WAIMEA — Marionette Taboniar’s art studio in Waimea town is called Painting Paradise, offering an art gallery and painting classes using acrylics, watercolors, pastels and even wax. Yes, wax. Her most unique art form is called encaustics. Using a hot
WAIMEA — Marionette Taboniar’s art studio in Waimea town is called Painting Paradise, offering an art gallery and painting classes using acrylics, watercolors, pastels and even wax.
Yes, wax. Her most unique art form is called encaustics. Using a hot iron, she applies pigmented wax onto glossy paper, creating images of abstract and realistic seascapes, landscapes and stylized hula girls.
“The wax melts and you move it around. It’s unlike any medium. It’s neither wet nor dry, it’s a fluid medium,” said Taboniar. “It’s an ancient Greek and Roman art form. It kind of came back in popularity in the ’90s.”
Taboniar chooses glossy paper on which to paint the wax because of its ease of application.
“The wax glides very nice, you can actually swish (the wax) on and swish it off. You can play with it until you get what you want,” she said.
Particular details such as arms, faces and haku lei are applied with a stylus for wax.
The encaustics class is a private lesson. Other lessons include silk painting, modern sumi-e and reverse acrylics on Plexiglass. For appointments, which are offered seven days a week, she can be reached at 631-9173.
These private classes are on top of a busy schedule which can be found on www.kauaiartclasses.blogspot.com. The schedule includes watercolor sessions at Lawai Beach Resort, Mokihana of Kaua‘i and Waimea Plantation Cottages.
Besides painting and teaching, Taboniar said she believes in giving back to the community. She is the coordinator of Women Artists of Kaua‘i, which has 22 members and focuses on helping artists as well as charitable events.
On Aug. 19, for example, WAK is offering watercolor classes — in which Taboniar will be painting tropical flowers and Patrice Pendarvis will be painting landscapes — at the National Tropical Botanical Gardens in Po‘ipu, Southshore Visitors Center. The fee is $40 but WAK donates a percentage of proceeds to the gardens.
The next event is Sept. 14, 15 and 16, at the Kukui Grove space that is often occupied by the Kaua‘i Society of Artists. The event is a fundraiser for Child and Family Services’ Nana’s House on the Westside and Hale Hoomalu in Kapa‘a, which provide family services and a food pantry. The event includes a silent auction on Friday and an art exhibit on Saturday and Sunday. Organizers say that 100 percent of the auction and 20 percent of art sales are donated to the charity.
Taboniar’s repertoire of art and community activities makes for a busy life, but it is one in which she thrives. “I really enjoy what I’m doing. I just go full on.”
∫ Jane Esaki, business writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 257) or by emailling jesaki@thegardenisland.com.
