Video: The Painting of Into the Kalo Garden
“A painting is much less expensive than a bouquet of flowers. The painting lasts your whole life but you have to replace the flowers every week.”
Kaji Aso – my first watercolor teacher
Into the Kalo Garden – Limited Edition Giclee
Kalo is the Hawaiian word for taro. And taro was a staple of the ancient Hawaiian people. It was grown in flooded beds along streams throughout the Islands. This garden has been in the family of my friend and neighbor, Nani Hussy Svendsen, for seven generations! It had become completely overgrown by the jungle and Nani undertook and accomplished the Herculean task of clearing and restoring the garden to its traditional beauty and productivity. Konea ‘O Kukui is a private garden but over the years, Nani has generously opened this healing space to support and recovery groups and and for educational purposes. I feel very privileged for the opportunity to paint in this amazing garden!
I had already painted here and spent a good amount of time in the garden when the vision for this painting came to me. It was during a work day when people connected with the garden came to pitch in their help. We were clearing an overgrowth of papyrus from the stream bed so the water could flow unimpeded. I had passed the scene many times but on this particular day, muddy, exhausted and overheated it jumped out at me as a painting. I though, how did I never see that before?
The odd dimensions, 37 X 23 inches, are in the ratio of the ‘golden rectangle’ a shape said to be harmonious and pleasing to the eye. I stumbled across the canvas and the owner of the art store said that artists tell her it makes compositions come together much more easily. I was skeptical but the painting did flow very nicely and I will try this size again.
I work with master print maker, Paul McCormack, who creates prints for Hawaii’s best known artists. I think I may be one of his most particular clients insisting on more and more proofs until the color match with the original is indistinguishable.
Printed on canvas and professionally mounted on 1.5″ gallery wrapped stretchers. The image is mirrored around the edge of the canvas making it ready to hang.
