Readers often ask what I’m up to these days, now that I’m semi-retired.

Of course I’m very involved with volunteer work for Palama Settlement (I’m co-chairing their first ever gala, to be held November 9 at The Modern Honolulu) and Hawaii Fashion Month (on the Steering Committee), but I’m also painting a lot more.

As I’ve written in this blog before, I have a one-woman show up at the Florencia Arias boutique on Nuuanu Avenue, just mauka of the ARTS at Marks. On First Friday, I sold one of those paintings so there was to be a puka in the show when the new owner took possession. I painted the painting above (haven’t name it yet) to replace the painting that was sold. It’s just a piece of fun! Those funky little dresses are actual Marimekko vintage fabric.

In search of serenity, I have been working with a palette of blues. Here are my two latest works, both of which you can see in person (which is far more effective than a photo) at the Louis Pohl Gallery on Bethel Street, just makai of Bambu 2.

The gold you see in these paintings is real gold leaf from Myanmar. I watched the men in Mandalay hand pounding the gold leaf. It’s a treacherous job. They pound for fifteen minutes straight with a huge back-breaking hammer, then they’re allowed a cup of water before they start pounding again. I try to incorporate at least a tiny bit of the gold leaf into most of my paintings to remind me of life in Myanmar, a country I love.

These paintings are mixed media on gallery wrap canvas so they don’t need framing. They are 24 x 24 inches.

– Paula Rath