Chapters
by Daniel Stuelpnagel
Chapter Seventeen
untitled # 362 (2006)
collection of John & Virginia Stuelpnagel (Baltimore)This painting is an imaginary bird’s-eye view of the south coast of Maui, from Kipahulu to Lahaina. Also it is an abstraction soundly based on composition, color and concept.
I spent my first month on Maui mostly drawing and painting, and going swimming in the ocean at least once a day, mostly at Kihei and Pa’ia, on the south and north shores of the island, respectively.
I could experience diverse light and weather and surf conditions just by driving across the valley, each time seeing Haleakala looming up to the east and the West Maui Mountains occupying the other side of the valley isle.
After visiting Lahaina and meeting the director at Sargent’s Gallery, I made two return trips to show portfolios to the vice president, Kim Smith, and she was sufficiently enthusiastic about my work to schedule an exhibition for September.
untitled # 364 (2006)After hiking in Iao Valley and visiting Hamoa Beach, I found paintings emerging in vivid detail, through the process of working with lots of greens and applying a large trowel as a palette knife to suggest land forms and foliage, then composing and painting in the sky and water.
untitled # 363 (2006)
collection of Laurie Harris (Ka’anapaali)The remarkable thing about the new paintings was a natural coastline as viewed from the air, or from up in the hills, instead of a distant horizon. I had landed in a way that brought me directly into the rainforest, directly into the water, yet capable of flying aloft and gaining insight into the relationship among sea, land and sky as seen from above.
untitled # 366 (2006)And even more, looking at the curvature of the horizon from high in the hills, seeing fifty miles from the top of Haleakala, I captured glimpses of the sweeping ocean waves and astounding sunsets in broad curves that set the paintings in a new direction.
Based on the foundation of jagged rocks, with their captive molten energy frozen in time by immersion in the encroaching sea, there were layers of fertile soil and red dirt, giving way to lush and wild foliage, reflecting sun and sparkling water up to the vast rainbow sky; the paintings emerged full of rich colors, delicate textures and elegant compositions paying tribute to Maui in a way that made it clear I was seeing it all for the first time. With a series of paintings completed, I delivered the works for the upcoming exhibition for framing in Lahaina, and made plans to return in September to open my first gallery show west of California.
There was so much more to Maui than the beaches, the sunsets or being on the most remote location on Earth. The more I came to meet and know new friends there, I felt immersed and welcomed by the aloha spirit, inspired by the culture of a balanced approach to working life, and deeply encouraged to take the time and energy to connect with the flow of events that was carrying me forward.
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