TRANQUILITY

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I dream of a place like Paradise. I grew up there- but I still dream of a place like this. I haven’t been home to my hometown of Lahaina, Maui in over a decade. I can still remember the luxury of being lulled to sleep by the clapping of the palm fronds in the tradewinds; the trees applauding me for turning in for the night and letting the earth reset itself in a tropical atmosphere. Those memories inspire my watercolor paintings every day. I love color and grew up surrounded by the vibrant greens of the West Maui mountains, the saturated colors of the red ginger and pink plumeria, and the gentle kindness of the people.

Though, home as I once knew it doesn’t even exist anymore. That is why I paint; to capture a moment forever, and to share a glimpse into aloha with all.

Growing up in Hawai’i, my biggest decision during my elementary school years was whether I should walk the beach way to school or the street way (beach way always won out even though it took longer). To be fair, I seldom attended school, preferring instead to stay home so I could hang out with my kitties, and seashells and sand at my backyard. The joke in my family was that I didn’t attend school but I was registered there.

Now as an adult I can see that school was just too regimented and overstimulating for me and I preferred the cruise-y environment of being at home in my thoughts. At the age of 6, I found my refuge in writing and illustrating stories about blades of grass and flower gardens. Being creative was encouraged in my home because my father was a songwriter, and my mom is a photographer and printmaker. 

The last time I was home to Maui I saw how much it had changed due to commerce and congestion and tourism. The natural resources strained under the weight of unimpeded growth and less-than-careful but hopefully well-intentioned visitors. I am not gatekeeping Hawai’i, it is for all of us, I am just hoping to inspire more of a reverence for the unique beauty of the islands and the people who live there.

This series of watercolors is my way of stopping time and imaging a new piece of biodiversity. This watercolor “Tranquility” imagines a swirling, swimming sea turtle (I love an alliteration) and a sunset toned shoreline framed by Phalaenopsis (moth) orchids. Surprisingly, moth orchids aren’t endemic to Hawai’i. There are only 3 species of orchids considered native to Hawai’i, but it is hard to imagine Hawai’i without seeing these moth orchids too.

With this new watercolor I hope to transport you to the calm of the Pacific Ocean with a healing of the Hawaiian green sea turtle, native to Hawai’i and known as Honu. The Hawaiian green sea turtle is a critically endangered species, sadly only due to human interference in one way or the other. Just one area we can look at are the agricultural pesticides put in our soil that create runoff to the sea.  Now it is our turn to protect these animals. 

These sea turtles are graceful, magnificent creatures flying through the ocean, but once on land they move slower and awkwardly.  As an artist, I can relate to being in the flow while I am creating but once on “land” interacting with people I can’t help but feel a bit awkward and out of my element. I am listening to you talking to me but I am scanning what you are wearing; not out of judgement, but simply to analyze color combos or textures for me to try in my paintings. 

I am forever in my head imagining new flowers to paint and seeking things to inspire me. I crave connection but thrive in my introverted creative time as a watercolorist. It’s a balancing act, in the same way the delicate habitat of the Honu has to be thoughtfully managed and with positive intent. 

Enjoy the ocean, protect what you love, and observe and celebrate these magnificent creatures. 

With love and aloha,
Mika Harmony
www.mikaharmony.com