First time painting water!
This image came into our collection at work earlier this year. Our researchers think it was captured ca. 1893 by local photographer Joaquin Augusto Gonsalves. An intense time in Hawaiian history.
I didn’t have a title, for a while, but I realize now that I was struck by how several of the canoe men turned to look at the photographer. Like they were caught mid-moment. This, turning of their heads, combined with 1893 being the year that Queen Lili’uokalani was illegally overthrown. This painting feels like “A Turning Point” .
Here’s some of my process in blowing up “A Turning Point” giant into a fully colorized painting.
I knew it would be tricky to turn a BW full sun scene into a COLOR sunset scene.
I also knew it would be tricky to portray this iconic crater, Diamond Head. This mountain has been the backdrop of so many printed ads and tourist ephemera, I didn’t want it to feel sterile. I wanted it to feel sentimental for me as someone who grew up there.
You can see how I digitally enlarged the mountain to add drama.
Then I transferred that digital ghostly imprint to plywood.
Then I painted many MANY layers over that ghostly imprint.
I was also thinking about my Dad’s mangoes and certain tropical leaves and how they change color.
Detail of “A Turning Point” by Tess Cramer, 2024.
Detail of “A Turning Point” by Tess Cramer, 2024.
tesscramer.com 