The Finished Portrait of Eddie & Vina Tanaka

I finally finished this portrait of my friends Eddie & Vina Tanaka who live at Honouliwai, Molokai in the Hawaiian Island chain. Many hours of painting, but I'm happy with the results. Mahalo ke Akua! Aloha!

Waialua Beach Coconuts

Aloha Ohana, It's been awhile since I posted something on here so I thought it was time to check in.

I went to Molokai recently to finish a large double portrait and that was accomplished, but the weather prevented me from doing any plein air painting so I was only able to finish up this small panel that I started on the last visit here. It was done on the beach near the mouth of the Waialua Stream. This painting titled "Waialua Beach Coconuts" measures 16"x12", is oil on archival canvas/wood panel, Copyrights - Timothy David Dixon - 2011.

Beginning Anew..

Well...I began a new double dog portrait yesterday.
I toned the 20" x 16" stretched canvas with a blend of raw sienna & burnt sienna by brushing the pigments on with a small amount of a medium made from 80% thinner and 20% stand oil. Then I rubbed off the excess with a soft cloth and did the rough sketch with the same colors using a #10 long handled hog bristle brush. After I had a fairly good rendering I went back in with a clean brush and just a touch of the medium and wet the areas that I wanted light and patted that up with my soft cloth to reveal the original white of the gesso on the canvas.
So ended the first session on this one.
Mahalo for stopping by. Aloha

Continuing the process

The new painting (Sonoma Mountain Autumn #5) has progressed a bit more and is becoming a very different picture than any of the others, owing to the dramatic mood change developing in the sky area. Compare this to the other smaller pieces done from the same reference photo, that preceded it (in the older posts).
It's fun to be working larger again. I'm going to have to build some more bigger canvases right away...The ideas are already accumulating for some new works, but I don't think I'm done exploring the possibilities in this series of Sonoma Mountain. There will be another larger version of it after this one is finished. Mahalo for stopping by.
Aloha

Progress on S.M.A. #5

Another painting session on Sonoma Mountain Autumn #5 has produced these changes.
This canvas measures 38"x 52"

Another Sonoma Mountain

I began paintingthe 5th of the Sonoma Mountain Autumn series that started with a very small (6"x 7") painting on an oakwood panel in May or June. Then 2 more slightly larger happened in rapid succession not very long after the first one. About 2 months ago I finished a fourth in the series that was larger still, but retained somewhat the freshness of the first small things that were all done fairly quickly. The last one measured 26"x 38" it was #4 in the series and like #1 it sold within days of it's completion.

This new canvas measures 38"x 52". The photos were taken after the first session of painting. It's mostly what I call underpainting. Colors that will alter & enhance the next layers that will follow. It also seals the canvas a bit so it's not quite so thirsty.

Waialua Beach. Moloka'i

This was the fifth plein air oil painting I did on the last trip. Done the day before I left to come back to the mainland, it was still too wet to travel so I left it there with a friend to hold for me. I'm returning to finish a double portrait and do some more plein air painting at the end of November. Aloha

Flame Ginger & Heliconia

This was the 4th oil painting that happened on the last trip to Moloka'i in August of this year. These huge blossoms were in a vase on the table at the Waialua Beachhouse and I just couldn't resist trying to capture some of that incredible color. The background went through some changes and I'm still planning to paint on it some more, believe it or not. I'll show that when it happens.
Mahalo for stopping by. Aloha, Timo

"Martin's Plumeria"

Aloha Kakahiaka 'ohana, Here's number three plein air painting from this last Moloka'i adventure. It's called "Martin's Plumeria" oil on archival canvas/board laminate panel, 12" x 16" -2011. I did this from the back porch at my friend's house on Waialua Beach. I'll be doing a couple of workshops there during the first two weeks of December. There's a sale on right now for flights from Oakland to Honolulu on Hawaiian Airlines for certain days during that period. Check them out online. Connecting flights are booked online at Island Air. For more information about the Plein Air Oil Painting Workshop on Moloka'i in December 2011 - email me directly at: tddixon@mcn.org

Mahalo for stopping by. Have a great day! Aloha oe, Timo

"8 miles to Maui"

Aloha 'ohana, This is the second plein air oil painting that I did on the Summer trip to Moloka'i with my friend Martin. It's called " 8 miles to Maui ". Done in oil on archival canvas/wood panel 9" x 12" 2011.

Waialua Coconuts

Aloha 'ohana, I'm back(finally) at my computer after spending 2 weeks drawing and painting on the Hawai'ian island of Moloka'i. This was the first painting I did to bring home. It's an oil on an archival canvas panel. Painted plein air in about 2 hours.

Art for Life 2011 Donation

This small (9" x 18") painting is on a canvas I built out of leftovers, but I like it alot for the amount of detail it has and the memories from the Island of Moloka'i it evokes in me. Beautiful turquoise waves rolling in perfect lines to a golden sand beach next to a fairway on the only golf course on the Island. I'm not sure if it's open currently, but I'll find out for sure in about a week.

I've decided to make this my donation painting to Face to Face (f2f.org) for the Art for Life benefit auction this year. Some "Island Kine" people will want it for their Aloha room, yeah? Anyway it's up for grabs at the event that is scheduled to happen on Saturday, September 17th, 2011 at the Mary Agatha Furth Center on Old Redwood Highway in Windsor, California.

' Kepuhi Beach, Moloka'i ' oil on canvas 2005 - starting bid will be $300.

Mahalo for stopping by!

Aloha, Timo

New 9'6" Mike Doyle Longboard

I decided that every day is precious and that life is to be enjoyed. Then..I decided to quit procrastinating about getting back into good physical shape. I decided that I want to surf again. I'm starting to work out on an excersize bench and I'm going to start paddling around around flat water for awhile before I take it out into the surf. I need to regain about 10 or 12 lbs of muscle, mass, but the longest journey must begin with the first step. I'll keep you informed as to my progress in this regard.

Mahalo for stopping by, Aloha, Timo

Hereford Bull painting

This large painting of a Hereford bull was one of two large (40" x 60") canvases that I painted for the Sonoma Cattlewomen's Association to use in their installation at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa, California. The other one was the cows with their calves. A friend just gave me a hardcopy of the photograph so I scanned it in..and Waa Laaa! A bit of history revealed. I'm not sure of the date of this picture...somewhere in the nineties. I'll look for the photo of the companion piece.

Aloha, Timo

Finished: "Abalone Shell #9"

Well I finally finished "Abalone Shell #9" today and signed it in red on the front lower left corner of the canvas. I'll sign it again on the back in pencil or pen when I title and date it.
The dimentions are 30" x 40" Oils on a stretched canvas I built. I prefer to build my own canvases most of the time, because I don't like the way most commercial canvases are made.
Mahalo for stopping by...Have a fantastic life experience TODAY!
Aloha oe, Timo

Rockpile #1468

I just did another rockpile near where I'd done the last one and it's still standing as I write this. It's kind of fun...try it!

Rockpile # 1467

I did this rockpile a few days ago to practice my hand/eye coordination and achieve a feeling of balance for the day. I do seven rocks at a time usually, although I've done more. This one lasted about an hour before I knocked it over with the gardenhose.

Crazy Horse

I just worked a bit more on the portrait of Crazy Horse that I call "Earth Man".
I think it's done now. We'll see where this one ends up...

Jenna complete

I finished the portrait of Jenna today. It's good to be painting again, but I have a lot of catching up to do.
I'll be glad when it stops raining again. I miss the SUN! This is strange weather for June to say the least.

New Iris Blooms

None of these Irises bloomed for me last year, but I fed them and mulched with good home-made compost and I got a spectacular show from them this season. Flowers are such a beautiful expression of The Great Spirit's tapestry. You just can't help being inspired by their amazing colors and designs.

Mahalo Akua!

Cymbidium Flowers

My Cymbidium orchid finally flowered. After 3 years and the same number of moves, it is in an environment that it likes and is really putting on a show. Each blossom is the size of a teacup and there are 10 of them on 2 stems. Gorgeous!

Progress on portrait of Jenna

I made some progress yesterday on this portrait of my friend's niece that chose to end her own life last year...Tragic thing to have to live with for the people who loved her.
I began this painting at the beginning of December(2010) and am just now feeling well enough to paint in short sessions. Progress is good! I'll see how much I can get done today.

3rd in the Series

The latest version of Sonoma Mountain Vineyards is on canvas...still small (10" x 16") but a bit more area to consider...slightly different shape and more the proportion I'll probably use for the larger versions yet to come. I think I'm getting closer to what I want now.

Another little oil...

Another little oil sketch on an oak panel measuring: 7 1/8" x 17 1/8". This one took about 3 hours to advance it to this stage...it will undoudtedly get touched a bit more before I'm happy with the colors. Practicing my licks to get me back into working on the commissions in progress. Working on an idea for a large format painting to come. Mahalo for checking in.

Aloha

Miniature oil sketch

My first painting since I've recovered my strength and stability. It was done on a small oak panel (6 1/4" x 7 1/2") in about 2 hours from a photo I took last September of some of the vineyards at the foot of Sonoma Mountain. I like the photo so I'm going to work a few more trial compositions and then do some larger versions using it as reference.

Back to Painting on Earth

I've began to paint again. My first strokes of color went onto this painting of Crazy Horse that I call "Earth Man". I haven't had the energy to paint since the middle of December 2010. This is a good sign! Mahalo Akua! This painting is now declared officially done. "Earth Man" oil on canvas 20" x 16" 2010-2011

Benefit Poster & Raffle Prize

'Seaside Monarch' - oil on canvas - 2008 - 14" x 24"
Value - $750.00

Aloha e Ohana, Some of my musician friends are going to do a benefit concert for me on the Spring Equinox - Sunday afternoon - March 20th - from 1:00 to 5:pm - @ Murphy's Irish Pub on the Plaza in Sonoma and they did this sweet little poster for the event. Better get there early to get a good seat for this spectacular all acoustic presentation. There will also be a raffle for a gorgeous original oil painting ("Seaside Monarch" 14"x 24" 2008) by yours truly, and other donated prizes which include a massage and a case of wine from Kenwood so far.

The Kittys

Aloha, Sorry for taking so long to get back to my blog...I just haven't had much energy for the last month or so. I still haven't began painting again yet, but I did take some pictures of my new kittys. They look like wild jungle cats...meet Billy & Bob.

Scarlet Macaws in Brazil

Last week on our way back from my radiation treatment I had my driver stop by the old building that used to belong to my chiropractor from brazil so that I could take a photo of this painting that I did for him in the eighties of these two scarlet macaws in their natural habitat in the Brazilian rainforest. Because of it's position high up on the wall of the waiting room I couldn't get a great shot of it, but after going up to the second level of the room I was able to get this photo of it. The painting measures 60" x 60" oil on canvas.

A Good Excuse

Sorry for going so long without posting something akin to progress on this blog, but I'm just not up to par these days.

That human under the blanket is me getting ready to receive my dose of radiation for the day. They made a mask over my face to keep me positioned for the rays that are being sent to my cancer that is in the base of my tongue. I get this treatment every weekday morning until the last dose on the 1st of February. Chemotherapy takes a lot more time to accomplish(5 hours), but it's only once a week on Fridays. Only twice more for that one.

Now To add to the mix, they've started me on another course of antibiotics to arrest this bronchitis that has been hanging on and an antivirul to knock out tht shingles that have started as a result of all the rest of what's been going on with me. And as of today...I've started having diarhea to make my life more completely miserable.

I was taking it one day at a time anyway, but now it seems to be more like one hour at a time.

I'll live through it, but I will be SOOOOOOOOOO glad when I can just be healthy again.

Mahalo nui loa for all your prayers.

Aloha, Timo