PAINTING PARADISE (GARDEN OF EDEN)

WELCOME BACK TO PARADISE! This time, I'd like to share my favorite Paradise on earth(Hawaii). A stunning paradise treasured for its slow pace, tranquility and spectacular scenery's. I am gratified to enjoy the beauty of the Hawaiian Islands. I never get tired nor bored of its dream landscape, no matter how many times I had been there. Every trip was so magical that I became an island addict, collecting memories, postcards, photos and shells.

COLLECTING HAWAIIAN POSTCARDS. I am passionate about collecting postcards of
tropical flowers like bird of paradise, hibiscus, and orchid. This is one of my orchid collections.

"RED AND WHITE ORCHID" OIL PAINTING - (16" x 20")
This lovely painting was inspired by the above postcard. I painted this beautiful orchid to remind me of Hawaii. It cheers me up when I am having a bad day. Every time I look at this painting, I am immediately drawn back to Hawaii, that signified happy times - celebrations, anniversaries, family, friends, and fidelity. However, I don't have this painting anymore. I donated it to our local hospital -Henry Mayo Memorial Hospital for their fund raising event. I have a weakness for charitable group. So far I painted only two orchids. I posted my other orchid painting "YELLOW ORCHID" on my blog last Mother's Day. You can go back to my archives on May 13th, 2007.

ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE! ALOHA! Last year (June 10 -17, 2006), our whole family
took a week cruise on board this new ship "Pride Of America". We celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary, island hopping in Hawaii. Photo taken at the Port of Hilo.

HAWAII TROPICAL BOTANICAL GARDEN This was the highlight of our trip to Hilo. It was like seeing and walking on the "Garden of Eden". My husband and I enjoyed a tour of this botanical garden dedicated to preserving a spectacular Hawaiian rain forest. This beautiful garden is a sanctuary and nature preserve for rare and endangered tropical plants from around the world, endemic Hawaiian plants and endangered tropical wildlife.

THIS WAY TO PARADISE...........LET'S WALK AND ENJOY PARADISE.

I LOVE ORCHIDS! Posing among the beautiful orchids, glowing in a rainbow of colors.
Many orchids are displayed in a tranquil setting of cascading waterfalls, streams and ocean vistas. Very inspiring and worth visiting. We took hundreds of digital photos of many orchids and tropical flowers, that captured our hearts. Here are some keepers:

SEE THE GARDEN'S BEAUTIFUL DISPLAY OF ORCHIDS In a natural setting. A nature
lover and photographer's paradise, the Garden has over 2,000 species of flowers, palms and plants growing in an unspoiled environment.

UNIQUE YELLOW ORCHIDS BURSTING WITH BEAUTY
Wanted to take this yellow orchid home as souvenir, but...... no stealing please.

PURPLE ORCHIDS This "Quintet" invited us to stay in "PARADISE FOREVER". The orchids are one of the loveliest ambassadors of Hawaii. "Thank You, for the invitation". Why not? Maybe I can live in Paradise and sell orchid paintings to wealthy tourists. Just dreaming.....?

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL WHITE AND PURPLE ORCHID!
SOMEDAY, I'll paint this orchid. I have a big collection of orchid postcards and photos to be painted. I'd like to paint this small orchid the way my favorite artist Georgia O'Keeffee, painted thousands of flowers...BIG! Georgia O'Keeffe, is one of the most esteemed American artists of the 20th century. She painted flowers with an impact no one one else had achieved. She drew in as close to them as a bee and painted them to make people pay attention. Georgia said...."But one rarely takes the time to really see a small flower. I have painted it BIG enough so that others will see what I see."

A BOTANICAL GARDEN WITH OCEAN VIEW This beautiful garden is located at Onomea Bay seven miles north of Hilo. It is the only botanical garden in Hawaii fronting the ocean, with natural streams, cascading 3-tier waterfall, lily ponds and palms as tall as 100 feet. This is a nice spot where we spent minutes or more looking at the ocean view, closing our eyes and breathing fresh air. It relaxed us and helped us be more focus and grateful. Not only is the garden spectacular but the ocean view too. The color of the ocean, from aqua, azure, cobalt blue, turquoise, to ultra-marine blue, electrified and fascinated me.

EXIT FROM PARADISE...................................AND NOW IT'S BACK TO REALITY.

SEE YOU AGAIN IN "PARADISE" NEXT WEEK.

PAINTING IN PARADISE

WELCOME TO PARADISE! Every time my husband and I vacationed to Hawaii, or the Caribbeans, we always hear those words. We loved it. We are not strangers in Paradise.
But on this blog, I will not focus on these earthly Paradises. Let me tell you of a different Paradise, where many artists dwell.

WHAT OR WHERE IS PARADISE? The dictionary defines "PARADISE" as Heaven, Garden
of Eden or any place of great beauty and perfection. My favorite definition of "Paradise" is - a state of bliss or condition of great happiness. As an artist, when I am painting it feels like being transported to Paradise. I can always go to Paradise via painting. It exists where ever I paint and find creativity and inspiration. I can enjoy Paradise at present, with all the vibrant colors and beauty around me. No need to wait beyond the graveyard, to experience Paradise.
Sometimes I get to Paradise through cruising, traveling or imagining. But for me,
painting is the best way to be in Paradise without going the distance and spending a fortune.
Try it. You'll experience lots of pleasure and happiness. If you don't paint, spend a day in an art museum. You''ll be inspired by those masterpieces that will transport you to Paradise. Believe me.

WHAT DO I PAINT IN PARADISE? My early art works are mostly still life. I like to paint flowers such as roses, sunflowers, orchids and bird-of-paradise. The bird-of-paradise flower captivated me because it is very colorful and artistic.

BIRD-OF-PARADISE FLOWER Is a small plant of South America with orange and blue flowers and banana-shaped leaves. The leaf which carries the flower looks somewhat like a boat. The flowers have three sepals and three petals, and resemble birds-of-paradise on the wing.
The bird-of paradise flowers are grown in the tropics and subtropical, mostly in Hawaii, California, and Florida.

"EXOTIC BIRD-OF-PARADISE#1" - Oil on Canvas (16' x 20")
This is my first bird-of-paradise oil painting. It is inspired by the above
postcard which I bought during one of our trips to Paradise (Hawaii).
I donated this oil painting to the Men's Group at The Grace Baptists Church
in Saugus, Sta. Clarita. It became a gift to one of the men who attended their retreat.

"EXOTIC BIRD-OF-PARADISE#2" - SECOND PAINTING
Oil on Canvas (16" x 20")
I was filled with happiness when this painting was finished.
The feeling of being in Paradise.............. Priceless.

ANOTHER VIEW OF "EXOTIC BIRD-OF-PARADISE#2"
A close-up view of the framed painting.
It was a pleasure to give this oil painting as a wedding gift to a beloved couple.
These friends are active members of the Filipino-American Association of
Sta. Clarita Valley.
This painting is now on display in their lovely home in Stevenson Ranch.
I am sure this painting enhanced their home to look a bit like paradise.

DIFFERENT VIEW OF "EXOTIC BIRD-OF-PARADISE#2"
WE ALL LIKE TO GO TO "PARADISE." DON"T WAIT! TIME DOESN"T.
NEXT TIME, I'LL SEE YOU IN PARADISE.