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Wailuku Blues, 12 x 24 inches, oil on linen sold

Maui Plein Air Invitational 2019

This is my best effort at this year's Maui Invitational. Again, I went looking for local flavors, away from tourists. I found a little town of Wailuku near Kahului, and it's just what I wanted; where local people lived their real and unflashy lives. There were older buildings and grittier alleys, and bars where beer is cheap. 

I was actually looking for a small side street that I painted last year. I didn't remember where it was or how to get there, so I drove around and around - finally I said f*ck it, I'm just going to park my car and paint what's there, and this was the view. 

I wasn't too sure if I could pull it off - seemed like there were too many strong elements to make a cohesive statement, but I thought I could tie them together with limited palette. After about an hour I felt like I was just watching my brush paint this thing for me. That sense of being in the zone doesn't happen very often, but I think the plein air gods were cutting me a break that day. The heat, humidity, and a crazy dude in the hood didn't even bother me. We live for these moments!

I was very happy with how the painting turned out, and apparently, others approved as well. During the big gala event, it was announced that Wailuku Blues had won the Irvine Museum Collection Award, the Collectors' Choice Award, and the coveted Artists' Choice Award! I mean, one award would have been a tremendous honor, but a trifecta? I have never seen that in my many years of doing these events. Needless to say, I was incredulous. Very pleased and excited, and surprised, to put it mildly. 

I am grateful.