tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32622747627557254582015-09-16T09:00:33.250-10:00SitaScapesOriginal oil paintings of hawaii by Sita SoesmanSita Soesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447096155956218965noreply@blogger.comBlogger182125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262274762755725458.post-7592565393866318612013-07-29T21:24:00.001-10:002013-07-29T21:32:24.447-10:00Kohala Grandeur<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p8upouUAtZg/Ufdi8YKBD7I/AAAAAAAAXBQ/CorPeOolCh8/s1600/DSC_4075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p8upouUAtZg/Ufdi8YKBD7I/AAAAAAAAXBQ/CorPeOolCh8/s320/DSC_4075.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Date: 7/29/2013<br /><br /> Location: Kaunaoa at Mauna Kea Resort<br /><br /> Size: 60" x 36"<br /><br /> Medium: Oil on stretched canvas<br /><br /> Artist's Comments: The collector selected this scene after moving into a new house and finding that he really missed the majestic mountain view he enjoyed from his old property. When we met, he described some key features which were important to the allure of this scene; first of course, the grander of the mountain, the vibrancy of the change in color between the upper and lower regions; a memory of a full moon rise visible at dusk just over one of the Pu'u; a river full with rain run off cutting its way thru the soft red cinder cones, the rolling fairways of the 12 hole on the Kaunaoa Course, thorny Kiawe trees and a herd of wild goats traversing thru the course - no golf course on the Big Island would be complete without them!<br /><br />This new project presented me with a unique challenge; to capture the grand scale and detail of the Kohala mountains on a seemingly limited canvas. Because I had never painted a mountain range as the focal point, I spent allot of time studying the mountain at different times of day and during different seasonal changes. At this time, The Big Island was enjoying a very wet Spring so the mountain was bathed in a stunning green blanket which contrasted beautifully with the dry, rust colored hills in the lower slopes.<br /><br />As I sketched the scene I quickly realized that I had to make a choice; if I tried to paint the entire mountain from the Waimea slopes to Kawaihae, the mountain would appear further away in the distance and would lose some of its detail. So I decided to paint the middle section of the mountain which allowed me to reflect the closeness and grandeur. I accentuated the angle of the lower hills in the foreground to communicate the change in elevation as the hills slope down to the shoreline.<br /><br />Another area that tested my skills were the rainbow. Since the client wanted the river to be flowing with rain run-off I felt it necessary to suggest that rain clouds were present on the Kohala slopes and a rainbow was the perfect way to convey the presence of rain. When trying to paint the rainbow, it first appeared like a child's rainbow as if it didn't belong in the scene. I tried to research online to find any tricks to rendering a realistic rainbow but could not locate any tips. Then one day, I saw a rainbow and realized that instead of trying to paint color on top of cloud, I needed to paint the color of the rainbow in the same value as the clouds - as if the rainbow was sitting within the cloud. Armed with that concept I perfected the rainbow so that it is just a hint of color within the clouds. <br /><br />After the trials and challenges I am really happy with the result. The colors compliment the master bedroom wonderfully and I feel all the requested elements for the collector were rendered well.<br /><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wRVXVrRnbhQ/UfdqIRtRJRI/AAAAAAAAXBc/E-s8FoN3QOM/s1600/photo+(8)-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wRVXVrRnbhQ/UfdqIRtRJRI/AAAAAAAAXBc/E-s8FoN3QOM/s320/photo+(8)-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span> To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.</div>Sita Soesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447096155956218965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262274762755725458.post-22192205216851481782013-07-22T20:54:00.000-10:002013-07-29T21:28:57.978-10:00Jungle Red<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ImL4stcwS0k/UfdiuDGE9yI/AAAAAAAAXBE/WffstfPdu-8/s1600/DSC_4081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ImL4stcwS0k/UfdiuDGE9yI/AAAAAAAAXBE/WffstfPdu-8/s320/DSC_4081.JPG" width="242" /></a></div><br />Date: 7/22/2013<br /><br /> Location: Captain Cook<br /><br /> Size: 36" x 48"<br /><br /> Medium: Oil on stretched canvas<br /><br /> Artist's Comments: There have been very few times I was asked to create a painting based on a single color. For this project the collectors only request was that the painting be centered on red tones. They wanted the subject to be from Hawaii and although the primary color needed to be red, the other colors in the room were tan, blue, rust and fuchsia. In picking a subject we decided to capture a wild grove of heliconia and as I developed the painting I wanted the feeling of light filtering thru the jungle. I took inspiration from the late Darrell Hill's work as he so expertly was able to capture the filtering of light, shadow and color in his floral scenes. I also wanted the one of the blooms to take the primary focussing a secondary bloom in shadow with the remaining blooms feeling as if they are in the distance. I used a combination of color changes in the blossoms combined with lighting from the background to help the viewer focus on the primary blossoms. Colors darken and lose vibrancy as they reach the edges of the canvas. The very last strokes from my paintbrush were reserved to apply the brightest highlights to mimic where the delicate petals captured the rays of warm sunshine.<br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dScFZpu8H5s/UfdqL1tTCBI/AAAAAAAAXBo/8aSon7FtpbE/s1600/photo+%25288%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dScFZpu8H5s/UfdqL1tTCBI/AAAAAAAAXBo/8aSon7FtpbE/s320/photo+%25288%2529.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span><br /> To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.Sita Soesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447096155956218965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262274762755725458.post-37439245745136718472013-06-11T06:29:00.000-10:002013-06-11T06:29:00.384-10:00A Delightful Trap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lTluuHsfpyc/UbKzKHLrTqI/AAAAAAAAV_Y/nJXO_3MrC9I/s1600/DSC_2902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lTluuHsfpyc/UbKzKHLrTqI/AAAAAAAAV_Y/nJXO_3MrC9I/s320/DSC_2902.JPG" width="316" /></a></div><br />Date: 06/07/2013<br /><br /> Location: The 14th Green, Hualalai Golf Course<br /><br /> Size: 30" x 30"<br /><br />Medium: Oil on stretched canvas<br /><br /> Artist's Comments: In this painting, I wanted to compress the light but without centering it in the middle of the canvas. Instead, I decided to create a horizontal plane of shadows that would separate the middle tone foreground away from the the bright skyline. I used the shadows of the residential rooftops and the lava rock to create the wonderful dark separation. Then I toned down the palm trees so that they brought the shadow areas upward. My challenge was to render the green of the golf course in a very different shade of green than the surrounding foliage. I discovered that Veridian is a fabulous color to use to paint the stunning emerald carpet. This green is a very cool color so I placed hints of warm orange in the shadow areas of the sand traps to allow your eye to sink in the sand traps before traveling up into the warm sunshine shimmering on the palm fronds. <br /><br /> To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.Sita Soesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447096155956218965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262274762755725458.post-56401249237582315122013-06-10T06:17:00.000-10:002013-06-10T06:17:00.494-10:00The Soft Shallows of Kaupulehu<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I3X-CRgt_KE/UbKv6wpl4nI/AAAAAAAAV_I/0SLaL8BkxTw/s1600/DSC_2904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I3X-CRgt_KE/UbKv6wpl4nI/AAAAAAAAV_I/0SLaL8BkxTw/s320/DSC_2904.JPG" width="317" /></a><br /><br />Date: 06/07/2013<br /><br /> Location: Four Seasons Resort Hualalai<br /><br /> Size: 30" x 30"<br /><br /> Medium: Oil on stretched canvas<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> Artist's Comments: In continuing my study of compressing the light in a painting by using darker shadows to create a vignette, I selected this scene as it offered dark foliage above and dense lava on the shoreline below. These shadows contrast so beautifully against the bright azure shallows of the shoreline. As the water deepens, the light leaves the water and rich ultramarines take over which not only creates a beautiful color but also supports the compressing of light concept. The bright reflections on the umbrellas at the Residents' Beach House Restaurant set against the dark foliage create the highest contrast in the painting and allow for a secondary focal point in the painting.<br /><br /> To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.Sita Soesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447096155956218965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262274762755725458.post-21950089760756026932013-06-09T14:11:00.000-10:002013-06-09T14:11:00.264-10:00Garden Tunnel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vtp12_uxPNY/UbKu5g8XgoI/AAAAAAAAV-8/VFBeELAQOWM/s1600/DSC_2909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vtp12_uxPNY/UbKu5g8XgoI/AAAAAAAAV-8/VFBeELAQOWM/s320/DSC_2909.JPG" width="318" /></a></div><br />Date: 06/07/2013<br /><br /> Location: Hualalai Resort<br /><br /> Size: 30" x 30"<br /><br /> Medium: Oil on stretched canvas<br /><br /> Artist's Comments: Perhaps one of the most striking scenes at Hualalai is the little golf cart pathway that leads to the shoreline fronting the hotel. The pathway is planted with lush foliage that create a wonderfully dark and cool frame surrounding the warm waters of the ocean beyond. It was this focus of shadow and light that continues to intrigue me to return to this area. Each time I paint the scene, I am surprised to find each painting to be very different and unique from the rest. The choice of a square canvas brought a new perspective to the composition and I wanted the feeling that darkness surrounded the ocean on all four sides. The higher canopy allowed me to push the light towards the center of the canvas while the dark cool shadows of the shaded pathway grounded the painting. Spilling over the right side rock wall is a beautiful bougainvillea swathed in a warm ray of sunshine. I struggled with being able to paint the white flowers to appear as if only a portion of in light. After several failed attempts I pulled out one of my painting books and came across a quote that created the successful inspiration I needed - The darkest light should be lighter than the lightest dark. The result was not perfected but certainly conveyed the feeling of shadow and highlight for the cascading flowers.<br /><br /> To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.Sita Soesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447096155956218965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262274762755725458.post-5699650259138300622013-06-05T17:53:00.000-10:002013-06-07T17:55:57.793-10:00Paradise on Her Toes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3fodfVaENDg/UbKqqjTQ1oI/AAAAAAAAV-c/xMoKj29oT9I/s1600/DSC_2895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3fodfVaENDg/UbKqqjTQ1oI/AAAAAAAAV-c/xMoKj29oT9I/s320/DSC_2895.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Date: 06/06/2013<br /><br /> Size: Medium: Acrylic on canvas shoes<br /><br /> Artist's Comments: This year my friends and customers have truly challenged my comfort zone as an artist. A few weeks ago a friend approached me to see if I could paint a SitaScapes on her new Tom's shoes and although I had no idea how to approach the project, I was intrigued by the concept. I purchased some acrylic paints with a solution to make them washable and got started on the design. She loves pineapples and enjoys how I paint palm trees so I came up with a sketch that incorporated both. I was somewhat apprehensive to paint my very first attempt on her brand new shoes so I dug thru my closet looking for a similar material to practice on. I found an old canvas shopping bag which would do the trick and got started practicing with the new medium and surface. Unlike oils which can be slid and mixed on a gessoed canvas, the acrylics on unfinished canvas didn't allow for any movement so, I needed to lay each stroke down with the correct color and thoughtful placement. There was really not much room for mistakes! As I practiced, I gained more experience and courage until I was ready to tackle the final surface. I sketched the scene in hot pink outline as I do on all my paintings but I approached the process a little differently. Instead of working on the whole canvas simultaneously, instead, I focused on one element and painted it from start to finish before moving on to the next object. When I was finished with one shoe, I realized I would need to paint the same scene in reverse for the opposite foot! That was a bit of a challenge but I knew that it didn't need to be perfect. Once finished, I heat set the painting and enjoyed the final product! I can't wait to see my friend prancing about at work with Paradise on Her Toes!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ds3nVq1nemM/UbKrJWp-eiI/AAAAAAAAV-k/kkETeYoquYk/s1600/DSC_2896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ds3nVq1nemM/UbKrJWp-eiI/AAAAAAAAV-k/kkETeYoquYk/s320/DSC_2896.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pfEUsFApeQA/UbKrK0Zyn8I/AAAAAAAAV-s/pVspdCkuTv4/s1600/DSC_2899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pfEUsFApeQA/UbKrK0Zyn8I/AAAAAAAAV-s/pVspdCkuTv4/s320/DSC_2899.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /> To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.Sita Soesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447096155956218965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262274762755725458.post-88928446138965760762013-05-16T07:15:00.000-10:002013-05-16T07:16:49.120-10:00Hawaiian Koi Pond<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SJ-OHUa_6pM/UZUT6EbywuI/AAAAAAAAV54/aCVoCYzkI_U/s1600/DSC_1793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SJ-OHUa_6pM/UZUT6EbywuI/AAAAAAAAV54/aCVoCYzkI_U/s320/DSC_1793.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Date: 5/15/2013<br /><br />Size: 48" x 36"<br /><br />Medium: Oil on stretched canvas<br /><br />Artist's Comments: A husband and wife contacted me to create a large painting for the main wall in their living room. Mrs. loves koi fish and they were flexible on what scene I wanted to create. I immediately envisioned a small pool of water fed by gentle waterfalls with just a bit of foliage noticeable on the shoreline. I wanted it to be evident that this pond was in Hawaii so we collaborated on inserting<i> lawa'e</i> ferns along the shoreline and yellow plumeria fallen from a tree and floating down the stream. The "looking down" perspective would allow the koi fish to be undoubtedly the focal point of the scene and it was important that they were rendered with detail and in the correct colors. After setting up and receiving approval on the initial sketch, I started a long process of collecting all the bits of information that I would need to create this scene. I visited many koi ponds and took countless pictures of graceful koi. I realized through this process how each koi fish is truly unique and how many wonderful varieties there are! I returned with some photo portraits of a selection of koi for the client to select to ensure the colors and variety of fish I selected were what they envisioned. Once all approvals were received, I started to get some paint down on the canvas. Another element important was to bring a wonderful turquoise color to the water (a favorite color). I thought it would be nice to have a sense of depth to the pond where the turquoise color would become lighter and reveal pebbles on the bottom of the shore in the shallow areas. This would also allow me to bring some shadows beneath the fish swimming in those areas to further accentuate them. Lotus are in bloom and I allowed the fish to swim below just a few edges of them to help the lotus appear to float on top of the surface. In the distance, a koi breaks the surface and creates a wonderful ripple in the otherwise still surface. Soft fingers of water trickle down the rich colors of the rock waterfall some barely noticeable. This allows the scene to have a calm feeling - you can almost hear that soft lullaby!<br /><br />To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.Sita Soesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447096155956218965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262274762755725458.post-61351783927832110732013-03-31T07:01:00.000-10:002013-05-25T07:18:52.066-10:00SitaScapes Under the Sea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bt5e_WVz_OE/UXq1_0pQOZI/AAAAAAAAVQU/Ty79B0rodXM/s1600/_DSC7500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bt5e_WVz_OE/UXq1_0pQOZI/AAAAAAAAVQU/Ty79B0rodXM/s320/_DSC7500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0RO-5089onA/UXq2BYyZ6vI/AAAAAAAAVQc/2xXxff6GN7Q/s1600/_DSC7510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0RO-5089onA/UXq2BYyZ6vI/AAAAAAAAVQc/2xXxff6GN7Q/s320/_DSC7510.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kR2wD8qVVsA/UXq2EoLjPkI/AAAAAAAAVQk/PgsRmjTJILg/s1600/_DSC7475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kR2wD8qVVsA/UXq2EoLjPkI/AAAAAAAAVQk/PgsRmjTJILg/s320/_DSC7475.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />Date: 03/31/2013<br /><br /> Location: Kukio Resort<br /><br /> Medium: Mural, acrylic<br /><br /> Artist's Comments: The New Year presented me with a wonderful challenge. A Kukio resident asked me to transform her powder room and connecting laundry room into an under-water mural. We had developed the concept over the last six months. Her and her husband selected a handful of their favorite fish from their underwater snorkeling guide books and I created a composition on the walls for the placement of each grouping. To ensure I was replicating their vision accurately, I sketched the entire scene in pencil on the walls for their review and approval. The size and scale of the sea life was important to get right. I invested in new mural paints to upgrade my supplies from regular house paint. The vibrancy of the higher grade paint was amazing! I could use layers of glazing to create wonderful depth to the fish and create unique mixtures of color since they did not loose their vibrancy when mixed. The timing of the project was so much slower than what I am used to when working quickly in wet oils. Luckily the acrylics dry quickly and were ready for another coat within 10 minutes. Because of this I found myself working on two different fish at the same time to allow for the dry time in between layers. This project was a record for me and it took me a good 8 weeks to complete in just painting alone. But, I really took my time to ensure no detail was overlooked. I wanted the fish to feel as if they were swimming off the walls instead of being just two-dimensional 'stickers'. I wanted them to be alive! In doing so, I would paint about 20 layers of color on a single fish in order to get the shading and colors just right. The turtles were my most favorite to paint. I sketched them in positions that helped them swim off the wall toward you. One of the most unique parts of the painting was a portion of the wall dedicated to their grand daughter who had a favorite purple octopus doll. We recreated it in the scene so she would have her own special sea create waiting for her. Other smaller animals were painted at the lower 'eye-level' areas including a small candy-cane shrimp, starfish, seahorse, clown fish, sea anemone, rasps and corals. When finished, the owner and her family were thrilled with the creation. We did decide on one addition; however. To bring in another 3 dimensional element, we decided to affix flat backed glass bubbles to the walls to replicate air bubbles floating up to the 'surface' of the sea. The walls had truly come to life; ready to take you an an underwater adventure!<br /><br />Here are some of the images closer up.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DwMKLFf3AhE/UXq2QKlUrrI/AAAAAAAAVQ0/8WszOA5__rM/s1600/_DSC7517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DwMKLFf3AhE/UXq2QKlUrrI/AAAAAAAAVQ0/8WszOA5__rM/s320/_DSC7517.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f-bCu-xsq84/UaDxHKbkE8I/AAAAAAAAV60/z0XTlwusJBc/s1600/DSC_2509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f-bCu-xsq84/UaDxHKbkE8I/AAAAAAAAV60/z0XTlwusJBc/s320/DSC_2509.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mBkqZNSnKNc/UXq2QL-e2SI/AAAAAAAAVQs/HAYSIxFhMZ4/s1600/_DSC7523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mBkqZNSnKNc/UXq2QL-e2SI/AAAAAAAAVQs/HAYSIxFhMZ4/s320/_DSC7523.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSqX7W1u21s/UXq2Qsa-2SI/AAAAAAAAVRA/ZSdxvIHFhPI/s1600/_DSC7528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSqX7W1u21s/UXq2Qsa-2SI/AAAAAAAAVRA/ZSdxvIHFhPI/s320/_DSC7528.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lx9RL-102Pk/UXq2Q99Ur6I/AAAAAAAAVQ4/QyHFlleh-ms/s1600/_DSC7554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lx9RL-102Pk/UXq2Q99Ur6I/AAAAAAAAVQ4/QyHFlleh-ms/s320/_DSC7554.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b-cEZkGBZDY/UaDxJOlavnI/AAAAAAAAV7E/GtYL1DsNNNQ/s1600/DSC_2522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b-cEZkGBZDY/UaDxJOlavnI/AAAAAAAAV7E/GtYL1DsNNNQ/s320/DSC_2522.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ps1_5i-5XbA/UXq2Rt8Wz5I/AAAAAAAAVRE/4Hz72iuj2uc/s1600/_DSC7568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ps1_5i-5XbA/UXq2Rt8Wz5I/AAAAAAAAVRE/4Hz72iuj2uc/s320/_DSC7568.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oezEjqP6BWQ/UaDxIm16zqI/AAAAAAAAV68/-2dWas3LGOg/s1600/DSC_2528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oezEjqP6BWQ/UaDxIm16zqI/AAAAAAAAV68/-2dWas3LGOg/s320/DSC_2528.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GdqLIKne0hc/UXq4nQxnQ0I/AAAAAAAAVSI/bxntf2D2GMA/s1600/DSC_1442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GdqLIKne0hc/UXq4nQxnQ0I/AAAAAAAAVSI/bxntf2D2GMA/s320/DSC_1442.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s-2S9kC07LQ/UaDxChiYEVI/AAAAAAAAV6k/kkM09EjH94s/s1600/DSC_2497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s-2S9kC07LQ/UaDxChiYEVI/AAAAAAAAV6k/kkM09EjH94s/s320/DSC_2497.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LccXEwgxoDc/UXq3SGvGTcI/AAAAAAAAVR0/xd7s0eqDknk/s1600/_DSC7541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LccXEwgxoDc/UXq3SGvGTcI/AAAAAAAAVR0/xd7s0eqDknk/s320/_DSC7541.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_Nyo2YSBIa0/UaDycM8ZTiI/AAAAAAAAV7Q/NGOjbnua6LA/s1600/DSC_2480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_Nyo2YSBIa0/UaDycM8ZTiI/AAAAAAAAV7Q/NGOjbnua6LA/s320/DSC_2480.JPG" width="211" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZguDa0iT1Sk/UXq3R2PJa1I/AAAAAAAAVRs/28OdpemF5SU/s1600/_DSC7456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZguDa0iT1Sk/UXq3R2PJa1I/AAAAAAAAVRs/28OdpemF5SU/s320/_DSC7456.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gnwfXcvH4vU/UaDxGjQ6xSI/AAAAAAAAV6s/C8Ed4tbu_cU/s1600/DSC_2485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gnwfXcvH4vU/UaDxGjQ6xSI/AAAAAAAAV6s/C8Ed4tbu_cU/s320/DSC_2485.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.</div>Sita Soesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447096155956218965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262274762755725458.post-51545897462742201732012-12-18T20:30:00.000-10:002013-04-25T19:32:07.583-10:00Jade Ponds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N8VBBV9YI2Q/UXoPawa7xTI/AAAAAAAAVPk/aojIdmbKnrE/s1600/DSC_0001-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N8VBBV9YI2Q/UXoPawa7xTI/AAAAAAAAVPk/aojIdmbKnrE/s320/DSC_0001-002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Date: 12/18/2012<br /><br /> Location: Kona Village Resort<br /><br /> Size: 40" x 30"<br /><br /> Medium: Oil on stretched canvas<br /><br /> Artist's Comments: The third commission in my artwork staging project ended up being a true gem. The room was decorated in soft green tones so I knew this painting needed to have the perfect milky jade tone in order to appear that it was hand picked for the space. The bedroom is surrounded by lush green landscaping so I immediately thought that a Kona Villa scene would suit the room very well and would compliment the other paintings I had created in the master bedroom. I wanted the reflections of the ponds to pick up the light green shade of the decor with the other elements of the landscaping would be purposefully painted in subdued tones. I wanted the attention to be drawn to the water element so it needed to hold the most color. Other important elements were of course the two bungalows in the distance but also as important for me was the small stone bridge that created a wonderful sunlight pathway along the edge of the ponds as if leading you home to your thatched hale. I rendered the palm trees in the similar style to the palms in the master bedroom painting so that they would 'ring' together as a collection of paintings instead of a few random pieces scattered in the home.<br /><br /> To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.Sita Soesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447096155956218965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262274762755725458.post-56698239192692106982012-12-01T19:26:00.000-10:002013-04-25T19:17:47.153-10:00The Palm Grove<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XvdYI_J75-E/UXoBqEkRZWI/AAAAAAAAVO8/-6LiyOI6R9w/s1600/DSC_0014-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XvdYI_J75-E/UXoBqEkRZWI/AAAAAAAAVO8/-6LiyOI6R9w/s400/DSC_0014-001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Date: 12/01/2012<br /><br /> Location: Four Seasons Resort Hualalai<br /><br /> Size: 60" x 40"<br /><br /> Medium: Oil on stretched canvas<br /><br /> Artist's Comments: Hualalai Resort invested some $40M in renovation work a few years back to enhance the already almost-perfect amenities making them now unbelievably luxurious. One of the most-well-received upgrades were located at the Palm Grove crescent. Here the small cluster of rooms circle around a brand new adults-only swimming pool complete with swim up bar and a selection of 'adult' shave ice treats. As you step past the pool, you find what might be the best renovation yet - a few open air covered pavilions set by themselves in privacy at the edge of the hotel grounds. From these beautiful cabanas you have the most wonderful views of the ocean and mountain views of Hualalai peaking out between the lush palm trees. A perfect subject for my next project!<br /><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I was commissioned to create a series of paintings for a rental property that needed artwork to enhance the staging of the home for real estate showings. This painting was customized to the decor of the Master Bedroom whose decor was adorned with magenta and orange highlights. I wanted to play on the pink and orange tones to tie the room together. Thus these magenta palms created a lively addition to the room and brought in a much needed sense of movement to the room. The walls had a custom venitian plaster finish in a wonderful light blue tone - barely recognizable at blue. I mimicked the tone of the walls in the background of the painting to continue that light airy feel through the heavier palm tree fronds.<span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jh2zgJiOIuA/UXoE0gcF0CI/AAAAAAAAVPU/dCN6N5FJLAY/s1600/DSC_0025-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jh2zgJiOIuA/UXoE0gcF0CI/AAAAAAAAVPU/dCN6N5FJLAY/s400/DSC_0025-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /> To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.Sita Soesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447096155956218965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262274762755725458.post-3422500043045515432012-11-01T06:10:00.000-10:002013-03-06T07:11:33.841-10:00Beach-side Bungalow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6I_-W0vjRmo/UTd1j5ab72I/AAAAAAAAVIc/O1omOmpACps/s1600/DSC_0012-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6I_-W0vjRmo/UTd1j5ab72I/AAAAAAAAVIc/O1omOmpACps/s320/DSC_0012-001.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><br />Date: 11/01/2012<br /><br /> Location: Kona Village Resort<br /><br /> Size: 24" x 30"<br /><br /> Medium: Oil on stretched canvas<br /><br /> Artist's Comments: I poured over my reference images from "old" Kona Village Resort to create an iconic scene. It had been a while since I painted the Hales and typically I chose scenes where the bungalows were set along the fresh water ponds. For this painting, I wanted to capture the sense that this wonderful resort was set on the shoreline just steps from the beach. There was some difficulty in finding a hale that had the "just-right" composition I was envisioning but I was able to find this little scene. I toned the canvas with a sherbet color to give an underlying warmth through the painting. Special attention was granted to providing perspective with use of tints to give the perspective of the wrap-around bay with hales in the distant Northern shoreline. I reserved the darkest shadows for the foreground of the painting and like how the shadow tree in front of the hale really contrasts and gives warmth and light to the sun kissed rooftop. I also like how the wooden railings of the lanai are vibrant and warm; beckoning you to come walk up the steps and spend a lazy afternoon under its shaded embrace.<br /><br /> To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.Sita Soesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447096155956218965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262274762755725458.post-59044118627608781352012-10-31T19:19:00.000-10:002012-12-09T20:22:26.112-10:00Amber Rooftops and Sapphire Seas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-085Z2L8KCYw/UMV-6VqxuFI/AAAAAAAAUSI/McKQVWMf77c/s1600/DSC_0007-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-085Z2L8KCYw/UMV-6VqxuFI/AAAAAAAAUSI/McKQVWMf77c/s320/DSC_0007-002.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br />Date: 10/31/2012<br /><br /> Location: Kona Village Resort<br /><br /> Size: 24" x 36"<br /><br /> Medium: Oil on stretched canvas<br /><br /> Artist's Comments: While working on a project to create a water-scene of the Kona Village Resort, I painted a scene along the shore of the fresh-water ponds. When I finished, I remembered that there were some wonderful Hales dotted along the ocean's edge. So, I decided to create a secondary option for the client to see which they preferred. Finding a hale that offered me the perfect angle allowing me to capture sandy shoreline, ocean and a great angle of the structure would be difficult but, I located the perfect subject - Hale NH4. Perched at the edge of a private black sand beach, this particular hale offered a stunning composition to paint. As I worked on the painting I realized quickly I would need to capture the value change of the top of the lava rocks compared to the top of the sandy shoreline. I pulled on the skills I had learned earlier this year from John Cosby and I was so impressed with my ability to render what I had learned. I feel I really conveyed the sense that the lava rocks are on a different plane than the sand dunes and that the building and trees rise above the scene. Keeping this value and tonal change consistent through my painting process was difficult. I had an especially difficult time keeping the lava rocks from blending in with the sand but, in the end I was able to figure it out. My favorite part about the painting is how the amber thatched rooftops pops against the sapphire sea.<br /><br /> To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.Sita Soesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447096155956218965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262274762755725458.post-44138357026736162112012-10-27T08:36:00.001-10:002012-10-27T08:38:37.950-10:00A Jewel in the Tropics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PlbhRM3Q8NA/UIwpDmIWZ3I/AAAAAAAATLU/FiXu_eHS_Qc/s1600/DSC_1026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PlbhRM3Q8NA/UIwpDmIWZ3I/AAAAAAAATLU/FiXu_eHS_Qc/s320/DSC_1026.JPG" width="209" /></a></div><br />Date: 9/15/2012<br /><br /> Location: Kona Village Resort<br /><br /> Size: 24" x 36"<br /><br /> Medium: Oil on stretched canvas<br /><br /> Artist's Comments: I was honored to be asked to paint a scene of Kona Village that would hang in the same room as a large triptych by Darrell Hill. He is such a hero, mentor and inspiration to my work! My very 2nd oil painting workshop was with him on A-Bay and since then, he has provided such guidance and inspiration to my work. The client selected Kona Villa as the subject and they were totally open to what I wanted to create with the exception that they wanted water to be a primary element in the painting and, the color scheme needed to compliment the Darrell Hill painting. I wanted allot of color in this piece as Darrell's use of color is amazing! However, I didn't want the colors to match; yet rather compliment. Darrell uses allot of yellow or orange as accents so I decided to go with my signature highlight - pink. I wanted a nice feeling of light on the hale with the rest of the landscaping on the edges to be slightly darker so the eye is drawn into the painting. The teachings learn from my John Cosby workshop kept ringing in my ears ... "push the light" he use to repeat over and over. I wanted the reflections in the pond to be abstract, fluid and serene. I typically use a rich blue for the sky but, I felt if I used this strong of a color in the sky, the eye would be distracted up off the canvas. So I selected a dull color just to provide the sense of light rather than color.<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /> To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.Sita Soesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447096155956218965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262274762755725458.post-87190837762033602472012-08-28T08:12:00.000-10:002012-10-27T08:13:13.707-10:00Don't you want to Lava Lava?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ObZNFVi51vc/UIwkAeoZL1I/AAAAAAAATK8/JVvrK0nzjFM/s1600/DSC_0003-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ObZNFVi51vc/UIwkAeoZL1I/AAAAAAAATK8/JVvrK0nzjFM/s320/DSC_0003-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Date: 08/28/2012<br /><br /> Location: Lava Lava Beach Club at Anaeho'omalu Bay<br /><br /> Size: 6" x 4"<br /><br /> Medium: Oil on stretched canvas<br /><br /> Artist's Comments: My new favorite restaurant just opened this summer at Lava Lava Beach Club. It’s located smack down on the shoreline of Anaehoomalu Bay and is by far the best ambiance restaurant on the island. Yes, Four Seasons Resort has nothing on this Oceanside restaurant and lounge. There are large comfortable sofas scattered on the beach so you get the feeling of lounging in your living room while watching kite surfers, paddle boarders, canoe paddles and stunning wide-screen sunsets. But unlike your living room, when you want another beer, someone brings it to you! I did a quick sketch of this restaurant using my new Guerrilla Painter sketch box. Although I don’t feel this was a successful painting it is valuable for me to reflect on where my shortcomings were and I think they are namely poor value choices. Oh well! At least the beer was cold and my company memorable!<br /><br /> To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.Sita Soesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447096155956218965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262274762755725458.post-6984690094110789682012-08-26T08:08:00.000-10:002012-10-27T08:09:24.274-10:00The Little Fish Catcher<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--6eh14WTCSA/UIwim3ObinI/AAAAAAAATKs/9arGeaq6sE0/s1600/DSC_0002-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--6eh14WTCSA/UIwim3ObinI/AAAAAAAATKs/9arGeaq6sE0/s320/DSC_0002-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Date: 08/26/2012<br /><br /> Location: Kiholo<br /><br /> Size: 12" x 9"<br /><br /> Medium: Oil on panel<br /><br /> Artist's Comments: I had been thinking about purchasing a small paint box that would allow me to sketch small paintings while I was enjoying time at the beach or other beautiful places on the island. Lugging around a full size easel and all the paints for the slim possibility of finding a favorable spot to paint was just not becoming a reasonable option for me. Also, the minimum size canvas that could fit on a full size easel is 9x12 and that would need at least 2 hours of paint time to complete – which always didn't fit into the plans for the day. So, I decided if I painted smaller and had a easy-travel easel I might be more inclined to practice painting in small 4x6 sketches while I was enjoying time in Hawaii. After much research I decided on the Thumbox V2 by Guerrilla Painter. It arrived just in time for our Summer camping trip at Kiholo and I was so thrilled to test it out. My friends daughter loves the shoreline and especially catching (and releasing) small fish in tide pools. She can spend hours dotting from tide pool to tide pool catching the little fish and counting them. I think she caught up to 30 that day! I decided she would be a great model for me to paint. She was such a great model and didn't move much at all during the sitting. She was so excited to be my model and I told her that when she is in college, she could model for art classes at the college to make extra cash. She liked that idea! It was a nice change to paint a live model again and I used the techniques I could remember from John Cosby’s workshop. I feel captured the gestures well and the values were correct except perhaps the sky and Maui in the distance. Those should be a lighter value than I rendered to push them more into the distance.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ke6NJjyG9mU/UIwi_YfTq0I/AAAAAAAATK0/1bOAQjr-9nw/s1600/IMG_0376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ke6NJjyG9mU/UIwi_YfTq0I/AAAAAAAATK0/1bOAQjr-9nw/s320/IMG_0376.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /> To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.Sita Soesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447096155956218965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262274762755725458.post-48720361568881116142012-08-11T12:27:00.000-10:002012-08-27T12:32:07.247-10:00Dancing with the Tradewinds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HwHTNQiXnC4/UDv0Xcf6_JI/AAAAAAAAN_k/s7YfVVlu3z0/s1600/DSC_0807-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HwHTNQiXnC4/UDv0Xcf6_JI/AAAAAAAAN_k/s7YfVVlu3z0/s320/DSC_0807-002.JPG" width="246" /></a></div><br />Date: 08/11/2012 <br /><br />Size: 16" x 20"<br /><br />Medium: Oil on stretched canvas<br /><br />Artist's Comments: During my Cream of the Crop exhibition I decided to work on a small study to help the public understand my process in developing a painting. I especially wanted to use the pallet knife to render the sky so that I could display how this technique is applied. Completing this short demo allowed me to connect with attendees in a unique way and, it was especially rewarding to see children come up and watch me paint. I purposefully selected a simple scene that I could almost paint from memory and intuition which allowed me to talk and connect with others during the process. While painting the sky, a gentleman stood nearby and came up to me surprised how I was using ultramarine blue for my sky color. He had such trouble when trying to use ultramarine because the sky always appeared too dark a value. I showed him my tricks in painting skyline namely mixing allot of white in with the ultramarine and blending cerulean blue and pink into the mixture to show gradation of color between the bottom and top of the canvas. This allowed there to be faint change in color that provided interest in the large space. What I ended up with a simple palm tree portrait dancing in the trade-winds and the opportunity to connect with so many wonderful people.<br /><br />To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.Sita Soesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447096155956218965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262274762755725458.post-29736802272555488202012-08-06T12:06:00.000-10:002012-08-27T12:21:08.566-10:00A Donkey Named Abygale<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Kv4CkPrckU/UDvyVPn8QSI/AAAAAAAAN88/XFxTlF84nSs/s1600/DSC_0804-002.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Kv4CkPrckU/UDvyVPn8QSI/AAAAAAAAN88/XFxTlF84nSs/s320/DSC_0804-002.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>Date: 08/06/2012 <br /><br />Location: Holualoa<br /><br />Size: 8" x 10"<br /><br />Medium: Oil on canvas panel<br /><br />Artist's Comments: In preparation for my Cream of the Crop art show, I needed to bring at least one painting that paid homage to Kona Coffee and because I didn't have any paintings in my collection, I needed to get one started. Recently, my sister-in-law adopted a wild Kona Nightingale donkey and she quickly became a part of the family. My nephew named her Abygale Sweetcheeks and a little stable was built for her to call home. The timing of Abygale's arrival was perfect as I wanted to paint and Nightingale donkey but didn't know how I was going to get a wild one to model for me. After taking some reference photos of her I returned to my studio and immediately went to work. I decided on a simple background of coffee trees and improvised a burlap sack across her shoulders. In conjunction with this painting, I also did a quick sketch of the old Uichida coffee farm and thought the pair went well together.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m5kbmL-y8R0/UDvyjVrN4dI/AAAAAAAAN9g/_gcZLErqxCI/s1600/DSC_0805-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m5kbmL-y8R0/UDvyjVrN4dI/AAAAAAAAN9g/_gcZLErqxCI/s320/DSC_0805-002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.Sita Soesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447096155956218965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262274762755725458.post-86951521166117066452012-08-01T21:30:00.000-10:002012-12-03T10:17:12.935-10:00Jewels of the Jungle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3zNL1bSYpjA/UDST918YVlI/AAAAAAAAN2o/_oKki-0d9DQ/s1600/Jewels+of+the+Jungle+-+black+background.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3zNL1bSYpjA/UDST918YVlI/AAAAAAAAN2o/_oKki-0d9DQ/s400/Jewels+of+the+Jungle+-+black+background.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />Date: 8/02/2012 <br /><br />Location: Captain Cook <br /><br />Size: 4 panels, 24" x 48" each <br /><br />Medium: Oil on stretched canvas <br /><br />Artist's Comments: I worked with interior designer, Eric Henderson, to create a painting that would compliment a very colorful property whose primary colors were fuchsia, tangerine and lime green. The space was a very large wall and needed a substantial piece to complete the space. We selected 4 panels and Eric asked me to create a flower portrait. At first I was stumped on what fuchsia flower I would paint then, on a trip to my brother's house in Captain Cook, I found the perfect subject. In the jungle behind his home was a small grouping of wild heliconia. They were primarily a reddish tone but as I got closer hints of pink emerged. I immediately knew I found the subject for this piece and took some reference photos with the help of my niece and nephew. When I started to paint the blooms, I enjoyed mixing the perfect reddish/fuchsia tones for the flowers and purposefully didn't want all the flowers to be he exact same shade. Heliconia have a waxy finish to them and I knew I needed to render this effect correctly. I tried a glaze of white but that made the flowers appear too bland. Then I had an idea and decided to create the wax finish with a wash of fuchsia and that did the trick! When finished, I admired how the bright fuchsia flowers resembled bright pink rubies glowing brightly in the Hawaiian jungle.<br />To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.Sita Soesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447096155956218965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262274762755725458.post-59634675051522148122012-07-22T06:41:00.000-10:002012-08-21T22:13:13.571-10:00Birds in Paradise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8tX0MTjo78A/UBYSp4lmJiI/AAAAAAAAN1Q/kEOiHlf3LYs/s1600/DSC_0111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8tX0MTjo78A/UBYSp4lmJiI/AAAAAAAAN1Q/kEOiHlf3LYs/s320/DSC_0111.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />Date: 07/22/2012<br /><br />Location: Private Residence, Kailua-Kona<br /><br />Size: 36" x 48"<br /><br />Medium: Oil on stretched canvas<br /><br />Artist's Comments: In contrast to the soft pallet used in the first commission piece for Henderson Design Group, this painting needed to be vibrant with orange and lime green as the primary colors. While visiting a friends house in Kona, I noticed a grouping of beautiful Birds of Paradise. Their colors were so vibrant and I was intrigued with the various stages they bloomed. Immediately I knew I had a subject for this project! At first thought, I planned to paint he blooms with cadmium orange yet after thoughtful study I realized that there were vibrant shades of golden yellow, orange and pink in the blossoms! In telling the story of these wild birds in paradise I tried to paint the blooms at various stages of their glory and from different angles. When you enjoy a flower arrangement containing Birds of Paradise, they are always selected in their prime and set in the arrangement to maximize their profile but, when growing in the wild they point in all directions so collectively they can all be viewed from any angle. <br />To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.Sita Soesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447096155956218965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262274762755725458.post-84359858155849228152012-07-11T18:40:00.000-10:002012-07-29T18:46:42.863-10:00Welcoming Another Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kb5huS5QJvQ/UBYPpXi_ykI/AAAAAAAAN04/5mx58RbzBRY/s1600/Welcoming+another+day+-+black+background.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kb5huS5QJvQ/UBYPpXi_ykI/AAAAAAAAN04/5mx58RbzBRY/s400/Welcoming+another+day+-+black+background.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Date: 7/11/2012<br /><br />Location: Kukio Palm Trees<br /><br />Size: 3 panels 36" x 48" each<br /><br />Medium: Oil on stretched canvas<br /><br />Artist's Comments: Commission projects always push me to new heights in my painting career. On a recent project, I had the pleasure to work again with Eric Henderson, Henderson Design Group, to create 3 custom paintings for two separate properties. One home was finished with subdued tones of blues, greys and golds and Eric challenged me to use a softer pallet. We decided to capture the tops of palm trees painted in the tones of a sunrise when all the colors are just awakening and haven't reached their full vibrancy yet. In particular, the color green was not going to be used in the decor so, I needed to come up with a way to convey the sense of a palm tree without using green. At first I was intimidated but as I developed the pallet and started placing paint on canvas, the colors seemed to flow from my brush. I actually enjoyed the challenge! By thinning the paint, I was able to achieve a nice transparency for the palm fronds as they greet each in turn the ever-returning sunrise. They remind me to greet each day for what it is; a chance for my true colors to shine!<br /><br />To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.Sita Soesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447096155956218965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262274762755725458.post-19405367169021849792012-07-04T19:03:00.000-10:002012-07-29T18:42:57.339-10:00Sisters Dancing in the Breeze<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-buQyR4AhOJU/T_5aFg4m1cI/AAAAAAAANyg/ZDcmOIu4sXg/s1600/DSC_0041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-buQyR4AhOJU/T_5aFg4m1cI/AAAAAAAANyg/ZDcmOIu4sXg/s320/DSC_0041.JPG" width="319" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Mellow Yellow"</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R1nwegFQwpw/T_5aKcOgxsI/AAAAAAAANyo/ow1ICbtXk0M/s1600/DSC_0043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R1nwegFQwpw/T_5aKcOgxsI/AAAAAAAANyo/ow1ICbtXk0M/s320/DSC_0043.JPG" width="319" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Juicy Orange"</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ot7_bS3HAqA/T_5aPsyp9sI/AAAAAAAANyw/PGQAhHkTbto/s1600/DSC_0044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ot7_bS3HAqA/T_5aPsyp9sI/AAAAAAAANyw/PGQAhHkTbto/s320/DSC_0044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Fabulous Fushia"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vE5kpLj1bSM/T_5aTnKsXbI/AAAAAAAANy4/03c6YC7Hni8/s1600/DSC_0045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vE5kpLj1bSM/T_5aTnKsXbI/AAAAAAAANy4/03c6YC7Hni8/s320/DSC_0045.JPG" width="318" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Blue Steele"</div><br />Date: 07/04/2011 <br /><br />Size: 4 panels 30" x 30" each <br /><br />Medium: Oil on stretched canvas <br /><br />Artist's Comments: While working on a project to bring artwork into a property listed for sale, the owner wanted a more abstract type of painting where the focas was on color. The panels would be hung on a large wall against a stairway. We decided on capturing the top of a palm tree on each panel but augment each color to give personality and interst to each canvas. I didn't have a real plan on what colors each of the 4 panels would be but instead let my creativity and inspiration take over from the moment my paintbrush touched canvas. I had allot of fun developing each palm tree with its own personality using color and brushwork. In addition to adjusting the tones of the leaves, I slightly adjusted the background color to further drive some interest to each painting so that it could have strength as a stand-alone piece. Together in the collection, they really sing with each other ~ like a group of sisters dancing in the breeze.<br /><br />To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.Sita Soesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447096155956218965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262274762755725458.post-76151336994422653232012-07-01T07:11:00.000-10:002012-08-11T17:45:38.992-10:00Exhibition at Island Naturals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xTlMZ5hOGGU/T_XnxX98Q2I/AAAAAAAANsw/dO04NIWx4xo/s1600/SitaScapes+Exhibition+Invite+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xTlMZ5hOGGU/T_XnxX98Q2I/AAAAAAAANsw/dO04NIWx4xo/s320/SitaScapes+Exhibition+Invite+2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Can't make it to Kailua-Kona for the show? Visit the exhibition online. </span><a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/115481926503838693828/albums/5761211510199285361?authkey=CNj45r-65ZO1UA" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Click Here</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> to view slideshow.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I would love to hear what you think!</span></div>Sita Soesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447096155956218965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262274762755725458.post-86898219566749808332012-06-23T15:41:00.000-10:002012-06-27T15:54:01.514-10:00The Perfect Hideaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8i6H_1iFefc/T-uvpNrzq9I/AAAAAAAANPs/Y4ZosnoUk7o/s1600/DSC_0194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8i6H_1iFefc/T-uvpNrzq9I/AAAAAAAANPs/Y4ZosnoUk7o/s400/DSC_0194.jpg" width="301" /></a></div>Date: 6/23/2012 <br /><br />Location: Kona Village Resort<br /><br /> Size: 14" x 18" <br /><br />Medium: Oil on stretched canvas <br /><br />Artist's Comments: As I scrolled thru my image library reminiscing of the many wonderful painting adventures spent capturing this serene Resort on canvas, I came across this wonderful scene. Although all the Resort's hales offered a wonderfully relaxing experience, this particular hale always captured by eye. Snuggled amongst lush foliage, perched at the end of the reflective ponds, this hale is set so close to the water's edge that in fact it appears to almost float. There are no visible pathways leading to or from the hale which provides the perception of complete seclusion. I imagine there are in fact no footpaths to this hale and instead, I opt for taking the water pathway in a small canoe and entering this little shoreline cottage for an unforgettable retreat. The sunshine is warm but is shielded by the tall thatched rooftop which creates a shimmering reflecting in the ponds. As your eye wanders away from the hale, the colors get darker; capturing less of the sunshine. The water is vibrant; cool and inviting you in for a swim! <br /><br />To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.Sita Soesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447096155956218965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262274762755725458.post-17798708808567584702012-06-23T15:36:00.000-10:002012-06-27T15:40:17.765-10:00Little Stone Bridge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-56YT8pYpyHc/T-uvkRyXjeI/AAAAAAAANPk/c-7FWB2ret0/s1600/DSC_0193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-56YT8pYpyHc/T-uvkRyXjeI/AAAAAAAANPk/c-7FWB2ret0/s320/DSC_0193.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Date: 6/23/2012 <br /><br />Location: Kona Village Resort <br /><br />Size: 18" x 14" <br /><br />Medium: Oil on stretched canvas <br /><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Artist's Comments: With the Kona Village Resort now closed for over a year, I was going thru some serious Kona Village withdrawals. I really was missing spending time under the shade of the lush foliage and capturing the wonderful reflective ponds. I unfortunately had run out of photos in my library to paint and with the Resort closed to the public, I was unable to get new imagery. So, I decided that although I had painting some of the photos already over the years, I wanted to try my hand at them again and practice the new techniques I had learned from plein air artist, John Cosby. When I reviewed my digital library I found a scene that I had not painted before because I didn't feel it was a fun composition. Armed with my newfound skills, I decided this would be a fabulous scene to capture. I knew that my challenge would be to focus the light in the area surrounding the thatched hales. So, I started pre-mixing value piles just as I had learned from my workshop and got started. As I progressed, I realized that I had been so focused on painting everything surrounding the hales in dark shades that I lost some of the vibrancy in the shadow trees. So I came back with more color on my brush and returned the shadows to their vibrancy. I purposefully painting the ponds with a bright viridian blue to bring that sense of coolness to the painting and to pop that color! You eye reaches that small old stone bridge as it captures the warmth of the sunlight and takes you across the pond to the small shaded footpath leading to more thatched hales.</span></div><br /><br />To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.Sita Soesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447096155956218965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262274762755725458.post-25805211182804462262012-06-23T06:37:00.000-10:002012-10-30T14:52:33.312-10:00Sister Hales<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UT4EySDcNe4/T-uvd-pYqVI/AAAAAAAANPc/euR7wO4m214/s1600/DSC_0192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UT4EySDcNe4/T-uvd-pYqVI/AAAAAAAANPc/euR7wO4m214/s320/DSC_0192.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>Date: 6/23/2012 <br /><br />Location: Kona Village Resort<br /><br />Size: 14" x 18" <br /><br />Medium: Oil on stretched canvas <br /><br />Artist's Comments: All of the Kona Village hales are special yet these two may be the most picturesque. This pair of hales reminds me of two sisters sitting on the edge of the pond enjoying the view. The composition is perfect; provided by nature herself. Two small islands anchor the foreground allowing your eye to skip across the bright water and land back at the two sister hales. They are surrounded of course by the lush foliage which thrives at the edge of the fresh water despite the fact that the entire Resort is set on a barren lava flow. I imagine a large family enjoying a summer vacation in these two hales. Perhaps you were one of the lucky families to spend time in the cool embrace of these two "sisters"? <br /><br />To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.Sita Soesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447096155956218965noreply@blogger.com