Hawaii Investigation: Land and Culture

I knew that I wanted to use this work to explore the significance of the environment of Hawaii, and the way that nature can affect a sense of place and the people that inhabit it. I chose Hawaii's volcanos because they are a unique and defining feature, and their presence shapes life on the Hawaiian islands. Additionally, they are indicative of how nature can shape culture, and the figure atop the volcano is Pele, a Hawaiian goddess whose persona is still felt on the islands. She symbolizes the cycle of destruction and rebirth, much like the volcanos she resides in. On the islands, Pele sightings peak whenever an eruption occurs, and people still place flowers in local steam vents as a way of honoring this deity.

I used references, for both the volcano and the figure. I began by sketching the volcano in charcoal, gradually layering for depth and value. I also used white charcoal for detail. For the figure I wanted to be delicate and precise, and so I used graphite before tracing over it with charcoal. Colored pencils were used for the wreaths (Ohi'a flowers, which grow near volcanos on the Big Island) and skirt, which was meant to resemble a lava flow, communicating that this woman is otherworldly. The smoke was drawn in charcoal, with a white charcoal pencil for detail. I used chalk pastel for the sky, then added charcoal for value. This was not planned, but I love the result, and it makes the work more "intimidating".

I remained faithful to my basic original ideas, but there were many changes. I was undecided on materials, but I chose charcoal and pastel in part because they are unfamiliar and would pose a challenge, but also because of the way charcoal ties into the subject matter. I also decided to make this work large to push myself, since my drawings are typically small and precise. I also went through many iteration's of Pele's pose, and the composition of the sky. The colors in the sky were inspired by 60s art, and a doodle I found in my sketchbook.