"Shell" Painting

My first life drawing class at age 17 in high school was formative. Looking back it wasn't any different than art classes in college. It was an Atelier approach. I was thrown into the deep end, not exactly sink or swim, more eyes wide open. Learn by doing, by feel, through the body, and repetition.

I grew up in the 70's in Hawaii, surfing and skateboarding. My surfer heroes were brave, free, and surfing for no other reason. They were the original "soul surfers" and their style part of the counter cultural moment. Skateboarding grew alongside surfing with a similar approach to style. Both took a Romantic approach to process. More emotion less reason. As a young painter in college I felt the same feeling painting as I did surfing. Time slowed to a flow state. The blank canvas was the ocean and like catching a wave you stand up and go. Either you can or can't dance was the general approach. A soulful attitude. An artist was a force of nature.

Painting involves learning technique and finding your self in the work. I haven't described the technical parts of drawing or painting so I could emphasize my motivation from that first drawing class. I spent most of my life as an artist teaching art at the University of Hawaii Community college. Students who struggled letting go of a step by step process leveled out quickly. I was never that student. Art was a mystery. I believed I could dance and did eventually. I used to begin an introduction to art history class discussing temperament. When my first drawing teacher told me to loosen up I understood that insight deeply. Soul surfing is Inspiration felt in the moment. There are forces of nature at work. I hope my work encourages people to look, feel and wonder. I want my audience to see themselves in the work. After decades of practice I feel the work coming through me as a gift more than ever.