Painting of My Son Finished (for now)

Aloha and thank you for visiting my blog.

My portrait of my son Ryan is complete.  I need to step away from it for a week and I might tweak it a little (the flowers and background), but overall I am happy with the results and will call it a day.  I am not selling the original, but I am available for commission work.  If you have a family member you would like painted please contact me. 

For commission work the cost depends on the size of the canvas and how many people are in the portrait and the detail and background.  The portrait of my son measures 11"x14" and the cost today is $465.00 US dollars. 

An original oil painting makes a great one of a kind gift.

Kathy
www.McCartneyFineArt.com
www.MauiVision.com

Visit Maui - Condo Specials April through July 2011

Aloha everyone! 


I have some great deals on Maui condos!  We often times beat our competition in price.  Plus we offer great customer service and wonderful properties that are clean, comfortable and offer great ocean views. 

Vacation Rentals April through July 2011

MauiVision wants to share with our past guests special rates on select properties.  Our repeat customer base and referrals keep us alive.  Mahalo!

 

We have been in business since June 2002 and appreciate your continued support. 

Remember, MauiVision is here to help with your Maui accommodations and we often times send complimentary gift baskets to our guests depending on their length of stay and always to repeat customers.  We can arrange for a custom gift basket to be delivered to the condo per your request. 

Please feel free to pass this information along to your friends and family who might be interested in a Maui vacation.

Guest Testimonials

Kihei Akahi Resort Unit C618

I am the owner of this property so I can always offer the best discounts on Unit C618 at the Kihei Akahi Resort located in South Kihei, Maui.

The bedroom was recently remodeled and includes a new very comfortable King size bed.  Our home away from home is well maintained for your comfort.

Available check-in 06/18 to check-out 06/27

$105 per night for 7 to 9 night stay

Available check-in 07/23 to check-out 10/04

$110 per night for 7 to 14 night stay

$105 per night for 15 to 21 night stay

$99 per night for 22 to 28 night stay

$95 per night for 29 night stay or greater

Ka'anapali Shores Unit 851

RECENTLY remodeled kitchen and bathroom!  See the new photos and YouTube video.

This lovely property is located directly on the beach in Ka’anapali.  It is a 5 minute walk to Black Rock and a 15 minute drive to Lahaina town.  There is NO security deposit and NO cleaning fee. 

This property does require a 30 day advance notice before your check-in date to reserve.

The nightly rate for this unit is
DISCOUNTED TO $150 per night (7 plus nights)
DISCOUNTED TO $175 per night (6 nights)
DISCOUNTED TO $210 per night (5 nights)
DISCOUNTED TO $262 per night (4 nights) 

If you have additional questions regarding any of the units listed above or about the island of Maui, please feel free to write or telephone me at anytime and I will be happy to answer your inquiries.


All my best,
Kathy McCartney, Owner
MauiVision Rentals
McCartney Fine Art (Tropical Expressions of Hawaii and the South Pacific)

Questions or comments? E-mail us at MauiVision or call 925-876-4985

My Son's Portrait and The Grizzly Youth Academy

Aloha! Sorry for not posting on this painting weekly as I said I would. But after I started this portrait I took a road trip (over 3 hours long) to visit my son who I had not seen in 2 1/2 months! Then I had many art classes to teach. I know excuses, excuses. Plus I hit an awkward stage in my painting and did not want to post until I got beyond it. Since I last posted, I have worked on this painting approximately 4 hours in the past 2 weeks. The problem I had was getting his facial features correct. Here are some pictures of the work in progress:



This is where I left off.  Maybe next week I will be able to finish this painting and then next month start the Hawaii landscape.


I wanted to give a shout out to the Grizzly Youth Academy and the National Guards http://www.ngyf.org/ for educating my son along with many other young men and women between the ages of 16 and 18 (or 19?). The kids live on campus for 5 1/2 months and complete a full school year in almost half the time. They will not take your teen if they do not want to be there. These kids have all volunteered to go and are interviewed before they are accepted. Once accepted, some do not last beyond the 2 week boot camp and some want out before the first month is even over. The first month was tough for my son and all the other cadets. They are homesick for their friends and family back home. They also go through TV, computer and technology withdrawals plus they do not get much privacy. They live in barracks together as a platoon (group). They must also be drug free.


The teens that get beyond the tough stage end up loving it! The kids want to be there to improve their discipline, focus, exercise, get fresh air, improve their grades, learn living skills, team building exercises, field trips, they do volunteer work and job shadowing. This is an engaging school for young people. Never a dull moment. The kids are kept very busy all day long. The teacher to student ratio is healthy. I will guess it is about 20 kids per teacher. The kids work together to improve as individuals and work together to have the highest scores (like GPA) in their platoon!  My son's goal is to attain a 4.0 GPA. I highly recommend it.


There are more young men who sign up then young ladies. I would say 1/4 females to 3/4 males. The females live in separate quarters. The teens mature, learn respect for themselves and others while in this program. They improve in confidence. They get to choose a mentor for the program. This is an important job to be a mentor. The mentor gets to visit the cadet more than family! Plus the mentor promises to stay with your teen for an additional year after graduation to make sure they are keeping their personal goals. Be sure to pick a mentor who is truly up to the task it is important. My son has a GREAT mentor! Thank you Kelley for being faithful and positive. Kelley loves this role. His son also completed this program the previous year. This is how my son learned about the program. My son had to sell me on the idea and I was a hard sale, but now I am a convert to the school.


My son is at the half way point and loves it now. It was so good to see him physically and in 2 1/2 months his GPA is 3.60. He has really matured and learned good social skills. My son has always been a pretty good kid. However, he was falling behind in school and was bored. When we visited him for 5 hours we took him around town and he would hold doors open for people, and when we were served in restaurants, he would say thank you and have a nice day. This school really emphasizes respect and good manners. This program is free to the parents and teen however, they do need donations to keep the school running. They ask the parents to participate in a fund raiser. I will be auctioning my Maui condo during their silent auction. I am happy to contribute to this great school and to these kids. The kids come from all walks of life mostly middle class and lower income. Here is how you can help this school and our youth and the future of America http://www.ngyf.org/help

I hope that they will expand and open more schools in every state! Not all cadets go on to join the military. They will not ask or force your child to go this route. But some of the students do choose to proudly join and serve our country.

Signing off with much Aloha!

http://www.mauivision.com/
http://www.mccartneyfineart.com/

New Painting of My Son Ryan



This is where I ended up today.  See more images below to see how I got this far.



Aloha everyone and thank you for visiting my blog!

I am working on several new paintings currently, but I have chosen this one to blog about. It has nothing to do with the South Pacific or Hawaii. It is not a place, but it is a special person in my life. It is a portrait of my son Ryan who is now 17 years old, however, I took this picture of him when he was about 3 years old. I love this picture of him.

I am currently teaching people portraits in one of my art classes and I thought I really need to do this painting of my son. This image has been pulling me for awhile.

I also miss my son who is away living at a US military camp attending a 5 month long high school program. What a great experience for him. I am proud of how focused he is and his great attitude. He is motivated to do something good with his life. As a mother we all wish for our children to grow up and contribute to society in a positive way.  He does make me proud.  He is a wonderful young man. Okay enough personal stories, but this is another reason I felt it is time to paint him, plus I am sharing the progress of this painting with him via snail mail.  I like to kill 2 birds with one stone whenever possible.

I started with a white canvas measuring 11”x14.” It is gallery wrap canvas so I will paint the edges. With a gallery wrap canvas there is no need to purchase a frame, it is optional. By the way, I try and use canvases that are the same size as standard frames. Meaning you can buy frames already made to fit your canvas.  It cost a lot less money versus having a custom frame made. I also paint a lot so it is good to be able to switch my same size paintings in and out of frames that I already own.

(You can click on the images to see the image enlarged)

Step one; I paint the canvas with grey gesso. This dries quickly. I then scan in the image of my original photograph. I do not want to mark up my original photo. Plus it makes my life easier to do grid method if I crop and size a new version of this photo to better fit the 11”x14” canvas. If you divide 11” by 2 you get 5.5” and if you divide 14” by 2 you get 7”. I crop and size my scanned image to fit this dimension exactly. So the printed picture measures 5.5”x7.” I draw lines using my T-square on the canvas and make 2” squares horizontal and vertical. On my photocopy I make similar lines or squares in 1” marks. This is half the size of the canvas. The canvas and photocopy now have the same number of boxes. I number the boxes on the canvas and on the photo. I then draw my image with a number 2 pencil (lightly) to match what I see on my photocopy (do not use charcoal pencil it smears in your paint).  I find this to be a very quick and accurate way to get my image on the canvas. It also helps improves ones drawing skill.

 I have done portraits with straight color but I do prefer starting in gray tones. I find it easier to correct my drawing as I go along and it helps me see the values of light, medium and dark. This is a good exercise to strengthen ones artistic eye to see values. I also think it is cool to see your painting come alive like a black and white photograph. Flesh tones are a little more challenging so starting in black and white lays down a foundation to place the color on top of later.

I see some errors in my initial drawing and my gray scale painting. I fix the angle of his ear and the front of his face needs adjusting. I shrink the chin and lips. I do this with more gray/white paint but I also shrink the features of the face with yellow paint that I am thinking will be my sky color, however, I will probably tone it down or make it another color entirely.


I often times use my paint brush or ruler as a sighting tool to compare angles from my photograph to the painting itself. You can catch mistakes this way.

In all I took about 2.5 hours.

I will blog once a week until this painting is complete.

Kathy McCartney

Artist and Art Teacher

www.mccartneyfineart.com

www.mauivision.com

My trip to Kauai Jan 2011 and Painting "Little R&R Hawaiian Style"

February 9, 2011

I recently stayed in beautiful Kauai, Hawaii January 2011.  My fiancé and I stayed 4 days in Princeville and 4 days in Kekaha.   How I love this island!  We missed a big storm that hit Kauai earlier.  The run off from the mountains causes the red soil to mix with the ocean and makes it murky.  Only on some of the beaches and it is temporary.  The waves were also slamming the first two days of our trip.  We saw whales beyond the mist and crash of waves in the distance.  The temperature averaged 78 degrees most of the time with a quick sprinkle here and there but it remained mostly dry.  Paradise!  When the ocean calmed down we were able to see so many whales with the naked eye!  They were having fun.  My last day I spent walking on Kekaha Beach and I saw a whale breach (jump out of the water) 18 times.  I couldn't believe it.  Just like the whale I painted in my recent painting (pictured below last image).  

The people in Kauai are very nice.  Everyone takes the time to talk story with you.  And I love to ask some of the transplants where did you come from originally and why did you move here (like duh).  I love their stories.  At least three different people told me they were on vacation here and decided never to return to the mainland.  They left everything behind and didn’t get back on the plane.  I admit I’m not that ballsy!  These people did admit to not having kids at the time to care for.  So that made the choice easier.  I have felt that same calling sensation or ache in my heart to stay.  And some day I will go there and stay however, with a little bit of a plan and a mixture of trust in the Aloha Spirit to guide me. 

I met a talented artist in historic Koloa town named Christian Riso he owns an art gallery and frame shop.  I enjoyed his story about the roosters.  He paints many things including this bird.  They are all over the island looking plump, healthy and colorful.  I think they are too beautiful to eat.  They are free spirits and are not afraid to fly up and try to take a sandwich out of your hand if they can!  This artist said that he will build a shrine in their honor because they have been his money making bird.  That was funny!  But people like to buy the rooster prints and paintings because it reminds them of Kauai.

Attached are a few pictures from my Kauai, Hawaii trip.  I didn't take pictures of the whales they move to fast for my slow camera to capture!

Tunnel Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Polihale Beach Park, Kauai, Hawaii

Monk Seal resting and yes alive!

Monk Seal resting ALL day!

Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Tunnel's Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Waimea Canyon, Kauai, Hawaii

Tunnel Beach BIG waves

Nene Goose Hawaiian State Bird in Kauai, Hawaii

The chickens and rooster who lived freely in the back yard of our Kekaha Beach home

Little R & R Hawaiian Style Painting

Now back to my big painting “Little R&R Hawaiian Style.”  Oh I feel like I a fibber for posting I was done with this particular painting.  I should know better!  This was a live blog challenge for me.  Whenever I do a painting, and any artist for that matter, it is important to let the painting sit for a week or more before you call it done.  I did feel like this painting was complete for the blog challenge, but every day I looked at the painting and felt there was something missing.  I was too busy to return to the painting until just now.  The painting felt flat.  It lacked intensity in color and contrast.  When the bright colors dry they sometimes get flat or darker.  I felt her flesh highlights needed more warmth.  The skirt and head lei needed more intensity as well.  I wanted a bright cheery painting with a lot of complimentary colors.  I brightened the red on her waist band and top.  The contrast of light and dark are important to get that pop and three dimensional feel.  I darkened the wet sand to make the water stand out and to not compete with the color of the skirt.  I could add something in the sand next to her.  But I don't feel like it.  So it is done.  Besides this painting can be cropped later for prints etc.

Kathy McCartney, artist at Secret Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Oh and I visited the town Hanapepe, a small quaint historic town where they love to talk story.  This town Hanapepe, Kauai, Hawaii is home to the characters Lilo and Stitch.  Friday night is art night and this town attracts the artist and many visitors.  This town is Kauai's big art community.

I LOVE this movie "Lilo and Stitch" it is a classic in my book.  I don't care how old I am it is one of my favorite movies still today!  I must say, it was cool to visit the town that help inspire the movie.

Aloha!

Kathy McCartney

My trip to Kauai Jan 2011 and Painting "Little R&R Hawaiian Style"

February 9, 2011

I recently stayed in beautiful Kauai, Hawaii January 2011.  My fiancé and I stayed 4 days in Princeville and 4 days in Kekaha.   How I love this island!  We missed a big storm that hit Kauai earlier.  The run off from the mountains causes the red soil to mix with the ocean and makes it murky.  Only on some of the beaches and it is temporary.  The waves were also slamming the first two days of our trip.  We saw whales beyond the mist and crash of waves in the distance.  The temperature averaged 78 degrees most of the time with a quick sprinkle here and there but it remained mostly dry.  Paradise!  When the ocean calmed down we were able to see so many whales with the naked eye!  They were having fun.  My last day I spent walking on Kekaha Beach and I saw a whale breach (jump out of the water) 18 times.  I couldn't believe it.  Just like the whale I painted in my recent painting (pictured below last image).  

The people in Kauai are very nice.  Everyone takes the time to talk story with you.  And I love to ask some of the transplants where did you come from originally and why did you move here (like duh).  I love their stories.  At least three different people told me they were on vacation here and decided never to return to the mainland.  They left everything behind and didn’t get back on the plane.  I admit I’m not that ballsy!  These people did admit to not having kids at the time to care for.  So that made the choice easier.  I have felt that same calling sensation or ache in my heart to stay.  And some day I will go there and stay however, with a little bit of a plan and a mixture of trust in the Aloha Spirit to guide me. 

I met a talented artist in historic Koloa town named Christian Riso he owns an art gallery and frame shop.  I enjoyed his story about the roosters.  He paints many things including this bird.  They are all over the island looking plump, healthy and colorful.  I think they are too beautiful to eat.  They are free spirits and are not afraid to fly up and try to take a sandwich out of your hand if they can!  This artist said that he will build a shrine in their honor because they have been his money making bird.  That was funny!  But people like to buy the rooster prints and paintings because it reminds them of Kauai.

Attached are a few pictures from my Kauai, Hawaii trip.  I didn't take pictures of the whales they move to fast for my slow camera to capture!

Tunnel Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Polihale Beach Park, Kauai, Hawaii

Monk Seal resting and yes alive!

Monk Seal resting ALL day!

Me at Secret Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Tunnel's Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Waimea Canyon, Kauai, Hawaii

Tunnel Beach BIG waves

Chickens and rooster who lived freely in the backyard of our rented home in Kekaha

Nene Goose Hawaii State Bird

Little R & R Hawaiian Style Painting

Now back to my big painting “Little R&R Hawaiian Style.”  Oh I feel like I a fibber for posting I was done with this particular painting.  I should know better!  This was a live blog challenge for me.  Whenever I do a painting, and any artist for that matter, it is important to let the painting sit for a week or more before you call it done.  I did feel like this painting was complete for the blog challenge, but every day I looked at the painting and felt there was something missing.  I was too busy to return to the painting until just now.  The painting felt flat.  It lacked intensity in color and contrast.  When the bright colors dry they sometimes get flat or darker.  I felt her flesh highlights needed more warmth.  The skirt and head lei needed more intensity as well.  I wanted a bright cheery painting with a lot of complimentary colors.  I brightened the red on her waist band and top.  The contrast of light and dark are important to get that pop and three dimensional feel.  I darkened the wet sand to make the water stand out and to not compete with the color of the skirt.  I could add something in the sand next to her.  But I don't feel like it.  So it is done.  Besides this painting can be cropped later for prints etc.

Oh and I visited the town Hanapepe, a small quaint historic town where they love to talk story.  This town Hanapepe, Kauai, Hawaii is home to the characters Lilo and Stitch.  Friday night is art night and this town attracts the artist and many visitors.  This town is Kauai's big art community.

I LOVE this movie "Lilo and Stitch" it is a classic in my book.  I don't care how old I am it is one of my favorite movies still today!  I must say, it was cool to visit the town that help inspire the movie.

Little R & R Hawaiian Style

I thought I was done with this painting.  It was a blog challenge to do this live and quick. I let this painting sit for over two weeks and went back to it I knew that I needed more detail work.  This is often the case with painting.  I have signed this image but to the left of her I am thinking I might place a flower lei. 

I did spend another 30 minutes putting in wet sand and adding highlights to her skin, hair, head lei, and brightening up the hula skirt.  I worked on the whales spouting adding more highlight to the mist.  This picture was taken indoors under bright lights and no flash.