches, we promised to get together again in early January for another outing. 

I liked the way the bananas are hung on a rail above boxes of fresh produce. It's illuminating to take the time to read the produce signs, even if you can't read the part written in Chinese. There are so many new and interesting subjects here: a rainbow display of shiny plastic housewares, a variety of brooms made in all sizes, shapes and materials and a gigantic durian which was mercifully intact! I  had to go back for another go at the sketches I started, finishing up some text and adding color.

A bit of history about our location: Much of Chinatown in Honolulu was rebuilt at the turn of the century after two fires. In the 1980s the city developed both Maunakea Marketplace and Kekaulike Mall to draw in commercial ventures. Along with O`ahu Marketplace, these centers teem with immigrant entrepreneurs selling fresh produce, seafood, clothing and household items.

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!

Foster Botanical Garden Reunion

Sketching in the oldest botanical garden in Hawaii

It was so nice to reunite with painting and sketching friends at Foster Botanical Gardens this morning. After missing a season or two during our regular annual family visits here, I was able to take an hour or so to sketch at the gardens and catch up on the news with old friends and meet a few new ones. (Photo: top left, Barbara and I had our own personal benches near the butterfly garden-top right, flowers near the restrooms-lower photo, the Japanese Memorial, sketched using my DIY mini Altoids Kit).

I stood in the shade of the Foster Gardens office building to sketch the Hiroshima Memorial with the butterfly garden behind me and a glimpse of the city of Honolulu above the trees. I got a quick drawing of the pink flowers near the restrooms before I left. The petroglyph of green sea turtles, known in Hawaii as honu, is said to symbolize good luck, endurance and long life. It is often used to represent family.

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. 

Sunset at Ala Moana Mall

Last night, we had an early dinner at Jade Dynasty Seafood, a dim sum restaurant and favorite choice at Ala Moana Mall. (See reference to last year here)

We reached a balcony just as the sun was setting on the west side of the shopping center. Sunsets in Hawaii don't last long, so you have to sketch fast!

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

Kawai Nui Marsh

Just before sunset

This is a beautiful natural marsh--the largest on Oahu at 800 acres.  As such, it is a protected Wildife Sanctuary, and that fact by itself deserves respect when visiting this site. There is a nice, somewhat lengthy, flat trail on the floodwater control levy. This levy, however, has no shade, so plan for an early morning walk, and bring water. There is no wheelchair access, no store or food access, no bathrooms, very limited parking. The marsh is a cultural and scientific historic treasure, and was considered a major sacred site by Hawaiians for centuries as a giver of Life--Was able to sustain thousands with fish, kalo-[taro]- and fowl during Hawaii's chiefdoms and later, monarchy period. WW11 marked an era of rapid change for the face of the windward area of Oahu, with the introduction of marine corp base Hawaii, and a change in economy. The marsh fell into disrepair, but in the last 20 years has seen several improvement programs that are helping return this natural area back to its healthy, productive state--fish, fowl and wildlife populations are slowly increasing in healthy numbers.-quote from tripadvisor

It took only a five minute drive down Oneawa and through a neighborhood to find this natural sanctuary. I saw people fishing, cycling, running and taking photos. There were quite a few bird varieties, including waterfowl. The moment the sun passed over the crest of the Koolau Mountains the still, glassy surface of the water became densely pocked with mosquiotos. 

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.

Last sketches of 2014

Fireworks, dim sum, and Lily in the laundry. 

New Year's Eve in Hawaii is a whole different experience than in the Seattle area. The day started out ordinarily enough. We met for lunch at Jade Dynasty Seafood for Dim Sum. The majestic bronze horses at the entry doors wore festive wreaths with red bows. We tried some new dishes and enjoyed our favorite Char Siu Bao. Then we shopped a bit, since the restaurant is located at Ala Moana in Honolulu.

At home in Kailua, the after dinner firecracker and booming explosions start in earnest. Our ears are ringing. By the time dusk arrives, the air is foggy with smoke and it smells like gunpowder. We've put Lily the family pug in the bathroom to lessen the noise for her, but she still shakes and tries to hide in the laundry basket.

Then the neighborhood show begins. All around us there is a constant display of cascading, starlike clustering, bursting fireworks. It builds to a crashing, booming, blinding crescendo at midnight and finally peters out with only an occasional blast for the next few hours. Lily and I finally can go to sleep.

Update: On Jan 2, #klsketchnation featured this sketch as one of their sketch inspirations #mysketchinspiration on Instagram. They wrote these very nice comments:

"Get out, travel and make a journal out of it. You are your own story. So why not have your own storybook."

KLsketchnation is an online community of sketching enthusiasts out and about in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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. 

Kualoa Ranch

Three-section foldout from 2014 Sketchbook Project
Original Watercolor by Michele Cooper

I finished my sketchbook and mailed it from Hawaii this year. For those who've been asking, I'm finally posting a few of the sketches from "Michele's South Pacific Studio." :)