Waikiki at night

Some paintings take longer than others because I want to get them right. Being a self taught artist,  I get hung up sometimes on how to finish a piece or even take the next step. At that point I will put it aside and come back to it hoping it will come to me with a fresh new look later.  In the case of Waikiki at night, it took 10 years of looking at a ragged old postcard, thinking, and adding detail. After spending some of the best (and worst) times of my life there, this one means a lot to me.

If you have been to Waikiki in the evening, you know that it has a very vibrant, almost carnival type atmosphere. There is a lot to see and do – from all the elite shops to a lively bar scene…and that is just getting started. The clubs don’t close until 4:00 a.m., so it really is a city that never sleeps.  The stories I could tell you would go on and on. Most of them I will have to keep to myself or just a few close compatriots.

All that being said I came back to this painting again and again. The final strokes on it were completed when one of my good friends who knows my history agreed to buy it. When I realized where it was going, it gave me a sense of purpose and motivation to finish properly.  You see, Waikiki at night holds a special place for him too.  He lives in Florida now and told me it reminds him of home.  Because of that I would like to give a special “Thanks”  and “Aloha”to Greg Smith.  Thank you for inspiring me to finish.  I’m really proud of the work and the fact that it is now in your home!