Western AlohA print

”Western AlohA is happily making shirts with my design of block printed Fish, Canoes and Paddles.”
Western AlohA

This design was inspired by the 1950s Hawaiian lifestyle and was lots of fun to work on.

Art and Design Direction by Dale Hope

Driftwood log from Surfing California Beach

I use a canvas drop cloth on floor of a tiny art/design studio to catch wood shavings from hand planing an oversized driftwood log.

This log has been used for 4 different ocean themed projects.

Preparing to hand draw a new pencil sketch onto wood.

Surfer in Driftwood from California block print series

coen Driftwood from California series features ocean prints created by hand carving a large driftwood log found on a California beach.

One motif: Surfer on Pacific Ocean wave

From Wikipedia: " In July 1885, 3 Hawaiian princes took a break from their boarding school,St Mathew's Hall in San Mateo, and came to cool off in Santa Cruz, California...David Kawananakoa, Edward Keliiahonui and Jonah Kuhio  Kalaniana'ole surfed the mouth of the San Lorenzo River on custom shaped redwood boards, according to surf historian, Kim Stoner and Geoff Dunn..."

Art Direction: Eri Amakawa

Driftwood block print CALIFORNIA

coen Japan commissioned this piece with an ocean/California feeling. The driftwood found on a California surf beach.

Motifs:

Sooty Shearwater seabird flying in front of sun

Palm Trees at the beach in Santa Barbara, California

Stylized ocean waves

Art Direction: Eri Amakawa

Driftwood block printed textile design

coen has created apparel and hats from a textile print of the ocean block print.

Art Direction: Eri Amakawa and coen creative team

Ocean driftwood block print for coen Japan

coen  Japan commissioned this print from my small Santa Barbara, California studio

Hand carved California beach driftwood was used to create this ocean print.

Motifs:

Surfgrass  that was used by Chumash Indians (who have lived in Santa Barbara, California for 1,000s of years) to make fishing nets

The round flower with the circle in the middle is the Blue Fiesta flower grown in western USA.

Blue Fin Tuna

Fish hooks made from California coast sea shells

Smaller flowers represent Canopus Star which is the 2nd brightest star in the night sky and brightest star in the southward sky. The Chumash Indians used this star to navigate southward night voyages in canoes.

The Blue Pacific Ocean meets Japan and Western USA  shores,connecting the countries with water.

Art Direction: Eri Amakawa

Croquis in Gouche Paint

Maui Jim Sunglasses color croquis

Maui Jim Sunglasses Hawaiian pouch in Santa Barbara, California

On my way outside with my lunch, I was walking through the indoor dining area of Santa Barbara Whole Foods last week when I spotted, on one of the tables, the Maui Jim Sunglasses pouch with the print that was designed in my then-Kailua, Oahu design studio.

When Cathy and Lee Wright sat down with their own lunches, I had to introduce myself!

Cathy Wright owns Commercial Solutions, a Santa Barbara business where she works in product promotional sales, "always working with logos and artwork and Maui Jim Sunglasses is a vendor."

It's a small world!

Art Direction:
Maui Jim Sunglasses creative team

coen Japan driftwood log on Hendry's Beach

Jon and Veronica Denne and their dog, Molly, helped me to carry the driftwood log from the beach to the parking lot.

They are " a fun loving couple with a sense of adventure...travel and want to experience as much of the world as possible."

Santa Barbara surf beach driftwood log textile print

coen Japan  approached me with a design that had been created in Japan by coen. They commissioned my studio to hand carve the design into a printing block using  a driftwood log that I found on Hendry's Beach/Arroyo Burro Beach in Santa Barbara.

The coen design represents the koa trees of Hawaiian islands and a bear.

Designed by and Art Direction: coen

Aloha Shirt with Wine bottles

Pete Rhein,his wife and artist/designer daughter, Deborah Rhein, were on same Honolulu bound flight  as I when I spotted him wearing this aloha shirt.
Motifs: Wine bottles,lauhala basket,coconut palm trees, banana plants,hibiscus flowers and a surf shack.
Art Direction:
Donna Fitch and Dale Hope

Skills Aloha Shirt worn by Doug Rigg

Punahou School Alumni News and Events:
www.punahou.edu
"Under the leadership of Doug Rigg '84, the School's Alumni Relations and Annual Giving offices will also merge in the aims of providing more resources for the School’s growing alumni constituency. “This is the direction many independent schools are taking because the two offices complement each other well,” explained Rigg, the incoming director of alumni programs and annual giving.
“Doug understands the traditions of Punahou. He has worked on all of his alumni reunion committees and has a strong background in alumni relations, I’m very excited to pass the torch on to him,” Fordham added."

Art Direction: Dale Hope