I just created a new domain name for my website where a personal vision of art is presented in the spirit of aloha. The domain name www.IkeAloha.com is a combination of two Hawaiian words. The first is ike. According to The Hawaiian Dictionary on www.wehewehe.org it is a word of many meanings. Here are some of them. 1. nvt. To see, know, feel, greet, recognize, perceive, experience, be aware, understand; to receive revelations from the gods; knowledge, awareness, understanding, recognition, comprehension and hence learning; sense, as of hearing or sight; sensory, perceptive, vision. Ka ʻike ia āu ē ke akua (hula prayer), a knowledge basic, a knowledge flowering, a knowledge heard, a knowledge from kava offerings; this is the knowledge. a. To show, make known, display, tell, exhibit, reveal, indicate, inform, report, notify, explain, testify, cause to know or seen, discover, announce, acquaint; testimony, notice, information; identifying characteristic, proof, token guide, exhibition.  The second word is aloha. It is also a word of many meanings. Here are some from www.wehewehe.org :nvt., nvs. Aloha, love, affection, compassion, mercy, sympathy, pity, kindness, sentiment, grace, charity; greeting, salutation, regards; sweetheart, lover, loved one; beloved, loving, kind, compassionate, charitable, lovable; to love, be fond of; to show kindness, mercy, pity, charity, affection; to venerate; to remember with affection; to greet, hail. Greetings! Hello! Good-by! Farewell! Alas! The common greetings follow: Aloha ʻoe, may you be loved or greeted, greetings (to one person). Aloha kāua, may there be friendship or love between us, greetings (to one person); same as above, but to more than one person. Ke aloha nō! Aloha! Greetings!  Kenneth Grzesik   [Announcement - Kenneth Grzesik - 4Ko - 2012]

From a remote Anahola studio in Kauai, Hawaii comes vivid pastel images inspired by life experiences on a beautiful island. Over the next few weeks I will be adding new images to my gallery. These were created between the years 2000 and 2004. Many of these works are available for the first time. I would advise checking back often as the addition of new works will be random and variable, as time allows. ; I am currently living in Bothell Washington where I have just edited a large body of work for exhibition and sale. This includes pastels, acrylic paintings and photo collages. It is an extensive collection. Many of the images can be viewed at www.beach.artistwebsites.com  Additional background insights are available at www.kauaieye.blogspot.com , www.ieyekauai.blogspot.com and www.timesecho.blogspot.com . Mahalo for your interest. I hope you enjoy the art. - Kenneth Grzesik [Announcement - Kenneth Grzesik - 2Ko - 2012]

For the next several weeks I will be downloading freshly edited imagery onto my ArtsCad portfolio. The concept is to go beyond the purely representational into a realm of visual expression where photography adopts the qualities of fine painting.  Concept, composition, color and texture are digitally fused to produce new and unique visual experiences. I hope you enjoy the art. - Kenneth Grzesik ;   ;   [Announcement - Kenneth Grzesik - 2Ko - 2012]

IMAGES FROM THE GREEN SHACK   I've recently re-edited  and I am currently downloading images from "the green shack period" onto my ArtsCad gallery. These are soft pastels and a few paintings that were created during a four year period when I spent a good deal of time living and making art in a small green shack. It is located on the property of a friend in Anahola on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Infused into the art is my enjoyment of that time and place. The work is presented with the hope of sharing some of that enjoyment. Life and art can indeed be good when art is life and life is art. Digital images created from photographs taken on Kauai and fused with vintage Hawaiian imagery will also be added to the collection. The recently edited versions of the art are high resolution images and will for the first time be available as posters on ArtsCad .  Aloha,  Kenneth Grzesik ;   ;   ; [Announcement - Kenneth Grzesik - 3Ko - 2012]

Surrounded by a Spectral Sea The title "Kauluwela Moku" is derived from two Hawaiian words. Two of the meanings of Kauluwela are glowing and colorful. Moku means island. In combination they mean glowing colorful island. The series of images is an exploration of color. [Page - Kenneth Grzesik - 8Ko - 2013]

The Story of the Hula Taken from "Hula! New, Easy Self-Teaching Method" by Scotty Guletz (South Sea Scotty) 1956 [Page - Kenneth Grzesik - 2Ko - 2012]

How Hawaii Was Made Safe (Part 4) The final segment in the legend of the goddess Hi'iaka and her companions. [Page - Kenneth Grzesik - 7Ko - 2012]

How Hawaii Was Made Safe (part 3) Hi'iaka and her companions face Pana'ewa the great mo'o of the forest. [Page - Kenneth Grzesik - 7Ko - 2012]

How Hawaii Was Made Safe (part 2) A continuation of the legend of Hi'iaka and her quest to rid the island of Hawaii from the evil beings that ruled the island. [Page - Kenneth Grzesik - 5Ko - 2012]

How Hawaii Was Made Safe (part one) From "Pele and Hi'iaka" by Emerson "Legends of the Volcanoes" by Westervelt Collected or suggested by Mary Kawena Pukui Retold by Caroline Curtis in "Pikoi and Other Legends of the Island of Hawaii" published by Kamahameha Schools in 1949. [Page - Kenneth Grzesik - 4Ko - 2012]

Aloha ; Welcome to a collection of images that are based on my experiences on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. ; It is my belief That art is life as life is art. To a large degree both are what we make of them. Having chosen to take a positive approach to both I have found both beauty and happiness. These life elements have been instilled into my art. ; Originally I was from the suburbs of Chicago. I went to Crystal Lake High school and later to Mc henry county college where I took my first painting class. It was an experience that forever changed my life. ; Eventually I went to northern illinois university where i received a b.f.a. in painting and a m.a. in drawing. ; After college i moved to washington state which has been my primary residence ever since. ; Over the years I,ve made a lot of art complete with awards, commissions and shows. Rather then dwell in the past i prefer to focus on recent work while moving into the future with creativity and optimism. A complete list of achievements is available upon request. ; My recent work has been done in three mediums; soft pastels, acrylic paintings and digital. The focus of this work has been my experiences on the island of Kauai in Hawaii.for a more complete overview of the imagery and background documentation visit www.beach.artistwebsites.com  www.kauaieye.blogspot.com www.ieyekauai.blogspot.com and last but not least www.timesecho.blogspot.com . Mahalo for your interest. I hope you enjoy the art. [Biography - Kenneth Grzesik - 3Ko]