Mosslike | Gemma Hazen

Category: painting

  • Some progress shots of the recent painting class I took

    Some progress shots of the recent painting class I took

    Hi!! I recently signed up for a month’s access to some acrylic painting tutorials! I hope I can make at least 3 of them before my subscription runs out. Wish me luck! I’ve listed more information about the painting class below.

    The first painting coincided with Mother’s Day, so it’s alrady been gifted 🖤 But I took some progress shots along the way so I could have proof that I actually made it. I’ll share them here.

    Starting the underpainting in 5 different tones. The class called for Copic markers, but I used acrylic paints in Naples Yellow & Burnt Sienna, as well as Acrylic Ink in Sepia.
    Underpaint is complete! I love it already.
    A “ground” wash of Burnt Sienna was added before the colors went on. I took a pretty long break here becuase I was really afraid of ruining all the hard work.
    Beautiful Blues
    Vibrant greens.
    The completed piece!

    This class is offered on JimMusil.com I still have the rest of the month to access even more classes on his site, so I’m hoping to paint a few more to really learn these skills.

    The end goal is to make some paintings of the views I love so much from my hikes!

  • Hawaiian Botanical Illustrations in my sketchbook

    Hawaiian Botanical Illustrations in my sketchbook

    I’m gearing up for an event in early May. I get to draw botanical type things, live, in front of people! Here are some of my warm-up illustrations.

    The first illustration is Kokiʻo ʻulaʻula. It’s an endangered, endemic Hawaiian plant. I had a plant once (that came with a red tag) and it’s flowers were so tiny and delicate. Unfortunately, the aphids tended this plant more than I did and they took it over. I hate when I go through periods of neglect and lose things that I really like.

    I haven’t had much success with hibiscus in my yard. My neighbor on the other hand has beautiful plants, taller than the fence! They are constantly blooming in different shades from orange to pink to red! They are an introduced variety that is grown more popularly here in Hawaii. AND, he’s happy to spray his plants with chemicals. Which I don’t do, so all the bugs just hop on over the fence and enjoy my organic garden. I could go on about the hours I spend blasting aphids of my plants with jet streams of water…

    The second illustration includes non-native Honohono orchids (Dendrobium anosmum). They smell SOOOOO freaking good right now. It seems like lots of people in my neighborhood grow these as well as coconut orchids. I can smell them everywhere as I walk the dog or jog around.

    Also drawn are native Hawaiian Wiliwili flowers in two shades. Not currently blooming, but always fascinating, I love coming across these trees on hikes. They drop all their leaves before blooming, so the flower bunches brightly contrast the dark branches. Like hibiscus they can range in colors. From from green to white to yellow, corals and reds. I hope to catch some late this summer!

    Botanical illustration of Kokiʻo ʻulaʻula.
    Botanical illustration of Wiliwili flowers and Honohono orchids.

    Posting this type of thing gives me major feelings of imposter syndrome. So I’m trying to just leave it up and not care too much. *whistles a tune*

  • Maneki Neko with Orchids | Set of 5 Nesting Dolls

    Maneki Neko with Orchids | Set of 5 Nesting Dolls

    Maneki Neko with Orchids Nesting Dolls

    Maneki Neko with Orchids – Set of 5 Nesting Dolls created for Maneki Neko 2024 @ Fishcake through 15 Dec 2024

    Each neko has a collar with a golden orb attached. The golden orbs represent the Koban, or golden coin, and also a bell. You can see the orchids featured behind each neko like Phalaenopsis, Honohono & Epidendrum.

    The tiniest doll features golden orbs like the ones held on each neko’s neck. Yet here, they float through the clouds above and try to beckon at enlightenment.

    The fabric seen behind the dolls above is also available @ Fishcake in quilt form.

    Enjoy this reveal video my daughter made for me where we ‘unbox’ the Nesting Dolls. Her hands are so much nicer than mine and I love that she can do the editing for me too.

    Subscribe to my email list to be the first to know when I have a new set of Nesting Dolls for sale.

    MANEKI NEKO @ FISHCAKE

    17 October – 14 December 2024

    Cool Cats (Participating Artists)
    More about Maneki Neko

    The Maneki Neko, which translates literally to “the beckoning cat” in Japanese. The lucky cat is a famous figure and symbol in Japan and is commonly an upright bobtail calico figurine displayed at the entrance of stores and businesses. It will bring you good luck. Maneki Neko raising the right paw beckons prosperity, while the left paw beckons people and customers.  Though its origins are in Japan, the maneki neko is widely recognized by multi-ethnic, locally owned mom and pop shops across the Hawaiian islands. Culturally significant and visually iconic, we celebrate the feline’s hard work in bringing us good fortune and new opportunities.