Happy New Year!

Goodbye 2010, hello 2011! Happy New Year everyone!!!

Sketchbook: San Francisco, Las Vegas, Mexico, and Hawaii

With my current sketchbook coming to an end (I have 4 pages to squeeze drawings in), I wanted to share with you a few treasured memories as lines and notes. They were done in San Francisco, Las Vegas, Mexico, and Hawaii.

I love old laundromats. This one is located somewhere in the Haight district of San Francisco.

These were some of the most amazing cloud formations I have every seen overhead in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sketched inside my hotel room at Mandalay Bay.

During a friend's bachelor party, I nerded out some time to sketch a few things in a club on a cruise to Mexico.

Patiently waiting for my flight connection with a holiday destination to Maui, Hawaii. As the lights turn out, Happy Holidays to everyone that reads my blog! Your support warms my heart.

Sketchbook of San Francisco/Europe/Miami/Los Angeles/Maui 2008

Not often do I post my sketchbook here. They appear in chronological order. This sort of sums up the end of my 2008.

Almost Forgetten in Time, Dug.

As I walked into the Kahului Public Library, I browsed through the magazine stand to notice a large painting lingering behind the book sale rack. How could I have missed this anomaly during all the years I have visited this place? I guess it's because Tadashi Sato's artwork seamlessly finds a way to blends itself with our environment.
Tadashi Sato (1923-2005) is credited as a contributor to the abstract expressionist movement during the late 50's. His work has been exhibited in New York, London, Berlin, Washington D.C and in the collection of the Guggenheim Museum, Whitney Museum and Yale University. Most importantly his career was launched with the support of actors Charles Laughton and Burgess Meredith. Provided that he is one of Maui's most recognized Artist, Sato was honored as a Living Treasure of Hawaii by the Honpa Hongwanji Mission in 1984.
A few weeks ago I stood in front of this painting just in awe by it's scale. Beneath the water and sun damage you will find the quite power of art still in motion. I step back again to appreciate a man's legacy rediscovering a painting he did 47 years later.

Tadashi Sato/ "Ukumehame Waters #1"/ 1961-62/ oil on linen/ commissioned by the Kahului Public Library/ Maui, Hawaii.

Mr. Ushiro interview in Honolulu Magazine

It's such an emotional feeling for me to be recognized in my own home state. About a month ago, the Executive Editor, Kathryn Wagner of Honolulu Magazine interviewed me for their Fall issue feature entitled, "Haunted Hawaii." Hearing ghost stories in Hawaii is a pretty normal thing. And for these residents this issue will unearth nothing new. But for the visitors of the islands, it will deliver a nice insight of things which go bump in the night within the 50TH state. You may pick up the latest issue of Honolulu Magazine at your newstand today or read it here.

Ones that Never Left

Do you remember a time when you had the chance to see all your close friends everyday? How about in the summertime when you would ride your bikes together? To pursue my art, I left all this behind. And it kinda' sucked. There are times when I would dream that I bumped into my Maui freinds in California. They would be like, "oh, yea, we thought of surprising you. We just moved right down the street." I would laugh, shake hands, give hugs, and help them move in their boxes. The next morning I think of how awesome that would have been. This piece, although depicts Chief and Takehara are also dedicated to the original Maui crew: Boss, Uehi (AKA: Stumps), Skylar, & Yoshi.

"Iao School"
3"x2.75"
Pen & Ink

Running the Loophole

Aloha. This weeks piece is for a group show I am participating in. The show is entitled, "LA Myth" and will be held at Meltdown on August 11 from 8pm-11pm. It's a little bit of an heads-up. So here's the story behind this piece:
Back on Maui, there was a man who was seen jogging along the Kahekili Highway in the wee hours before dawn. This avid jogger ran along the highway, nestled beside a macadamia nut pasture and an old Chinese graveyard. He was suddenly struck by a car instantly decapitating him. The driver, scared out of his mind, fled the scene. And with the immediacy of this incident, the jogger's spirit still lingers there. It was told to me by my ol' friend from Waihee (nearby town) that if you are approaching this area, turn your lights off and drive slow. If you are lucky, you will see him jogging there beside your car ...holding his head.

"Things He Left Fading"
5"x7"
Pen & Ink

So Just Like Magic I'm Home

I'm here on Maui attending my buddies wedding. I'll be back soon. Peace.