Our Featured Artists

Hyatt Regency, Ka'anapali, June
Deborah Painchaud

THE FIBER ART OF DEBORAH PAINCHAUD
EVERY SATURDAY IN JUNE FROM 3 TO 8 PM

A very talented spinner, weaver and designer, Deborah Painchaud, will be demonstrating her process at Maui Hands, Hyatt Regency every Saturday in June from 3-8 pm. Deb's love of beauty and affection for color and texture is reflected in the details of each piece which she calls "a contemporary heirloom" Deb says she is looking forward to this opportunity and plans to bring an array of fun things to share with the public.

Deborah resides in Upcountry Maui. It is a long way from where she began her creative search designing in the 70's for exclusive boutiques in the Portland, Oregon area, while attended art school in the evening. By 1980 she had her own company designing swimwear and swimwear fabric on Oahu. In the 1990's she learned to dye, spin and weave yarns for her personal pleasure and went on to teach others. Today her love of color and design has combined with her unique skills. She creates opulent purses and scarves which can be purchased at the Maui Hands gallery located in the Hyatt Regency in Kaanapali, on the North Shore in Paia, or at her web site. Deborah also shares her passion for the process teaching fiber art classes and you can call her at 573-0352 to sign up. Her exquisite work can be viewed at www.depaart.com.

Paia, May 9th to June 9th
Stephen Burr and Kathleen O'Bryan

Two of Maui's premier pastel painters, Stephen Burr and Kathleeen O'Bryan

STEPHEN BURR explores Maui capturing, in pastel, sunsets, sunrises, light-filled street scenes and other of his favorite subjects.    Stephen learned pastel and oil painting from the famous American impressionist Vandeering Perrine.  For several years, Perrine taught him how to see light - how it plays on objects and how form is modeled by the highlights. Stephen speaks warmly of his teacher, of his unpretentious good humor and observations on life. "Mr. Perrine gave me a real reverence for nature and made me understand how we are a part of the whole of existence.  I was so lucky to have him as my mentor," says Stephen.

After graduating from Bard College in 1955, Stephen taught art at progressive boarding schools in Massachusetts and Vermont.  An avid sailor, he sailed his 36' trimaran and painted for four years along the east coast of the United States, the Florida Keys and the Bahamas. He has traveled to and painted in Italy, Spain, Turkey, Greece, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Costa Rica, Australia, New Zealand, Portugal and the Virgin Islands.

As well as being a talented pastel painter and intellectual, Stephen created an extensive line of jewelry and maintained his own art gallery in Kennebunkport, Maine for 12 years. His other achievements include large public commissions in bronze and steel, Second Prize at the annual New York Academy of Design show, Art Maui numerous times, a Hawaii State Foundation acquisition, winner of the Lahaina Poster Contest and many one-man art shows

KATHLEEN O'BRYAN never considered being an artist until, at the age of 23 she took her first art class. She had thought music would be her future. From that time, it took receiving a degree in Fine Art at Montana State University, 7 years working in Hawaii, and more recent time in New Mexico to reach this love of the pastel medium. In Maui, developing technical skills within a supportive artists' environ-ment, Kathleen began believing in herself as an artist, and knew she could and would be devoting the rest of her life to her artwork.

She says "I developed my unique style; learning that I was a colorist ... meaning that, for me, the excitement of the physics of color and the exploration and experimentation of color are what drive me to begin each piece. Without formal instruction in pastel (I was an acrylic and watercolor artist) I have used my instincts and experience to develop a technique which is unusual in this traditional medium.  This year, I am also able to make my own pastels and create even more possibilities of hue and saturation. The landscape is infinite in form; the sky infinite in light; the clouds infinite and electrifying - the possibilities of color and form need never reach an end. Each idea begins simply and grows to true excitement as I put that first pure mark of color on each piece of black paper.

Hyatt Regency, Ka'anapali, May
Joel Heinz, Janet Stewart and Kathleen O'Bryan

Joel Heinz will be teaching the ancient art of painting on Tapa, every Wednesday in May from 3 - 9pm. (7th, 14th, 21st and 28th)

My wife and I found ourselves returning several times a year and vowed that we would retire here - which we did in 2006. It took twenty years, but it was well worth the wait. All of my art training has come from associating with other artists and the joy of experimenting and discovery. My favorite subject was tropical marine and when I painted the sea and all the delightful things therein, it brought me peace. I also dabbled in Egyptian art to develop my technique for detailed art as I like my artwork to be clearly seen whether viewed right up close or from across the room.In recent years, I have gained a greater appreciation for Hawaiian culture, both past and present. I was particularly intrigued by ancient designs on kapa (also known as tapa) cloth and by ancient petroglyph rock carvings. For this reason I began to combine these two cultural icons into my paintings. I began sculpting some of my favorite Hawaiian petroglyphs in koa wood, and have been blessed with a source for Tongan Tapa Cloth which I now almost exclusively paint on.

Janet Stewart will be painting portraits on site, every Thursday in May from 4 - 9pm. (1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd and 29th)

Janet paints people in her own style. That style has been called "enhanced realism". Her style is not surreal or super-real, but "realism as translated by my vision." The accuracy of her draftsmanship, coupled with her attention to detail, create a vision exclusive to her art. "It has been said that the best work an artist does is that done for the sake of doing it. Any other motive can affect the outcome, being a distraction to the creative vision of the artist. I never have had the desire to make an angry statement with my art. There is enough unhappiness in the world. I want my paintings to show happiness and love."

Kathleen O'Bryan will be demonstrating her wonderful and unique style of pastel painting every Friday in May from 11am - 3pm and 5 - 8pm. (2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd and 30th)

"I never considered being an artist until, at the age of 23; I took my first art class. I had thought music would be my choice. From that time, it took receiving a degree in Fine Art at Montana State University, 7 years working in Hawaii, and more recent time in New Mexico to reach this love of the pastel medium. In Maui, developing technical skills within a supportive artists’ environment, I began believing in myself as an artist, and knew I could and would be devoting the rest of my life to my artwork. I developed my unique style; learning that I was a colorist ... meaning that, for me, the excitement of the physics of color and the exploration and experimentation of color are what drive me to begin each piece. Without formal instruction in pastel (I was an acrylic and watercolor artist) I have used my instincts and experience to develop a technique which is unusual in this traditional medium. This year, I am also able to make my own pastels and create even more possibilities of hue and saturation. The landscape is infinite in form; the sky infinite in light; the clouds infinite and electrifying - the possibilities of color and form need never reach an end. Each idea begins simply and grows to true excitement as I put that first pure mark of color on each piece of black paper."

Front Street, Lahaina, May
Pierre Chasle

Fridays in May from 4 - 7:30 pm

Pierre Chasle has lived in Lahaina for over 20 years.  His interest in photography and the ocean started at a young age.  After traveling around the world for 8 years, Pierre settled on Maui, Spending most of his time on the water.  “Ocean creatures like stingrays and whales are fascinating for their beauty, grace and friendliness.  Photography can freeze the moment when the eyes are too slow to capture it.  This show of affection between stingrays and the model will demystify the perception that stingrays are dangerous.

Pierre’s photographs have been published worldwide and have been chosen as a winning selection, for the 3rd year in a row, in Photo Magazine International.

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Whatever an artist new to Maui had been doing before, the feel of their work tends to shift to representing that carefree and friendly spirit of Aloha that is Maui. Artists born and raised here show their expansive love of the islands through their work. Artist's who have moved here from all corners of the world have incorporated the education and talent from their culture into a Hawaiian expression with ease. The gallery's atmosphere is set by the abundant range of creative work. Currently there are close to 10,000 original pieces on display in the Maui Hands galleries as well as a large selection of reproductions.

The artist are growing in numbers and talent. We are growing to keep up with them.