52 Pieces Blog

Alau Sunrise

Well friends, this is the last piece of the series... for now.  As I mentioned in this post, I will be focusing on larger paintings in the new year, but I still may throw a small piece in the mix from time to time.  I will be posting all new artwork on 52pieces, so stay subscribed for the very latest!

This week's piece, "Alau Sunrise" depicts Alau Island... a small whimsical island near the black sand Koki Beach in Hana, Maui.  I chose to paint a sunrise because I feel this year is a time of new beginnings... artistically, personally, and spiritually.  It's a new day...


"Alau Sunrise" by Renee Coates. Acrylic on canvas, 6" x 6".

ORIGINAL SOLD

                                           

Blue

The cow is blue, his name is Blue, and sometimes you feel a little blue... one word can have so many different meanings.

'Blue' by Renee Coates.  Oil on canvas, 6" x 6".

ORIGINAL SOLD

                                           

Mauna Kea Mama

A mama cow and her baby graze on a Hana hill as a snow-capped Mauna Kea peeks through the clouds across the water...

"Mauna Kea Mama" by Renee Coates. Oil on canvas, 6" x 6".

ORIGINAL SOLD

                                           

King of the Road

Have you ever been driving on the road to Hana and rounded a curve to find a random cow or a big bull staring you down?  Tourists and locals alike can tell you it does happen.  These guys will usually budge with a friendly honk, but sometimes they'll plop down in the middle of the road creating a road block you don't see everyday.

I decided to put this "King of the Road" into some familiar scenery.... a spin on the popular "Road to Hana" painting I created in 2004.

"King of the Road" by Renee Coates.  Oil on canvas, 6" x 6".

ORIGINAL SOLD

                                           

The Good Life

It's been over a year since I've painted a cow, and I realized I need to sprinkle a few into the 2009 pieces.  This week's piece, "The Good Life", depicts a happy cow without a care in the world.  He's enjoying a spectacular view of the Hana Coast, with the Big Island peeking through the clouds.  Anyone who has hiked up to Fagan's Cross in Hana will recognize this remarkable vista!

"The Good Life" by Renee Coates.  Oil on canvas, 6" x 6".

ORIGINAL SOLD

                                           

Hana Bay

"Hana Bay" by Renee Coates.  Oil painting on canvas, 6" x 6".

This week's piece is straight from the pages of my "Road to Hana" coloring book!

Although I love to use rich saturated color in my paintings, this week I opted for a more muted palette.  There is a calmness in Hana Bay that I wanted to reflect with my color choices, making the red kayak the focal point.

I have many fond memories of Hana Bay... jumping off the pier as a kid, having picnics under the trees, and playing on the beach.  This week's piece puts a smile on my face as I daydream about Hana's gathering place.

Red Sand Beach

Kaihalulu, also known as Red Sand Beach, is a secluded spot on the opposite side of Hana Bay.  The sand gets its reddish color from the crumbling cindercone hill that towers above the beach.  Some of my first plein air painting expeditions were at Kaihaulu, and the beach offers an unparalleled color palette.  The unusual red cinder, bright blue ocean, green ironwood trees, and purple-black rocks are a visual treat for artist and beach-goer alike.

On a different note, the beach is so beautiful that people just want to take their clothes off.  No, really! Due to the isolated nature of Red Sand Beach, it attracts nude sunbathers from time to time.  I've decided to exclude these visitors from this week's piece, but have depicted them in the past.  So, parental advisory aside, enjoy!

"Red Sand Beach" by Renee Coates.  Oil painting on canvas, 6" x 6".

Tropical Takeout

"Tropical Takeout" by Renee Coates.  Oil on canvas, 6" x 6".

This week's piece depicts an island roadside fruit stand, brimming with tropical goodies.  You'll find these fruit and flower stands all over the islands, offering homemade banana bread, coconut candy, shave ice (known on the mainland as a sno-cone), smoothies, and countless other treats.

I have a special fondness for these highway havens, as they dot the road to home-sweet-Hana.  Although many operate on the "honor system" (leave $1 in the box, take a mango), I'll never forget my encounter with a high-tech vendor.  As I was waiting for my papaya-banana smoothie, a bright red blinking light caught my eye, peeking out from the thatched roof of the fruit shack. 

"Is that... Is that a surveillance camera?" I asked, astonished.

"Yeah... unfortunately we had to install one because people have noticed we make several hundred dollars cash a day".

The security measure totally blew my mind.  The charming roadside stands have always given me a nostalgic feeling of a more innocent time, when we trusted one another!  Thankfully, that was the only spot I've ever seen that had to monitor their wares. 

So relax, munch on some sugar cane, listen to the wind chimes, and enjoy these sweet unspoiled places while you can.

Bending Beauty

It takes 600 curves and over 50 bridges to reach beautiful Hana Maui.  Many of these bridges were built in the early 1900's and withstand nearly a million visitors a year! 

This week's piece, "Bending Beauty", depicts one of the many curves in the legendary Hana road, perfect for pulling over to stretch your legs, admiring the incredible waterfalls, and snapping a few photos.  Of course, the yellow sign promising "curves ahead" reminds you the journey is far from complete!

The road to Hana has endless picturesque scenes, many of which are featured this month on 52 Pieces and 52 Prints.  For you collectors out there, we'd like to suggest "Hana Coastin'" as the perfect complement for "Bending Beauty".  Both images are available as limited edition prints here.

 

          

Hana Town

So far, 2009 has been a great year.  I've been keeping up with my weekly paintings on 52 Pieces, successfully launched 52 Prints, and even designed a unique "Obama Aloha" t-shirt just in time for the inauguration.  One place I've fallen a bit short however, is blogging about each week's piece.

I must take a few moments to write about the third piece of the year, "Hana Town", because it holds such a special place in my heart.  For those of you not familiar with Hana, it's a small sleepy town on the East side of Maui.  To give you an idea of what I mean by "small", there were 30 kids in my graduating class.  Yes, 30!  Are you still impressed with my valedictorian status?

The journey to Hana is famous, or some would say infamous, for being a winding rollercoaster of a road set against steep lush cliffs and spectacular waterfalls.  The drive is a long one, but once you reach Hana it truly takes your breath away with its untouched beauty and warmhearted people.

This week's painting offers a unique vantage point, looking at Hana town from the water.  Using a teeny tiny paintbrush, I added many details to the piece to capture Hana... the cross on the hill, the cows peppering the mountain, a kayaker out in the water, and Uncle Bill's lunch wagon parked in its familiar spot.

Hana inspires me more than any other place in the world, so I'll be dedicating the months of January and February to Hana scenes.  Stay tuned!

"Hana Town" by Renee Coates.  Oil painting on canvas, 6" x 6".