The Curtis Wilson Cost Gallery

All artwork
Keokea Picnic, Unstretched Canvas

The story of Keokea Picnic

The first place my wife and I lived on Maui was the upcountry hillsides of Keokea. Many afternoons we would pack a picnic lunch and gaze out on the beautiful landscapes. We found a little cottage on the hill and have now been here 40 years. Keokea is where I began my art career. 2013 was a significant milestone for me. It was both our 40th wedding anniversary and 40 years of painting Maui. I feel blessed to have been able to live and paint the beauty of this island.

For those of us who live in Kula, our mountain faces to the west. The majority of the homes face west until you get around the north or south sides of Haleakala. There are a few exceptions. If you live above Keokea Park on the rolling pastures of Polipoli road, there are equally compelling views to the south southwest. The hills glide down through the warm afternoon air backlighting the trees and fence lines. Out on the horizon, Kahoolawe calms the water around Molokini from the open ocean. It calms the residents as well who occasionally take notice. This painting captures that mark on the compass.

Pencil drawing of Keokea Picnic laid out on the blank canvas
An early stage of Keokea Picnic, with only the shed and a little pasture painted
An early stage of Keokea Picnic, with the jacaranda trees blocked in
An early stage of Keokea Picnic, with the trees and pasture taking shape
An early stage of Keokea Picnic, with a second stand of trees added
Keokea Picnic with its first layer of paint: jacarandas, the pasture and a distant shed
The painting in progress, July to August 2013.
Watercolor study of jacaranda in bloom on green Upcountry pasture, the ocean beyond
Watercolor study for the painting.

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