Every once in a while, I take a break from the usual themes and try something like this. For different reasons… one is that I like the subject. For many years, tropical settings have always been a favourite vacation destination. But also because, as most of my work is from imagination, painting directly from one of my photos offers the challenge of more abstractly depicting specific shapes, colours and values, while hoping for a realistic result.

I would love to tell how this image is a memory from an arduous hike through some hidden, exotic jungle valley…Nope.

This reference featuring the Heliconia plant was actually found after breakfast while walking from Denny’s along Kapahulu Avenue toward Waikiki Beach, across the street from the zoo.

Beauty is where you find it. Aloha!