While in Maui last week, I did my own little art walk of the local galleries in Lahaina. I parked off the main drag, had my little tourist map in hand with a plan. I noticed a small lime-green painted gallery. The artist was in residence. Half of the gallery was his showroom and the other his studio. He is a plein-air watercolorist whose small paintings are whimsical and colorful, geared toward the tourist. Painting local subjects that just make you want to take one home to remember your experience. He was a charming man in his mid-50s who must have been a surfer, or still is, with his messed up blonde hair, wire-rims and Hawaiian shirt. I commented on a wine bottle label he had painted and he mentioned others he’d done. One being Rosenblum winery in Alameda, California…my home town. Come to find out, he grew up two doors down from the house I live in now and formerly lived across the street where I formerly lived…in Alameda! We talked for a good half hour, going over everyone we knew in common. He had just emailed a good friend of mine the day before! Learning: talk more to other artists. I tend to be very shy and just want to go in and out without a lot of conversation with some pushy gallery owner prying into whether I have any money or walls for the new found art. Jim was delightful. Check out his website.
Plein Air Painters | Kingwell Island Art Collection | Maui Art Plein Air.