ISLAND OBSERVATIONS

A towering waterfall cascading down verdant cliffs. Swaying palms waving in a gentle breeze. Colorful clouds swirling against a dramatic sky. The quiet strength of a woman walking out into the sea, pareo enveloping her as she strides forward. These are just some of the moments captured by Maui painter Kim McDonald, known for her vibrant colors, postimpressionist style, and the ability to evoke stirring emotions through her tropical scenes. Whether you’re an island resident or frequent visitor, Kim’s abilities to capture not only the scenery but also the mood of our beautiful home can make any viewer stop in awe at her skill. I sat down recently to talk to Kim about her work, her future goals, as well as what makes her art so special.

Kim has always been an artist. Like many children, Kim began painting from an early age, but what makes her story unique is that her talent was not only noticed but nurtured. Kim credits her mother with supporting her artistic abilities, and her painting style is evident in a mural she painted early on of a ski scene in a developing post-impressionist style. This style has stuck with her, and she credits some of her influences to Matisse, Van Gogh and Gauguin, the latter of whose work is instantly recognizable, especially in relation to the choice of tropical scenery. Kim’s work stands out against Gauguin’s through the lens in which she views not only the scenery, but also the people within the scenes. Gauguin has been critiqued as being a voyeur and exploiter of the young Tahitian women he painted. However, Kim’s approach instead views her Polynesian subjects through a lens of admiration, placing the women of her paintings in positions of power. “I celebrate the Polynesian woman by highlighting her strength and sensuality,” she shares. It’s a subtle difference, but one that is recognizable to a lot of Kim’s collectors, whom she shares are often women going through changes in their lives, and see something of themselves in these paintings. “I’d like to portray them as the strong, intelligent women they are.”

These masters’ post-impressionism style is not Kim’s only inspiration. She also uses their work for inspiration for her color choices. “They use colors in a courageous way, that amplify a place or subject matter,” she shares. “I look upon those masters a lot when I’m referring to a new series as far as color palette. But I go through new color palettes like I’m craving food and then I use mango orange, or teal.

And then I move on to periwinkle or cobalt blue. I go through series. I’m hungry for it, insatiable, and when I get my fill, after six or seven paintings, then I move on to another color or subject matter.” In terms of the paints she uses, she sources the material from the best in the world, mined from the same locations as Monet and Gauguin, giving her access to “luscious, rich colors.” With just a quick glance at her work, it’s undeniable how instantly striking the usage of color is throughout.

While the images Kim paints can represent real locations, her intentions are not to fully capture the scene in a literal way. “It’s not photo realism,” she continues, “and it’s not about the perfection being exact because that’s not as important.” This ability to represent a location without the barriers of realism allows Kim to capture the feeling of a place, evoking the warm feelings a pleasant memory of a favorite destination might elicit. “I like to think I’m painting the energy of a place, using brush stroke and color,” she says. With art, “you can accentuate the feeling you have through brush stroke, color, or composition and capture something that a camera just can’t capture.” One of Kim’s favorite locations on Maui is Mama’s Fish House, and a popular painting of hers is “Moonrise Over Mama’s,” a lovely scene of the moon casting deep shadows of the palms along the shoreline shared by an outrigger canoe and tiki torches. Her moonrise paintings, she says, are popular in general, as clients seem to be drawn to the spiritual power of this celestial body. “There’s so much moisture in the sky in Hawai’i, that the stars are dancing, and the sky is velvet … I love the night sky, and that comes through in my artwork. And almost everyone that collects my work buys a moon piece.” There’s something constantly pulling you in as a viewer, whisking you away to these evocative and exotic scenes, reminding you of your favorite night along a beach here on the island’s shores.

Still, Kim’s work doesn’t just encompass canvas and landscape paintings. Kim also paints surfboards in a fine art style, which allows all collectors, even those who do not surf, to experience the joy of a board in their home. In fact, a few of her boards have been sold through charity auctions, where she has partnered with celebrities such as local professional big wave surfer and waterman Kai Lenny, as well as actor Owen Wilson. Through these partnerships, Kim works with the Surfrider Foundation, an organization dedicated to protecting the world’s waters and beaches. Each board features Kim’s unique blend of movement and color, fantasy and enchantment that is synonymous with her other pieces of work. Each board is hand shaped by local board creator David Gott, and unlike other surfboard artwork which usually starts with a completed board, Kim draws her designs and paints on the foam part of the board, which is then finished off with a top gloss, completing the piece of art. Beyond surfboards, Kim has also created some abstract pieces of art, which are based off of the Hawaiian quilt patterns. When asked if there’s anything she hasn’t tried out but would like to, Kim mentions she hopes to someday to try out sculpture, which was something she studied in college. She’ll also be working on a children’s book, coming out soon. For fans of her work, Kim provides multiple avenues for collection and appreciation.

But where can you find her work? Kim’s studio is located within Pā‘ia town, the funky artist community along Maui’s North Shore. There, Kim and her staff, including her “amazing” assistant Angelynn Bair, help provide intimate private tours of her studio. “It’s a very unique experience,” Kim shares, as visitors can see an abundance of her work, including many originals as well as limited edition giclées

Kim especially loves sharing her art with the community. In December 2021 and 2022, she held a 30-day pop up event at her shop called the Kim McDonald Gallery Pop Up. “It’s such an amazing way to spend Christmas, meeting everyone and being around my friends who were dropping by all day long. Everyone had such a good time, and we got to meet new clients as well as old collectors who came in. It was a wonderful experience.”

For those who wish to buy a piece of Kim’s art and are unable to stop by, shoppers can purchase pieces directly from her refreshed website, which provides beautifully designed spaces featuring her work for potential clients to get an idea of what a piece might look like in a home. The website is also a great place to keep up to date on what Kim is up to, from her newest paintings to special events. As for the future? Kim is looking to “go deeper” into her work, to truly master that which she’s already exceptional at. “I will always try new ways to express myself through my art,” she says, “I just want to be a better version of myself and continue to express my passion for the Polynesian culture in a deeper fashion.” Whether it’s only a quick study of Kim’s enchanting work, or a longer appreciation, her unique and beautiful examination of the islands allows us a window into that self-expression, and our own world is made that much more beautiful because of it.

The Kim McDonald Art Gallery is located at 71 Baldwin Ave., Suite B-7 in Pā‘ia. Private tours and showings are by appointment only. Those who are interested in visiting can call 808-757-8211 or email kim@kimmcdonald.com. To view her artwork, or keep up to date on events such as the Kim McDonald Gallery Pop Ups, visit kimmcdonald.com or find her on Instagram @kimmcdonaldart.

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