Aloha Big Island

September 5, 2017 by Caroline

Back in my studio and in front of my gray computer, I’m thinking back to my last week in Hawaii….

….recalling the distantly familiar, aching feeling of leaving a place of such profound beauty and inspiration….

Oh, how I wish I was there!

It was my first visit to the Big Island, and I was enticed to stay for three days with a show at Lahaina Galleries’ beautiful Mauna Lani venue.

I felt wholeheartedly embraced by gallery Director Chris Cornis and sales consultants Kim Norman and Stephanie Ansley.

The spacious gallery is situated in the Shops at Mauna Lani and beautifully presents Lahaina Galleries’ many talented artists.

Mahalo to Chris, Kim and Stephanie for an exciting and successful first visit to the gallery!

Chris Cornis, Lahaina Galleries Mauna Lani Director

The Island of Hawaii impressed me with its wide open vistas and immense natural diversity.

It is the third largest island in Polynesia, and with the lava flows of Mauna Loa and Kilauea, it continues to grow larger every year.

I am awestruck by the vast history of this planet and how the dynamic forces of nature conspire to create life. Last summer in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides I touched some of the oldest rock formations on the planet.

Now I was walking amongst lava flows just a few years old, and fresh coral beaches in the making.

And Life seizes at the opportunity to establish a foothold….

with time and the elements forming the splendid beaches, forests and grassy hillsides of all but four of the planet’s climate zones.

Sun lounging sea turtle on Puako’s beach

Hawaiian sea turtles grazing on the reefs of Puako

Although my first visit was only three days, I was able to get a glimpse of the amazing beauty of this island and feel a profound sense of human and natural history.

It is easy to see how the original inhabitants of this island found all they needed to survive, and thrive to further settle the rest of the Hawaiian islands.

The view was as splendid then as it is now…..

The ancient fish ponds of Mauna Lani, still in use to this day.

Aloha Island of Hawai’i…

My first visit was too short but abundantly sweet.

Sunset in Hawi town

You are indeed the Big Island with enormous natural diversity, a deep culture and big hearted people, all of which I encountered, and left me so beautifully inspired.

Mahalo, I’ll be back c:

“Hawaiiana Red Ginger II” 28″x16″ oil on canvas at Lahaina Galleries

“Hawaiiana Red Ginger I” 28″x16″ oil on canvas at Lahaina Galleries

Hawaiian Sunset Bliss 12″x4″ oil painting at Lahaina Galleries

“Hula Heaven Hibiscus” 20″x20″ oil painting at Lahaina Galleries

“Kona Coffee” 10″x10″ oil painting at Lahaina Galleries

“Trade Wind Palm” 16″x8″ oil painting at Lahaina Galleries

Summer 2016: Skye Larking and Stone Standing in Scotland

July 12, 2016 by Caroline

Throughout Scotland I’ve experienced a sense of wonder and awe for the relentless forces of nature that created such haunting beauty and continue to shape the dramatic landscape to this day.

Low tide at Castle Eilean Donan

Nowhere in Scotland is that more evident than on the Isle of Skye.

The locals tell me the word Skye comes from the old Norse word “Sky-a” meaning “cloud island”. The clouds that enshroud the landscapes certainly do claim their dominion. Their shifting shadows and enveloping mists add to the sense of mystery as the scenery evolves with the changing light of day.

The cool coastal air inspired us to hike many of the beautiful trails that lead to spectacular and breath-taking vistas. The most dramatic is the amazing rock formation called the “Old Man of Storr”.

In my mind I keep thinking: how will I be able to paint any of this… and could I ever capture such dramatic beauty?

“The View Toward Siena”

I’ve always been attracted to moody landscapes with cloud-filled skies, misty horizons and soft shadows.

“A Path to the Sea” at Lahaina Galleries

Dappled light that shifts through the forests and trees.

“Reflections of Lake Como I”

“Reflections of Lake Como II”

Reflections of subdued light on calm and tranquil Italian lakes

“Pines by the Sea”

My years in Tuscany have offered numerous occasions to paint the land and seascapes in their contrasting tones.

But the most challenging aspect of the Scottish summer landscape is the persistent presence of all that green.

As I have stated in the past, green is the most problematic color for me to paint with. I am never quite satisfied with the shades of green as they appear on the canvas, they never look quite right. This will be my a challenge when I begin painting what I have seen in Scotland, as there is no avoiding the green here. However, I do look forward to it: As a painter I love new challenges, new subjects and new sources of inspiration.

Our skylarking on Skye not only rewarded us with scenic landscapes, but also delicious meals of locally produced and sourced ingredients at some of the island’s fabulous restaurants.

Locally produced cheeses from the Isle of Skye, the Skye Bar at the Flodigarry Hotel

And of course a sampling of Skye’s most legendary elixir: the Talisker Single Malt Whisky.

This was a Talisker 18-year-old single malt; delicious, soul warming and evocative of all the sensual elements of Skye.

Our days on Skye went much to quickly and other islands of the Hebrides beckoned us….

Moving on to the more remote islands of the Outer Hebrides we were struck by the enigmatic traces of ancient human habitation in the form of standing stones. Their placement and meaning eludes us to this day.

Caroline-Zimmermann-Scotland_Callanish-stones

This is the wonder of the Callanish Standing Stones set before a dramatic backdrop of clouds of a passing summer rain storm.

As a painter, I am rarely preoccupied with the longevity of my work over time. I paint on fabric, and the chances that my creative expressions would last 6000 years are quite slim. It amazes me when I look at these stones that something someone shaped and manipulated with their hands so long ago can communicate to me so effectively and profoundly over the great distance of time.

Of course I am left wondering, “what were they trying to say”? It is especially puzzling with the later standing stones – as with this Pictish Dunfallandy stone near Pitlochry. These carved symbols tease the imagination.

There are many of these stone rings, or arrangements, that have been recently discovered and excavated. I can only imagine how many more lie sleeping under Scotland’s centuries of peat.

I would have loved to tour this countryside one Standing Stone group at a time, letting them guide me through this magical and wonder-filled land.

Perhaps on my next visit to Scotland, I will….

Lahaina Galleries 39th Anniversary Show

August 18, 2015 by Caroline

This last weekend I had the honour of exhibiting my work at Lahaina’s 39th Anniversary Show. Along with seven other master artists, we celebrated with some of Lahaina Galleries’ patrons and collectors at a private unveiling the evening before.

All of the works were carefully hung and veiled to provide maximum excitement and anticipation…

After a wonderful introduction from the Lahaina Team, I spoke briefly about my newest creation…

My “Blue Mediterranean” Triptych was then unveiled.

“Blue Mediterranean” made a long journey to be included in this unveiling. I began working on the painting in my studio in Tuscany and continued to work on it throughout the summer in my pop-up studio in Oxford.

“Blue Mediterranean Triptych” 39” X 60” Available at Lahaina Galleries

“Kihei Beach Driftwood” 32” X 47” Available at Lahaina Galleries

This is truly why I do what I do: Pure Joy. I was thrilled to be able to meet the new owners of my “Mediterranean Blues: Cleopatra’s Baths” and “Mediterranean Blues Beach”. Both pieces are going to an excellent home.

“Mediterranean Blues: Cleopatra’s Baths”
47” x 36” Lahaina Galleries

mediterranean-blues-beach-zimmermann-lo-res

“Mediterranean Blues Beach” 32″ x 47″

“Hanalei Sunset Dream” 12″ x 12″ Available at Lahaina Galleries

“Tahitian Still Life” 11″ x 24″ Available at Lahaina Galleries

Celebrating a great turnout and fantastic sales with LGI consultant Kasey Solesbee. Well Done Kasey!

“Sunset at Turtle Bay” 28” X 47” Available at Lahaina Galleries

Lovely shot of artist Dario Campanile and his fiancee’ Patricia. Mahalos!

Many compliments to Jim and Nancy Killett for their 39th year of beautifying the world with Lahaina Galleries. I’ll do my best to help them with their efforts for many many more!