Castaway Island Art News September 2023

Hawai'i Art News From

Aloha Friends,

On August 8th I was about to send out a joyful newsletter, when the Maui Fires burned those happy thoughts beyond recognition. I want to express my deep love for all of the people and businesses and artists from Maui who suffered unthinkable losses. Lahaina was one of the most valuable art meccas of the world and will never be the same. If you have pictures and memories of Lahaina, keep them close to your heart along with those who need our aloha more than ever.

The photo above is of happier times with my friend Jonny Julian at his Blue Hawaii Tattoo shop (now gone) on Lahaina Luna Road. My aloha and support goes out to all who are helping to comfort and rebuild what was taken by the flames.
In my next letter I'll focus more on Maui, but for now I'll commence with the letter I was going send out before the fires...

July was an eventful month as the Waimānalo Art retreat became part of Painting in Paradise history. You'll see some of the fun photos below and its Painting in Paradise tv episode is already airing on Spectrum OC16tv and YouTube.

Hilo has been my home on the Big Island lately as the Sea Turtles of Hawaii mural nears completion at the Mokupapapa Center. Also on the Big Island, an ukulele group has recorded their version of the Papahānaumokuākea song. This song will be in focus this year as NOAA pushes for the area to be proclaimed a Marine National Monument which would give it a higher degree of protective status.

I’ll be on the island of Kauai at the National Tropical Botanic Gardens Fair on September 7. On September 8 I'll be autographing at Kīlauea Lighthouse and on the 9th I'll hold a painting workshop at Kaua'i Koa Farm. Read below for details.

Two Painting in Paradise episodes will be featured this time: Our Waimānalo Art Retreat and the Pulelehua Butterfly episodes.

The Favorite Photos this month will full of fun and color. I hope they make you smile.

With Thanks and Aloha from me,
.

Kokua For Maui Original Sale

Our Aloha is needed for the people of Maui and I have been contributing to various organizations and individuals with what I have so far.

In addition, I will donate 75% of my Available Original Art Sales including the Honu and Hina Book Originals, to Hawaii Community Foundation's Maui Strong program.

Contact me to discuss the details of how I will make and document the contributions with your name acknowledged to Maui Strong Fund.
*You can see the Original Paintings and Book Art available on PatrickChing.com Here:
Originals
Book Originals

ART TIP - The Sound of Art

It’s likely that the first memories you have involved sound.

For me it was my parents' baby talk that sparked my bewilderment and anticipation of incoming spoonfuls of food. My eyes widened as they followed the spoonful of Gerber's in circles before making its final decent and NnnnnnRrrrrrrrrrrrrr..... zooming down into my mouth.

I still hear those sounds to this day as they accompany my pencil and brush strokes when I'm doing art.
The length of my brush strokes relate to the length of sounds.

"Nnnnnrrrrrr, chook-chook-chook", and "doodle-oodle-oot!" are common sounds in my artistic repertoire. We see with most of our senses not just sight. You may like to try adding sound to your art. I think you'll find it really helpful in teaching art.

Yes, folks may think you're a little nuts, that's why most people won't do it. For me, it's too late; I'm already stuck like that.

So remember, using sound to help teach art is not only fun,
but effective as well.

Waimānalo Art Retreat Wrap Up

The 2023 Waimānalo Art Retreat made history in July. It was a beautiful weekend and our memories will show us
just how rare and beautiful it was...

Our beloved Guest Artist Wade Koniakowsky joined us from Carlsbad, California.

It was an intense workshop for 5 artists: Nanette, Jeannie, Henry, Teri and Mark.

They created an 11"x14" Acrylic painting
on Day 1, and a wet and wild oil painting on day 2.

We had a fun (less than three hour) canoe ride and Castaway Artist Party afterwards. Thank You to all who participated and helped make it a weekend to remember.

Famous Artists Getting down to business.
Can you recognize them?
Hint: Jeff Pagay, Mark Brown, Kim Taylor Reece and Ruben Aira.

*You can see more pictures in our Favorite Photos Section below.

Watch the tv episode of the retreat here:

Kaua'i Events in September 2023

NTBG Aloha Market Sept. 7, 10 am-2 pm
Kaua'i Friends, Come join me at the National Tropical Botanic Garden and I'll draw your favorite plant or animal and
then you can paint it!

Kīlauea Point Signing Sept. 8, 11am-1pm
Come visit me at Kīlauea Point and get some books and art autographed personally to you or the ones you love.

Painting Workshop at Kaua'i Koa Farm
Sept 9, 10am-2pm
There's one spot available for this highly personalized workshop. Small group, Lots of learning. $250 includes all paint, canvas and supplies. Message me if you want to join us.

Papahānaumokuākea Song
Picking Up Speed

I was thrilled to see this new music video made by Randall, Trish and Friends ukulele group from Kona. I hope we can get them to play it live at one of the events we'll be holding soon.
You can watch their song video here:
Papahanaumokuakea ukulele get together take one key of G

In the coming year the Papahānaumokuākea Song and Color Book project will be in focus as a concerted effort is being made to make the area a National Marine Sanctuary, giving it considerably more protection than its current status as a Marine National Monument.

As NOAA's artist in residence I'll be involved with events to get people excited about this very sacred place. Several music groups will be recording their own versions of the song that I wrote with the purpose of making this long Hawaiian name easy to remember. Grammy Award winning musician Kawika Kahiapo performed the song.

Grammy Award musician Kawika Kahiapo performed the song.
download the FREE ukulele chords and color book pages here.

Painting in Paradise TV Show Featured Episodes

See what the castaways painted and who showed up at the canoe ride and party. *See the Art Retreat Episode Here:

Learn to draw and paint Hawaii's butterflies. Join us for a visit to the Kamehameha Butterfly Propagation Program at the Honolulu Zoo and a butterfly painting party in Hilo.
*See the Pulelehua Episode Here:

You can watch more episodes of
Painting in Paradise here on Patrick Ching Youtube