I'D RATHER BE IN HAWAII ... WITH MARIONETTE

Welcome to Day Two of  I’d rather be in Hawaii week! Every day we're visiting the studio of a different artist, with some incredible giveaways offered each day as well.

So … for our first interview of the week, I’m in the studio on the island of Kauai with ... Marionette.

FK: Aloha kakahiaka (Good morning), Marionette. I have my morning coffee already poured. What gets you started in the morning?

I start the morning off with good old fashioned Lipton tea. Later on I usually have a cup of Kauai Coffee straight from the coffee plantation (largest in the U.S.) that my husband works for. My favorite flavored coffee is Hawaiian Coconut Caramel Crunch, and my favorite Estate Reserve coffee is Kauai Blue Mountain.

Kauai Coffee Visitor Center Print


FK: Those both sound delicious - I’m a serious coffee drinker! Tell me about your etsy shop and all your other activities. I know you’re involved in a lot of things.

Art Classes: http://kauaiartclasses.blogspot.com/
Website: http://www.kauai-artist.net/
Blog: http://www.kauai-artist.blogspot.com/
Etsy: http://www.kauaiartist.etsy.com/
ArtFire: http://kauaiartist.artfire.com/
CafePress: www.cafepress.com/KauaiArt
Twitter: http://twitter.com/kauaiartist
Facebook: http://artist.to/Marionette

FK: Wow - that's an amazing list -you’re a very busy artist! Tell me about the classes you teach.

I own my own studio, Painting Paradise, located in Waimea Town on Kauai's west side. I offer classes in watercolor, acrylics, silk painting, pastels, sumi-e, artist trading cards, scratchboard and more. I also teach at a few of the resorts around the island.

FK: I'll bet that keeps you very busy. How long have you had your Etsy shop?

My two year anniversary on Etsy is coming up in May, and it has been wonderful! People feel comfortable purchasing from Etsy and that has made it easy for me to have a venue for my original watercolors and acrylics as well as prints of my paintings. I even carry some ACEOs for the collectors out there.

FK: Your work is of course very reflective of Hawaii. With so many beautiful sites to choose from, what are your favorite subjects?

I started out painting mainly tropical flowers which is one of my favorite subjects. Lately I have been discovering that I love to paint the gorgeous landscapes of Kauai from the mountains to the breathtaking seascapes. I also enjoy painting the old plantation cottages and have received several commissions on this subject.

Hawaiian Cottage II print 5x7

FK: It would be tough for ME to choose which of your subjects I like the best. So I know it’s like asking you which child a mother likes best, but what are your own personal favorites from your work, and why?

Mainly my personal favorites are the paintings that I have recently finished or am working on. I just finished "A Pink Hibiscus with Dew Drops" and I love it because I know how wonderful the experience was to paint it. I actually painted the majority of the under painting with just my fingers. Yes, I love to finger paint!

A Pink Hibiscus with Dew Drops Original Acrylic Painting

FK: So we can add finger painting to your list of painting techniques! Just how many different media do you work in? And how long have you been painting?

Right now I work in watercolors, acrylics, pastels, and silk painting. I love to explore new mediums and techniques, and since I am a teacher, I feel it's my responsibility to try them out. I am mainly a self-taught artist and consider myself a life-long learner. With art, you learn something new every day. I have been a full-time artist for three years, and before that I was creating art part-time for about 15 years. As a child, my mother said she could never keep enough arts and crafts supplies in the house because I was always creating.

FK: Where’s your “quiet place” when you need a break from creating – somewhere you go to rest, refresh, meditate?

My husband and I have a permit to access the private land that is owned by Kauai Coffee. We often take a ride on Sundays through the coffee fields to access some of his favorite fishing grounds. There are also a few beaches we can visit. It is very private, and we often have the entire beach to ourselves to just relax and get away from it all.

FK:What a beautiful site! That’s definitely a place to get away and relax!

FK: What part of being an artist is the most gratifying to you and what is the hardest?

I love teaching someone who thinks they can't paint, that they can. It brings me such joy to see the look in their eyes as they create a work of art. The hardest part about being an artist is the paper work for my business. Ugh! Other than that, I love every aspect of my career and thank God every day for letting me do what I love to do in a place that I love to be. I honestly have never been happier.

FK: That is such a wonderful state of being! You keep so incredibly busy, but what do you do when you’re not being an artist?

I love going to the beach, fishing, and mainly just hanging around with my hubby and "talking story" (which is local talk for "shooting the breeze"). Kauai is a very rural island. It's a place where you can slow down, reflect, relax, and enjoy the beauty that surrounds you.

Chicken Ohana print 8x10

FK: Talking story. I love that! If I were to visit Hawaii, what is the one place or thing that I should absolutely not miss seeing?

Kauai is so beautiful that the first thing I recommend to a new visitor is to get in your car and drive. Spend one day going to the north shore to see beautiful beaches, emerald mountains, sea caves, and more. Plan to spend some time at Hanalei Bay, Kee Beach, or Anini Beach. The next day head out to the west side for a ride to Waimea Canyon (the grand canyon of the Pacific). On a clear day, the vistas are spectacular!

Waimea Canyon 5x7 Print

 Kauai Seascape Original Acrylic Painting

Also, find some time to tour one of Kauai's many botanical gardens and take in a luau. That's just the minimum that I recommend. There is still so much to see and do that you might have to extend your vacation indefinitely!!

Rhythm of the Hula print 8x10

FK: Marionette, I can tell that you have “Aloha ‘aina” (love of the land). Tell me what beautiful artwork you’re offering for our drawing.

I will be giving away a 5"x7" print of "Kalalau" which is a reproduction of an original pastel painting on velour paper. Kalalau Valley is a very magical spot on Kauai and is located at the end of Waimea Canyon road. Often this scene is covered in misty clouds or rain, but every once in a while the valley appears in full sunlight. It is a very sacred spot of the Hawaiians.

Kalalau

FK: How beautiful, Marionette - I must visit!  Mahalo for such a wonderful giveaway. I so much enjoyed this visit with you.


Here’s how to enter:

I will use random number generator to pick a winner of the giveaway from all comments posted here between now and a week from today at noon.

I will also pick a second winner to receive a selection of  “I’d rather be in Hawaii” bookmarks and/or magnets from me.

You have several opportunities to enter your comments:

1. Enter a comment about your favorite piece of art by the artist.
2. Enter a comment if you signed up to follow her blog (or comment that you already follow)
3. Enter a comment if you signed up to follow her on Facebook and/or Twitter (or comment that you already follow)
4. Enter a comment that you signed up to follow MY blog (or comment that you already follow)
5. Enter a comment that you signed up to become MY Facebook fan (or comment that you already follow)

(And – please – if you say you signed up, be sure that you DID sign up!)





Another island artist will be interviewed each day for the rest of the week. You will need to comment each day if you want to be entered into that day’s drawing. Your comments for this post will NOT carry over to the next day.

Mahalo and good luck. Come back tomorrow to meet yet another artist!