"Pu'ukoholā Heiau", by Dr. Robert "Bob" Appleman
Watercolor, on stretcher bars in floater frame
Image size: 26.75" wide x 41.75" high
Frame size: 28.5" wide x 43.5" high
Just North of Spencer Beach in Kawaihae you can find the last major temple (heiau) built by early Hawai'ians. Built by Kamehameha when he was a young warrior chief on the advice of his priest (kahuna), Pu’ukoholā Heiau is a tribute to the war god Kukailimoku. The priest’s prophecy said this offering would bring aid from the god in Kamehameha’s efforts to unite the Hawai'ian Islands. Shortly after this massive temple was built Kamehameha did in fact succeed in unifying the Hawai'ian Kingdom. Pu’ukoholā, meaning ‘hill of the whale”, is also a scenic place to whale-watch during the winter months.
Says the artist, "My fondest childhood memories include the times spent drawings and coloring, both in school and at home. World War II had taken our family to Washington, D.C., where I visited its wonderful museums, including my favorite, the National Gallery of Art. After the war, we moved to Chicago, Illinois, where I discover the Art Institute. On weekends, I too still life drawing classes, but studies and sports claimed the major share of my time from high school through college, medical school and residency training. Once the goal of beginning a surgical practice was achieved, I began to visit art galleries during off times and vacations. After 35 years of solo general surgical practice in Sacrament, California, I enrolled in studio art classes starting with drawing and progressing through an assortment of painting, media, print making and clay sculpture. This experience was wonderful and convinced me that I wanted to pursue art as a second career in retirement.
In 2003, my wife, Joy, and I moved to the Big Island of Hawai'i, where we had taken annual relaxing vacations from our first visit in 1972. We enjoyed and have visited all the islands, but Hawai'i, with its size, variety of terrain and climates, was the most appealing as a place for us to settle. We've lived here for more than 10 years and continue to be amazed and inspired by the grandeur of nature surrounding us. Since our move to "The Kohalas", the desire to draw and paint has remained high on my list of interests. Mostly, I have concentrated on becoming a better watercolorist, and after 10 years, am still learning about the magic of color and water coming together on a sheet of paper.
The island of Hawai'i has attracted many artistic people, both as residents and on holiday. While creating art is often a solitary endeavor, many artists enjoy gathering with others to paint at various locales throughout the year. In 2009, several of us decided that it would be nice to have a regular schedule of paint outs in a variety of locations in the Kohalas. Since then, it has been my responsibility to create monthly schedules of weekly painting locales in this area. Over 50 individuals receive the Kohala plein air painters schedule, and we often have painters from other islands, mainland USA and Canada at our gatherings. In December 2012, the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel honored me with a showing of my full sheet of orchid paintings, and I was asked to be an artist in residence. You can find me at the hotel most Wednesdays, when I am on island, and guests may join me in painting or instruction.
Since my first group show in Sacrament, California, in 1977, and in many shows to the present, I feel very lucky that the gift of making art has been part of my life. One well known artist friend told me he has never painted "the perfect picture" even though his work is shown in many of the greatest galleries in the world. It is my desire to advance and grow as a painter with similar fervor, but also with the satisfaction gained from having always tried to do my best."
