In my series of six large-scale paintings, I invite you to journey with me through the lush landscapes of Oahu, Hawaii, where I have discovered a profound sense of peace amidst the tumultuous currents of life. At 30 years old, I found myself longing to reconnect with the heart of this land, seeking solace and inspiration amid the chaos of the modern world.
Each canvas is a testament to the transformative power of nature—the vibrant and surreal hues of the tropical flora and the gentle dance of sunlight on the ocean's surface and the colors reflecting above and below.
As a local artist, Oahu has woven itself into the very fabric of my being, infusing my work with a deep sense of belonging and reverence. These paintings speak of a journey inward, where one can rediscover the beauty of simplicity and the healing touch of nature's embrace.
I invite you to immerse yourself in these paintings, to feel the warmth of the sun on your skin and the ease of letting go and being supported by the ocean as you float. Let them remind you of the importance of pausing amidst the chaos, of finding solace in the embrace of nature, and of reconnecting with the self.
Acrylic on Canvas
40x60in
2023
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Acrylic on Canvas
40x60 in
2024
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Acrylic on Canvas
60x40in
2023
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48x60in
Acrylic on Canvas
2024
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30x50in
Acrylic on Canvas
2024
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30x50
Acrylic on Canvas
2024
©
Transported by a wormhole,
my mind swirls and stirs awoke.
A staircase leads me to my worldly insecurities,
its been a minute since I thought of these…
they were buried deep,
dipped in ink
now a pile of rubble beneath my feet.
The light seeps through cracks in the foundation of this dark damp room,
refracting off my light being,
These rainbows are fleeting.
But this space serves as a reminder:
our spirits live on forever
Even when they tried to suppress it, the fact is,
we are infinitely connected
The fourth dimension is the hallway into the fifth. It is the moment when consciousness begins to awaken to the connection between all things. As the light of consciousness begins to awaken within, your belief system of third dimensional reality seems absurd. Earthly cares like judgements leading to drama and idolizing belongings like purses, jewelry, and fancy cars. Realizing that everyone is going through their own personal traumas and thats why they are the way they are. Then realizing your spirit is so much bigger and more infinite than you could've ever imagined and the shock and awe of awakening to the idea that the system that ruled your life is a lie.
30x40 acrylic, ink, paper, oil pastels on canvas, 2020
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Kaimanas at Sunset
The roller coaster of emotions during The Pandemic had led me down a rabbit hole of dark thoughts into a depression I hadn't felt in years. As soon as I was brave enough to leave the house, I made it a point to get into the ocean everyday. Waikiki was eerily quiet and police roamed the beach giving out tickets for sitting on the beach, but the ocean was always the safe zone. Swimming was safe. Kaimanas was the place that healed me; where I went to float when life got heavy. The place I went to drown out my thoughts. The place I spent mornings, afternoons, and evenings. The place I submerged at sunset and watched in silent awe at golden rays shoot through the surface of the water and light lines dance like electricity. The place where countless honu gave me a tour of their safe space tucked into pockets of reef. Like babies in their mothers arms I watched them get rocked to sleep by the current, unbothered by the state of the world and going with the flow. I learned from them and started to feel like myself again; I had been reconnected to nature, the sea, the sky, the earth. As I felt the moon pull the tide, a wave of relief washed over me. I floated within the gentle infinity of the ocean, and knew that everything was going to be okay.
40x60
Acrylic on Canvas
2020
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The third dimension is the physical realm that our human vessels reside in everyday. It is ruled by duality, balance, ego and ownership. It is the Matrix of society that we are sucked into; unconscious mind manipulations, disguised propaganda and lies, and a facade that we are not one with the world around us. It is represented with optical illusions, the separation of the physical material of oil and water, the Matrix which draws us in with hypnotic and aimed codes. The chaos, the repetitiveness, the separation, and the duality.
30x40
Acrylic paint and oil pastels on canvas
2020
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The Bougainvillea Tree with hot pink frequency
Connecting me through grounded feet
Third eye open, meditating
I take in all the colors that I can
By sitting with nature
I reconnect with all that I am.
Acrylic on Canvas
24x60
2020
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Sink, or Swim?
When delving deep
sometimes we sink
dead weight release & reach
Reach for yourself,
for light,
for life,
for oxygen to fill depleted lungs.
Drown memories of traumas from when you were young.
Leave it all in the deep,
and emerge renewed.
The state of the world drove many to a collective dark place similar to the bottom of the ocean, the question those of us driven to the bottom had to ask ourselves was how do we get back to the light. How do we get out of this place that has become so soul sucking and so breathless. We have to fight and reach and swim for our lives. We have to try. And if we try, and we get out of the depths of our shadows we emerge, renewed with a new outlook on life.
Acrylic on Canvas
24x30
2020
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Surrender to the Sun:
The world is on fire
Ascension take us higher
The sky changes color Blue, gray, orange then red
Clouds of smoke fill my head
The Sun disappears in a green flash
Maybe its too late to react
Surrender to the sun
Whats done is done
Inspired by the color of the skies as mountains along the west coast burned during the pandemic. The feeling of surrendering control to situations out of our control. (global pandemic, climate change) The moment of the green flash before the sun disappears, or sets metaphorically. The lack of color change in the figure and the background represents unity and how all things are connected. How we must surrender to the sun sometimes and let go of control. With this piece I let go of control and trust in God and the laws of this reality. When we make plans, God laughs, so this is ultimately an ode to trusting the divine plan, baptizing by fire, burning it all down.
24x30
Acrylic on canvas
2020
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The Siren Series, is a fantasy themed group of works that perceives the mystical creature as a predator that lures men into her waters with her beauty and siren song, then takes them as her meal for the evening. In this narrative, the Siren lives a beautiful life under the water in peace with the oceans' largest creatures, predators, and her sisters that sing their siren songs with her in harmony despite her brutal nature.
While the bioluminescent algae washing onto shore in the waves may be beautiful, it is also a warning of the Siren’s coming ashore.
Acrylic on canvas,
2021
12x14 in
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Lurking just beneath the surface.
Acrylic on Canvas
18x20 in
2021
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Ebb and flow, light and dark, day and night, the shallows and the deep, the sea and the sky, the Siren sisters harmonize with each other as all nature does
Acrylic on Canvas
2021
18x24 in
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The depths and peace of darkness only a Siren could thrive in
Acrylic on Canvas
2021
24x36 in
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Our siren and her predator friends take their unfortunate prey back to the deep to be devoured.
Acrylic on Canvas
2021
30x40 in
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HNL is a series inspired by the Artist's home and surroundings in the city of Honolulu, Hawaii.
The Unofficial State Bird, the “Yellow Crane” is often found in a flocks around Honolulu. The species is invasive and as they continue to thrive and grow, so does the city.
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The live painting that was done at my first art show in Chinatown on First Friday painting under strobe lights on the dance floor.
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I’ve always been so intrigued with apartments for the sheer volume of lives held within the windows. Curiosity stirs as I look at the number of lights on in living rooms. We’re all probably doing the same type of things. Since Covid-19, people have been applauding out of their windows everyday at 7pm. It is a memory that will live with me forever, hearing everyone come together from inside their lit windows, in an act of solidarity and gratitude. Conch shells, chee-hoos, and air-horns, reminded me how regardless of being isolated, we are all in this together.
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The Howard Hughes development project has beautiful glass buildings whose architecture is meant to blend in with the surrounding environment of a blue ocean, blue sky. This is why I chose to use the reds and pinks in the background to express how untrue this sentiment is and how boldly these buildings do stand out amongst the local community. The buildings while beautiful architecturally, hold weight for the surrounding community that has already had enough of the overdevelopment of Hawaii.
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Marks and colors depict the juxtaposition of jarring city lights next to a tranquil ocean. Intersections lead into each other, as the hard edges of buildings, stretch out alongside a coastline of tranquil pacific ocean. Hard work and relaxation meet to create the truth of the environment that is the city of Waikiki.
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Within me are the echoes of my ancestors
Separated by nothing but time and space
Traces of their bloodline on my face
the land connects us
Like constellation legends
Ever evolving energy
I’m forever learning their lessons
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Acrylic on Canvas
30x40 in
2020
Album cover artwork for Aloha Miss Sunshine’s “I Think in Sounds” EP
Acrylic on canvas
18x18
2020
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Acrylic on canvas
30inx40in
2022
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Acrylic on Canvas, 30x40, 2021
Acrylic on Canvas
2018
24x36
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A warped self portrait created during the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic.
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The feeling of isolation. The feeling of darkness consuming. The feeling of being overwhelmed. The feeling of anxiety. The feeling of finding beauty beneath it all.
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Acrylic on canvas
36x48
2020
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Inspired by Hope Gangloff compositions, and Van Gogh’s blue period, this self portrait captures the artist in her first tiny one bedroom apartment that her-now husband, step daughter and she lived in together in Waikiki during her time as a student at UH Manoa.
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Acrylic on Paper
18x24 in
2020
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A portrait of a friend engulfed in a jungle of monstera leaves
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From pain comes inspiration, from inspiration comes creation, and in creating comes freedom
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A dancer takes a breather.
Acrylic on paper
2020
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An intimate portrait of a friend’s girlfriend and their dream view from their room.
Acrylic on canvas,
2018
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A portrait of the artists husband, an intimate look into the couples connection. The twinkle in his eye is saved special just for her.
Acrylic on Paper
2020
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The blood of Mother Earth runs through the land and when you look close enough you can see her face, her body, her essence, in every leaf.
Acrylic on Canvas
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The curves and dips of the female body have been portrayed throughout history in various mediums. here it is portrayed in hard lines and the basic outline of a female vessel
Acrylic on Canvas
18x24
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Often in Hawaiian legends the shape of the mountains of Hawai’i are explained as a gods or goddesses in various positions. The figure of this kupuna curves and dips like the hills and mountain tops of those mountains.
Colored Pencil on Paper
18x24in
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Charcoal on paper
2023
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24x36
Charcoal on paper
Charcoal and conte crayon on paper
2023
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Charcoal on paper
2023
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Charcoal on paper
2023
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Charcoal on paper
2023
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Charcoal on paper
2023
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Charcoal on paper
2023
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Charcoal on paper
2023
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Charcoal on paper
2023
©
Charcoal and conte crayon on paper
2023
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Vine charcoal and charcoal pencil on paper
2023
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Vine charcoal on paper
2023
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Charcoal on paper
2023
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Charcoal on paper
2023
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Charcoal on paper
2023
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A pose switching exercise, every two minutes for an hour the poses would change back and forth. Movement and stillness.
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Hatching exercise, long pose with a live model
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In 2016 before and after Trump won the election, protests around the world broke out opposing the election of a xenophobic, racist, misogynist President of the United States. This drawing is 5ftx5ft for impact as impactful this event and at what a large scale this really effected the world. Headlines of the horrible things he said throughout his campaign are transferred to the paper first and Lady Liberty stands firm in opposition.
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Charcoal and watercolor. Compartmentalize dark thoughts while speaking pretty lies.
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This world gets so crazy and chaotic and I want to escape the noise. if there was a doorway out it would be barely visible, only to the trained eye. It would be a rabbit hole—a worm hole into an alternate reality hiding in plain sight.
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