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My beach commission is done and on it’s way to a very happy new owner in Santa Fe, New Mexico! This is Lanikai Beach in Hawaii, where I grew up, and this place holds many fine memories through college and beyond. I posted earlier about finding the perfect color but there’s even more to that story.
The palette in this scene is so vibrant in real life that I turned to a special paint from Enkaustikos in order to capture it. Their interference pigments were new to me, but they were exactly what I needed to get the sand and water just right. Because they are transparent these pigments are influenced by the color of the surface below. Colors mixed with interference medium will change (“flip”) when viewed from different angles. Over a white or light background like the sand, the color is subtle and the “flip” more obvious. Over a black or darker background like the water, the color is more obvious and the “flip” less noticeable.
Using these paints gave me the shimmer I wanted to really make these areas stand out. It’s really tough to photograph the results, so I hope you’ll get to experience it in person sometime.
I thoroughly enjoyed every step of creating this commission! This is one of those paintings I will think of often. I already miss it, so I may just have to make another one for myself.
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Linda Robertson is a painter and the author of the Embracing Encaustic book series. She offers live encaustic workshops in her Portland, Oregon studio as well as online encaustic classes.
This video was made during a visit of the Dalai Lama to Hawaii and is a wonderful introduction to the idea of Living Aloha that was instilled in me growing up in the islands. For those of you who ask how my life there has influenced me and my art, this is a big part of it. Enjoy!
My husband Bill and I recently got away for several days to my hometown of Kailua, Hawai’i. Until we arrived I didn’t realize just how much I needed the break. The unrelenting cold and gray of the Northwest takes it’s toll on me and coming from a sunny, warm climate most of my life it’s been quite an adjustment. We’ve been here 12 years now and I’m starting to wonder where we will retire. I love Portland, but IT WON’T BE HERE. I’d love it to be in Hawaii but that’s not practical just yet.
In the meantime, I use the islands to rejuvenate my body and spirit, and to feed my creative soul. Much of what I soak up here finds it’s way into my paintings, through color, texture or subject matter. We were very lucky with the weather and were able to get in lots of beach time and visit with family and friends. One of the most exciting things I get to do on these vacations is — nothing. I actually had time to sit and enjoy watching waves, clouds, shadows, foliage and yes, even a little rain — warm rain — and it reminded me that I can do these things at home too. And now I will.
Lanikai Beach on O'ahu is always my first, and last stop.
Views like this one from Makapuu light house inspire the colors in my paintings.
The blues in the channel around Rabbit island are even more brilliant in person.
I take many photos to help inspire color, light, layering and texture in my paintings.
This painting was directly influenced by my trip to Hawaii. Can you see it? It's called Long For A Moment, 18 x 24", encaustic and mixed mediums
