Nā Koa Magazine Summer 2017 by Ka Leo o Na Koa

SUMMER 2017

nÄ koa toby plunkett A Budding Artist Page 4

art:

find your style Interactive quiz on pg. 18

nā koa

............. SUMMER 2017...................................................................................................... from the editor ......................

ON THE COVER

A Budding Artist

Follow 17-year-old Toby Plunkett’s journey as he stuns people not only with his talent, but with his hard passion and dedication in the field of art.

Philip Sabado

From Moloka’i to California, Philip Sabado tells about his return to Maui as a professional artist and his involvement with the Maui community.

Maui Made

A group of local teenagers explain their styles and show true passion for art.

Find your style

Interested in art? Here are a few tips on how you can find the type of art that is best for you.

Here we go again! A new president, the end of sugar cane on Maui, and the birth of Rumi and Sir Carter—so many new things have happened in the past two years but still no volume 2 for Nā Koa magazine. What’s up with that? Don’t worry, we are finally back with a jaw-dropping, eyes-glued, Maui-made magazine. And we’re ready for a whole ‘nother year of issues! Oh, and one more thing has changed— it’s me! Nā Koa (being a high school publication) has picked up a brand new staff with me at the helm as editor-inchief. The previous issues were coordinated by none other than the lovely Maile Sur. She founded the magazine in 2014 as her senior project, and now I have made it my duty to continue it. I plan to perpetuate the mission of the magazine as “the bridge between students, the community, the culture, and the rest of the world,” as Maile put it, all starting off with this issue on the world of teen artistry.

Jumping into the project, I was very nervous. I’m basically filling the shoes of THE famous Maile Sur, who truly left her mark at Kamehameha Schools Maui as an amazing designer, editor, and multiaward winner at both the state and national level. So, I have a lot to live up to. I know that this journey before me will mean that I will become a regular at Starbucks and that my bag will be filled with Apple chargers, notepads and breath mints. As I embarked on my first issue about teen art, which I thought I knew, what I learned completely blindsided me. I found myself wanting to find out more and more with the only thing holding me back being the lack of gas in my car. So, welcome back to our beloved Nā Koa magazine, and let me show you a whole new world because we’re finally back, and we’re better than ever. Sincerely,

Art Parties

Art parties give the community a fun opportunity to create art with their family and friends.

.................. nā koa .......................... about the editor .................................................................................................... A Ka Leo o Nā Koa Publication Nā Koa Media

Editor-in-Chief Aaron Veincent Contact Us: Address: 270 ‘A’apueo Parkway, Pukalani, HI, 96768 • Phone: (808) 573-7019 • Email: kaleoonakoa@ksbe.edu • Twitter: @kaleoonakoa • Website: www.kaleoonakoa.org

Aaron Veincent, 17, is a senior at Kamehameha Schools Maui. He was born and raised on the island of Maui and can always be found indulging himself in art. Whether it is painting, drawing or photography, he enjoys it all. One day, he hopes to find himself in communications as a designer for local companies.

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budding

artist

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story + photographs Aaron Veincent

t first Maui teen Toby Plunkett didn’t have much interest in art, but through classes and mentoring his passion grew as rapidly as his skill level, and today, he’s an artist whose works are growing in demand. Artistry runs in the family. Plunkett’s grandfather, Danny Skinner, sculpted the famous statue of Queen Ka‘ahumanu at Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center; also, his father, Keali‘i Plunkett, was so talented that he was offered art scholarships for college, though he did not pursue them. With the art gene in his blood, Toby Plunkett found creating works of art came relatively easily. It started with tracing pictures in his first art book when he was 7. “The earliest memory I have of drawing stuff is when I had the Teach You How to Draw books,” he said. Although he has been creating art since his elementary days at Ha‘ikū

Elementary School, it still wasn’t his main focus until he started high school at Kamehameha Schools Maui. Taking his first real art class in his sophomore year changed his mind. “Ever since I was little I actually wanted to be a marine biologist. It wasn’t until Ms. [Angie] Abe’s Drawing

sure and had some insecurities, but as he tried new things he grew in confidence,” Ms. Abe said. Plunkett was never without a sketchbook and pencil. “The reason I always enjoyed doing it is because it always came natural to me,” he said.

“It’s the feeling that I have inside telling me this is what I’m meant to do. I mean, you never know unless you try.”

-Toby Plunkett

and Painting 1 class when she convinced me to pursue art. She even said that if I didn’t come in and take the classes, she would cry all day,” he said. Plunkett could not ignore the request and came back again to take as many art classes as he could for the rest of his high school career. He graduated in May. “At first he was known [around campus] to be an artist, but nothing formal. He was known for always sketching. He wasn’t too

Toby was always willing to try everything—every medium, style, and technique—because, as he put it, “Whatever opportunity that comes up, I take it.” “He was not fearful of trying new things,” Ms. Abe confirmed. “He was like a kid in a candy store. Anything new you give to him, he was willing to always try it.” Without restriction, Plunkett indulged himself in the art world quickly. He had an obvious dedication, and

“Creative Leeches” Photo used courtesy of Angie Abe

Toby Plunkett favors working with digital art, wanting to someday become an illustrator for a gaming corporation.

when he truly set his mind to creating art, it was greatness. “He excelled in a variety of media and had the ability to synthesize new ideas with old skills,” Ms. Abe said. “Though he was not masterful in every medium, his fearless willingness to try new things and his openness to self-improve allowed him to be successful in all areas of his artistic endeavors. ” Besides being taught and guided by Ms. Abe, Plunkett also secured an internship with Mr. Philip Sabado (see story on page 9). Sabado agreed wholeheartedly with Abe that “Toby was good, and he’s going to make it because he’s got that enthusiasm, but the most important thing he has, is the passion.” Ms. Abe concurred, “Skill can always be developed, but drive can’t.” “I’ve known kids who never had talent, but they kept pursuing it until they caught the soul in the art. Those are the ones that stood the test of time,” Sabado said. Plunkett is using his time to progress in his skills as an artist, creating larger pieces now, such as the mural at Ha‘ikū Community Center. Painted over a year ago, the mural portrays the story of Namakaokahiki, the goddess of the sea, and her fight against the common algae problem. “It‘s wrapping around her and pulling her down, but she’s trying to fight back,” Plunkett said. The mural was influenced by Mr. Sabado but included

Toby’s passion for marine life and art and his desire to give back. “I’ve been going to Ha’ikū Girls and Boys Club since I was little. I always felt like they’ve given so much to me, but I haven’t given anything back to them. So that was my little gift,” he said modestly. To say it is a “little” gift is an understatement. Overall it took Plunkett several months to plan and a month to execute. “In the end I had all the little kids come by and put their handprints [on the side of the wall so that they could feel a part of it],” he said. In the world of art, passion is valued. People may have incredible talent, but lack vision and soul in their work. “It’s not only about your skill, but primarily it’s your drive and what you want to do with it and where you want to take it,” Ms. Abe said. With Plunkett, he takes everything to the next level. Not content with the current art offerings at his high school, he paired up with Ms. Abe to create an Advanced Placement art class in 2016 so that he could further his own learning as a student! This required that Ms. Abe go to the next level, as well, to get the necessary education and training to teach the AP course, which she did to support such a dedicated student. Toby is always looking learn more and try new things. When Ms. Abe and Mr. Sabado discussed students’ needs, Abe noted that students at Kame-

hameha Schools Maui could use more experience in conceptual art, so Mr. Sabado created a summer workshop, and Toby signed up. The class consisted of Plunkett, a high school student, and University of Hawai’i Maui College students. This wasn’t the only class where Plunkett was expected to design at a college level. His work in the Advanced Placement class for 2-dimensional art was also graded on a college level because “the caliber of work in the AP program is [expected to be] equivalent to a college-level class,” Ms. Abe said. What does this look like for a high school AP student? “Every Friday an assignment was due, along with multiple skecthbook assignments,” Plunkett said. In this specific class Plunkett was expected to finish a piece once a week and select his best works to submit as a portfolio towards the end of the year. “We didn’t know exactly what we wanted to do with my portfolio, so at some points I went all over the place,” Plunkett said, reverting to his experimental tendencies. After much dilberation, Ms. Abe and Plunkett agreed on a theme: Originality has been lost in time. He explained, “It’s the creative process involved with making art. No piece of art is 100% original no matter what you do, it’s going to be influenced by something. Especially in this point of time. Everything just is [transformational],

“Reality is the Foundation of Imagination” Photo used courtesy of Angie Abe

In addition to his talent in digital art, Toby is also well-known for his compositions with pen and ink. not only our style…but art in general, and even me, transforming into the person I want to be.” In his portfolio, Plunkett included 12 concentration pieces and 12 breadth pieces. Concentration works are quality pieces that revolve around the main theme of the portfolio; meanwhile, breadth are pieces within the portfolio that portray what the artist is capable of doing with different media. Most of his pieces were done with pen and ink or were actually done digitally, which Plunkett taught himself to do since Ms. Abe was unfamiliar with the medium. After entering his portfolio to be graded by the AP program, both mentors and Plunkett were ecstatic to see a perfect score of 5 all

around, being that he is the first Kamehameha Schools Maui AP art student. This is only the beginning for Plunkett, and as he puts it, this only “gets [my] foot in the door, and it’s from there to wherever it takes me, but in the end, I want to work at Blizzard Entertainment as an illustrator.” Blizzard is a well-known video game developer and publisher of the Warcraft, Diablo and StarCraft series. They are based in Irvine, California. Plunkett is currently attending the Academy of Art University, San Francisco, where he will be studying game development, a field where he says he can “learn a little bit of everything, and become ‘the jack of all trades.’”

maui ............master..

ost can agree that crayons were your best friend when you were a child, and this was no different for Philip Sabado. “At the age of seven, that is when I started doing art. My mom would buy me crayons and paper, and I would just start drawing, and that was the beginning, crayon,” he said. Born and raised on Moloka’i, Sabado graduated from Moloka’i High School. Following that, he did what everyone did at that time, enlisted in the army; however, that was not where his true passion lay. “The beauty is, more importantly, getting educated,” Sabado said, and so he did just that—got educated. After his time in the army, he returned to Honolulu and studied at the Honolulu Academy of Arts, where he began his long journey of art education. He studied in Hawai’i for three-and-a-half years and worked in the advertising field for five. During that time, he also interned at the Bishop Museum learning about historical archives from his mentor, Herb Kane; however, he felt that Hawai i could only provide so much. “I needed more experience, so I…went up to California,” he said. While there, Sabado studied at several institutions, including the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Long Beach State University, Otis Art Institute

of Parsons School of Design, and he was even able to study abroad in Paris, France, at Columbia Global Centers University. After more than a decade studying fine art, Sabado returned to the advertising field, where he stayed for 26

a senior art director, his involvement in the Art Directors Club of L.A. and his position in the Society of Illustrators, he returned to his cultural roots and fine arts in Maui. Sabado recognized his duty to give back to his

“It’s like the water flowing from top of the ahupuaʻa all the way down. It’s like I am part of that water, I am a part of that flow of the culture. You can’t get away from it.” -Philip Sabado years as an art director for the Bristol Meyers Corporation until he made his return to Hawai’i and to Maui in particular. “I’d learned a lot, not only in education, but in experience, and it was time to come back and teach, to

community and felt obliged to give back to his culture as well. “I think the most important thing is coming from Moloka’i,” Sabado said. “When you’re brought up in a culture that has a lot of beauty in it, it’s like, ‘How

First placing his colors on the canvas, Sabado then goes in to find what he is going to paint. give back,” he said. At one point, Sabado was considered one of the top 50 illustrators in the world. After leaving his career as

do you want to preserve it?’ and for me, it was art,” he said. Since 1986, he has been focusing on the Hawaiian

culture with oil paint and watercolor. Like many artists, Sabado had difficulty starting up a business based solely on fine art, but he remained dedicated, passionate and persistent. “When we moved back from the mainland, I went into fine art for six years. I had two shows a year but never sold one penny, but because I enjoy just doing it, I wasn’t thinking about the salary. I was thinking about what I want to do, and this is what I am presenting,” he said. Sabado attempted to sell his paintings to Lahaina galleries but nobody wanted to buy them. Gallery buyers said that the Hawaiians he painted were “ugly,” and they wanted Sabado to “make the Hawaiians more pretty.” To this, Sabado said, “They weren’t ready.” Sabado relied on his background in advertising to get through these years financially. “I could survive on graphics, brochures and ads,” he said, and when it came to his paintings, Sabado disregarded his critics’ comments and stood behind his work. His career picked up landing him jobs creating more than just paintings on canvas. He was selected to paint murals for hotel companies, such as Hyatt, Ritz-Carlton, Westin and Hilton Hawaiian Village. Much of his artwork can also found around the community especially his Pōmaika’i mural at Pōmaika’i (PHILIP SABADO on page 10)

(PHILIP SABADO from page 9) School which is created out of mosaic tile and portrays the daily lifestyles of the Hawaiians of old. “A lot of the murals I do are in oil, commission work, and some of them are watercolor with different mediums like glass tiles, stone mosaic,” he said. As time passed, people began to fall in love with the purity of the Hawaiian culture that Sabado was presenting in his paintings. He doesn’t only create his art for the Hawaiian culture, he really paints for the community. “It’s really about the strength, the quality, and the integrity of the Hawaiian culture. That’s what I try to portray,” he said. When kūpuna enter Sabado’s studio, Sabado says that he cannot disturb them. They look at his pieces for a long period of time and then they begin to cry. “It’s an indescribable feeling,” Sabado said. When this occurs, and he says it always does, he knows that they feel the mana’o in his paintings and that they personally feel the stories portrayed by them. When creating, Sabado follows a basic process. First, he sketches in pencil, then colors with watercolor, and last, he finishes with oil paint, which is his “serious medium.” Another process Sabado uses is more intuitive. “I put a wash down, and I just start looking, and images start coming. They appear in that version there, and it is my kūleana to bring them out,” he said.

Philip Sabado Studios in Wailuku is open to the public. It offers artworks to view and purchase, as well as art classes for children and adults. In addition to traditional art on canvas or paper, custom rugs, mugs, and other housewares are also available. Sometimes, his artworks spring from just the colors in the wash. In his paintings Sabado encompasses Hawaiian mo’olelo, or stories, that have been told to him by his kumu or kahu. “A lot of times, I don’t know what I am painting, but at a certain point in your art career you have to learn how to trust in your artwork because it is [stories] who want to come out. All I am is just the painter who is performing,” he said. Sabado recognizes that when it comes to art, “You need more than great talent, you need mentors.” Sabado was always told to attach himself to a star. “Once you do that, that means you’re only learning from the best, so that’s what I did. I tried to learn as much as I can from the best, and whatever they had to offer it kind of rubs off,” he said. Sabado’s mentors, includ-

ing Kumu Keli’i Tau’a, didn’t only teach him mo’olelo, but they also taught him morals as an artist. “You think you’re good but there’s so many better ones before us and even after us, so we’re just carrying the torch. That’s all we’re doing. You’re just carrying that torch into the next generation,” he said. Through all of his education and mentors, of both art and Hawaiian culture, the most important lesson Sabado has learned is that he must pass down his knowledge to future generations. “In my studio, I teach both adult classes and children’s classes; that is my giving back—the education parts—and this is why I like tutoring and mentoring students,” he said. Additionally, Sabado takes in high school summer interns almost yearly and holds classes for local artists to learn about things

Using watercolor as his “fun medium,” Sabado paints with it first before using his main medium, oil, to finish the story contained within the painting. like conceptual art. As of now Sabado is “doing what [he] really want[s] to do.” “For the last 15 years…all I’ve been doing [is] commission art, for other people,” he said. “What I really want to do next is go back and create what I really want to create—that is the heart of the artist.” After all, as Sabado puts it, “What is the most enjoyable thing in life other than doing something you love?”

maui ......... ...... made

Morgan West

Grade: 11 How long? I have been drawing since I was a baby, but I never took it seriously until my 8th grade going into freshman year. Favorite medium? I really like pen and ink but I am starting to mix pen and ink with watercolors and using the watercolors almost as a background for whatever I am drawing in pen and ink. Explain your art style: Personally attached and cultural. I have not added much culture to my pieces because I feel that I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand enough of our culture to make an accurate drawing depicting the correct image of whatever culture I am focusing on. All of my pieces are very personal and have an attachment to me on the inside. If you could create a piece of artwork right now, describe it: Very happy, bright, and lively because I see this point in my life as the happiest, despite what I have going on in my personal life. I think it all started with Hawaiian Ensemble and going on the trip to our cousins in Aotearoa and coming back to realize that Hawaiians need work and that there is so much to be done, but it makes me happy to realize that I am living in a generation of Hawaiians who want to pursue something that will [involve] a cause bigger than themselves

Talia Leauanae

Grade: 12 How long? Pretty much my whole life. Why? It takes me to a different place and I completely just lose track of time when I’m doing it. I love the way it makes me feel, too, which is calm and soothed and relaxed. Favorite medium? It would have to be between painting or drawing. I feel that I am stronger when I use colored pencils and charcoal, but I also enjoy painting a lot. Explain your art style: I think that I am an artist who loves colors. I love putting colors in everything I do. I would kind of consider that my style, but theme-wise, I don’t really have a certain theme that I stick to most of the time. Strongest and weakest skill? I think my strongest skill is being a perfectionist. I’m not sure if that’s a skill. If not, I think my strongest skill is blending. My weakness is coming up with original deep pieces on my own. Coming up with concepts. Art: hobby or career? Possible career. How do you fix a mistake on your artwork? I would either go over it again, or erase. Sometimes I use my mistake to make my piece better.

Photo used courtesy of Talia Leauanae

Quincy Warrington

17 Grade: 12 How long? I have been doing art since I can remember. Why? I enjoy doing art because it allows me to relieve stress and express myself in many different ways. Favorite medium? My favorite medium would have to be pen and ink because I like the outcomes of the different lines and textures. Explain your art style: My art style is strong, somewhat cartoony, but bold. How do you fix a mistake? To fix a mistake I just simply make the lines thicker or I just start the whole piece all over. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your biggest inspiration? My biggest inspiration is my sister because she pushes me to try my hardest when putting effort into my work. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your strongest and weakest skill? I believe my strongest skill is drawing; however, my weakest skill is planning and coming up with ideas behind it because there is a lot to think about when planning a finished piece. Describe a favorite piece of your own and why itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your favorite: As of now I do not have a favorite piece because I am waiting for the one that I am most proud of. Art: hobby or career? Absolutely both!

Natalie Warrington

Photo used courtesy of Natalie Warrington

Grade: 12 How long? Ever since I was young, I liked to doodle and draw on my own. Then I took Art Studio [in my] freshman year and figured I would continue taking art classes in high school. Why? It’s kind of addicting. Once I get started on a piece I don’t want to stop until it’s exactly how I imagined it in my head. Favorite medium? My favorite type of medium is pen and ink, more specifically Sharpie. I love detail work and making everything intricate and precise. Explain your art style: I would explain it as clean lines and with crosshatching and stippling. How do you fix a mistake? I try to fix a mistake on my artwork by working with it and making it useful or by using it as an advantage rather than erasing it completely. What’s your biggest inspiration? My biggest inspiration my mom. Every piece I have created, I always end up showing it to my mom. I love seeing her reaction, and I know she cares and believes in me when it comes to art. Art: hobby or career? For me personally, it is just a hobby. I don’t think I will ever be good enough to turn it into a career, so for now, creating art on the side is just for me. Describe your favorite piece: My favorite piece is big, colorful, full of details, and it is of a person. It’s my favorite because it’s the piece that portrays my mind and what I believe in.

Pablo Gonzales

Grade: 12 How long? Ever since, perhaps, third grade. Why? I enjoy doing art because, over the years, I have learned to pay close attention to detail when drawing a subject. So it really helps me deal with stress and anger by taking my mind off whatever bothers me, and [allowing me to] focus on drawing as realistically as I can. Favorite medium? Coloring pencils. I like how mixing the colors can change the depth, sharpness, and value. Explain your art style: I have a pretty linear perspective of trying to draw something accurate to the reference photo(s), mostly when it comes to proportion and spacing. I always try to relate each shape to anotherâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;how far apart they are from each other, whether or not they intersect and their different sizes. Describe your piece The Young Silversword: During the time I created it, I was experimenting with different shades, along with tints of color. Thanks to my art teacher. She helped me discover techniques of creating depth, highlights and shadows that I never really knew until I started drawing on the black foam board.

Photo used courtesy of Pablo Gonzales

Chelline Kamaka-keliiliki

Grade: 12 How long? Since the second grade. Why? I enjoy doing art because it allows me to express myself in ways that I feel I would not be able to through any other form of communication. I am allowed to truly share my opinion through my own style and piece. Favorite medium? My favorite type of media is charcoal and graphite. I like the large-scale changes that charcoal allows you to make, in terms of detail; however, it is a bit messy, making it difficult to draw small details. I like using graphite because you can work fast, all the while accenting results within whatever time you have available. Explain your art style: I would explain my artistic style as being cool, as in color. I use a lot of cooler colors rather than warm. I would like to experiment with more warmer colors. Most of my pieces are of the ocean or containing elements related. How do you fix a mistake? I try to fix a mistake on my artwork by working with it and making it useful of by using it to an advantage rather than erasing it completely. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your biggest inspiration? My biggest inspiration would have to be my current mood, currents events and the ocean. I like aerial views of the ocean.

Photo used courtesy of Angie Abe

Finding your style: 4 1 Favorite medium? A. Pen and Ink

Which picture do you like best? B.

B. Watercolor

C. Pencil/graphite

D. Pastels

What best describes you?

Art by Casey Neizman

Art by Kamele Ah You

A. Precise B. Free/ whimsical C. Realistic

Art by Lilia Lorenzo

D. Strange

Which do you like best? A. Thinking outside the box B. Asking “why” questions

A. A lion’s roar B. A bridge over a river C. A person’s profile

D. Trying new things

D. A distilled hourglass

you’re more likely going to enjoy creating abstract art. Abstract artists heavily focus on sharp lines, shapes, forms, colors, and textures. Their art is not realistic and conveys meaning in unusual ways. For instance, Jackson Pollock creates his artwork by splattering and splashing art across his canvases.

Which would you rather draw?

C. Doing things step by step

RESULTS: If you mostly chose...

Art by Brissa Christopherson

Photos used courtesy of Angie Abe

you’re likely to enjoy creating impressionistic art. Artists with this style use an array of colors to produce gorgeous landscapes. This style uses visible brush strokes and open composition. Some qualities of impression are the depiction of light, time and movement. Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir are famous artists who paint in this style.

you’re more likely going to enjoy creating realistic art. In this genre, artists make their products as realistic as possible using many artistic techniques, including shading and contrast. The subjects are truthful and stay away from exotic, fantastic or supernatural elements.

you’re more likely going to enjoy creating surrealistic art. Surrealistic artists are always bending reality. Their art is imaginative, and often contains dream elements or visions. Their subjects don’t follow rational rules, such as the melting clocks in Salvador Dali’s painting, The Persistence of Memory.

Art Parties!

one night, one painting, many memories.

Island Art Party

Paint and Sip

Maui Paint Parties

Although “artistic” is not one of the adjectives they would use to describe themselves, instructors Curt and Alma Winn provide stepby-step instructions for creating paintings that people with little to no artistic skill can easily accomplish! Rates: Prices vary from $39-$59. Kama’āina rates $25-$39. When: Almost daily: Times vary. Contact: (808) 419-6020 Location: Azeka Mauka Shopping Center Kīhei, Maui.

Instructor Will Leauanae brings a feeling cultural connection to the canvas. Locally born and raised, Leauanae teaches participants how to paint based on scenic areas around his home, the island of Maui. Rates: $25 Per person. When: Can be scheduled 7-9 p.m. Contact: (808) 243-9351 Location: Wailuku Watercress Sports Bar and Grill.

Acclaimed international artist Anita Marci brings two years of teaching experience to the art party experience teaching participants simple instructions for creating pieces inspired by her own original art. Rates: $62.50 per person. When: Mondays and Wednesdays: 3-5:30 p.m. Contact: (808) 665-5818 Location: Anita Marci Studios—Pi Artisan Pizzeria at 900 Front Street Lahaina, Maui.

Wilton Leauanae

Art Party attendees have fun and bond over artwork.

Ready to get your paint on? Island Art Party in Kihei provides entertainment for you and your friends or a group of strangers who are brought together through painting. The company was founded by Curt and Alma Winn, who escaped the world of real estate to come to Maui. Once the Winns attended an art party in Denver, they were hooked, and the couple decided to bring the fun business of art parties to Maui. They divested themselves of their general contracting, construction, and real estate interest and opened shop in the Mauka Azeka Shopping center.

Island Art Party hosts nights filled with painting events. The purpose of each event is to complete a painting. The staff leads everyone through the process step-by-step so that anyone can create a masterpiece. The paintings vary from class to class, from a picture of jellyfish to a field of sunflowers or a proud peacock, there is something for everyone. “We designed our studio to be a bright and relaxed space that inspires creative and social energy,” Alma said. Many people fear they don’t have the skill to create a painting; however, there is actually no skill required! “You will be surprised at

how good you really are!” Alma said. Those who normally draw stick figures will find themselves painting beautiful koi fish by the end of the night. Whether it be a night with family and friends or a special event, Island Art Party brings to the table a new experience and a chance to dip into the world of art. For evening events, where wine is available to those 21 and over, teenagers 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult, but Island Art Party also has family events during the day, and young people can also book their own parties where alcohol isn’t served.

Photos used courtesy of Wilton Leauanae

Alma says to bring “a friend, maybe 2, maybe 20,” and enjoy a night filled with acrylic paint falling on your apron and giggles filling the air. As their motto says, spend your night as a “partista,” and get in on the party as an artist. Ready to give it a try? Check their events calendar at islandartparty.com for current parties. There is one almost every day, and you can sign up right on the calendar. The average price for a seat is $59, but there is a discount for Kama’āina. Alma says, “We can’t promise that you’ll create fine art, but we’re certain you’ll create FUN art.”

Toby Plunkett