Fannie Narte

No Na Mamo -- We are the Children

2013-05-14T17:30:00.000-05:00

Polynesian Settlement Pattern © 2013 Fannie Narte
One of the things I love about living in Hawaii is that I am surrounded by culture. Recently my cousin Nalei, aka Kumu Napaepae-Kunewa, took me to see a koa wa'a (koa canoe), the Mau Loa at Kahalu'u in Kona. It was an inspiring experience. There, I met Master Carver and Wayfinder (a sea navigator who finds his path through the ocean using nature as his guide without the use of modern instruments) Tava, who is repairing and finishing Mau Loa for her ocean voyage. He was also working on carving several Tikis destined for heiau's. Tava is a quiet, talented and humble man.

The Polynesian Settlement Pattern shown above is one of several pieces I made for Cousin Nalei's banner for her Ho'ike, which will be held this Friday, May 17. The theme is "No Na Mamo," "We are the Children." The map is made on handmade paper, and the canoe is made out of a sheet of koa and handmade paper.

Two more pieces for the banner, Hawaiian birds painted with acrylics on handmade paper:

Mamo Bird

The bright golden-yellow feathers of the Mamo were the most prized for the featherwork for capes for the Hawaiian royalty.

'Elepaiao Bird

The 'Elepaiao was important in selecting the best koa tree for making a canoe.

Thanks, Cousin Nalei.

Mahalo for looking.

Joy is in the Voice of Love

2013-04-09T20:58:00.001-05:00

He 'olina leo ka ke aloha.
Joy is in the voice of love.

Joy

A walk to the library,

Breathing in the scents of the sea,

Seeing the hearts of passersby,

Generous greetings of Aloha,

A bouquet of orchids.

Wrap a T-Leaf around an empty bottle, secure it with lauhala braided twine and a coconut button; fill it with water and orchids from the local farmer's market. Joy . . . Love . . .

International Association of Yiddish Clubs (IAYC)

2013-03-30T13:32:00.001-05:00

The Face of Life

Six million perished, in an attempt to wipe out a people and their language forever. May she be the poster child that breathes life back into them... and beckon us to listen to their stories and dreams.~Debbie Herman

Unfortunately, many world cultures have experienced similar tragedies and can relate to so much sadness and loss. Debbie and the IAYC have given me the opportunity to share my painting as "The Face of Life." This privilege perfectly fits my mission to "heal the world one painting, one word at a time." Thank you, Debbie and the IAYC for this privilege.

I am grateful to be a sponsor of the 2013 IAYC International Yiddish Conference.

As a young girl, during a period of time before Hawaii's annexation to the United States, my mother and her classmates were severely punished for speaking the Hawaiian language in school. Because of this, the Hawaiian language in its pure form was lost. Today, the Hawaiian culture is undergoing a renaissance and the Hawaiian language is taught in schools.

When I married my Sweetheart and moved away from my "home," Hawaii, to his home on the mainland, I didn't realize that I was also leaving behind my beloved Hawaiian culture, its music, dance, lifestyle, love of the land and language. Holding on to my Hawaiian culture was important because it is a part of me, a part of my history, where I came from, my ancestry. When my daughters were born, I began teaching them their Hawaiian culture at a young age. I shared everything I knew with them, especially music and dance. They enjoyed learning too. We became a performing family and shared our culture through music, song and dance with our audiences for eighteen years. Understanding one's history is important.

We intend to open the portal of Yiddish life and usher you in.
~2013 IAYC International Yiddish Conference

The IAYC is an organization that helps their members understand their Yiddish history, culture and language. Their 15th International Yiddish Conference will be held during April 26-29 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They have a line-up of excellent presenters, speakers, activities, workshops and more.

This is what they offer:

Discover Yiddish Culture, as you embark on a journey of a thousand years and fall in love, along the way. Experience a multi-sensory explosion of Yiddish Culture.

Among their many projects, I am impressed with their Central Database of Shoah Victims’ Names

The Central Database of Shoah Victims’ Names is a unique international undertaking led by Yad Vashem. It is the endeavor to recover the names and reconstruct the life stories of each individual Jew murdered in the Shoah. It is our moral duty to respect their last behest and remember them. ~IAYC

To date, the Central Database has collected 4 million names with 2 million names yet to be recovered.

Let us breathe life back into the millions who perished.

Let us listen to their stories and dreams. ~Debbie Herman

Thank you, Debbie, IAYC, 2013 IAYC International Yiddish Conference, Yad Vashem, and others for all the work you do.

Hibiscus 3--On My Easel

2013-03-23T12:16:00.000-05:00

What's on your easel?

What are you doing this weekend? My family's coming to Kona . . . love and magic.

Have a colorful, magical weekend!

Hope, Mixed Media Original

2013-03-22T11:23:00.001-05:00

Hope . . . everyone needs hope just as much as everyone needs love.

Isn't it fun when we gather with friends or family? We may meet at someone's home or at our favorite luncheon or dinner spot. When we first meet, we exchange hugs and maybe a few tears. Then we get life updates, and in between the updates, there's laughter and playing around, and lovingly woven throughout each sentence are words of hope.

Love . . . hope . . . makes life magical.

Hope--WIP

2013-03-20T17:11:00.001-05:00

On my mind, in my heart, on my easel:

Hope . . .

My artful life continues to shift. When I first started this blog in 2007, I used this space to document my creative life mainly for my family. My hope was to leave a record of my ideas, values and beliefs, to inspire them, to share what I did, to tell my story using art and words.

Over the last five years, my blog and artful life evolved to what it is today, a space where I share my art in whatever medium I choose to use to express whatever is in my heart at the moment.

In 2007, I set a goal not only to blog every day for one year, but to post a piece of art each day as well, and I accomplished that. That was a celebration, and I continued to post every day for the next year.

I enjoyed making friends through fabric postcard exchange groups, online groups, donating my art to benefit causes I believe in. I was blogging without a plan of any kind, posting a new work each day, writing my thoughts and sharing them publicly, always with the intent of uplifting whoever was reading my blog.

If you scroll through my blog, you'll find times when I was absent, no blog posts sometimes for weeks. There came a time when I became curious. Was I enjoying what I was doing? Why was I painting what I painted? Did I like using acrylics? Do I really like working with fabrics and making art quilts? Was I making art merely to make money or was I creating the kind of art that was a pure expression of my heart? And . . . does it matter that I create heart-art?

The times when I was absent from my blog, I was present in my thoughts. Asking questions, contemplating, changing, rethinking, changing again . . . and again.

It's easy to slip into other people's worlds, others' ideas of what should or shouldn't be when you don't know who you are, what you like. I was there, BIG TIME.

I finally had to shut the door to all the noise and take time to rebuild my home, rebuild myself.

And here I am . . . Fannie . . . full of flaws, but living each moment as best as I can, living lovingly, truthfully, fearlessly, generously, graciously and with gratitude.

I want to create art that elevates and heals hearts and offer my art at affordable prices.

Aloha!

Purses in The Rumley Gallery

2013-03-18T23:32:00.000-05:00

My Mother, My Daughter Purse
As soon as I can take nice photos of my purses, you'll be able to buy them in my Etsy Shop. My Mother, My Daughter purse will be in my shop soon.

My purses hanging in The Rumley Gallery

My art and purses in The Rumley Gallery © 2013 Fannie Narte It's like having my own boutique.
Thanks, Tess!

Hanging Artwork at The Rumley Gallery

2013-03-17T03:28:00.001-05:00

Nature's Dance anchors three art quilts, hanging at The Rumley Gallery. Thanks for the prime wall spaces, Tess!

Ruth, meticulously hanging each painting, hanging, rearranging, rehanging, doing whatever it takes to make a cohesive group that's visually pleasing. Thanks for caring for my art, Ruth!

Each piece
inspired by loving relationships,
heart and hands dance
across each canvas
leaving marks that offer
love, joy and healing
to all who wish to see.

From my studio to the gallery,
every moment
a loving dance.

Thanks, Tess and Ruth!

Hibiscus 2

2013-03-15T17:00:00.000-05:00

Each hibiscus is different,
Like people,

All are beautiful.

Here are the two 6x6" panels side by side.

Maybe I should continue adding more panels and keep going with different colored Hibiscus flowers.

Nature's Dance

2013-03-14T02:18:00.000-05:00

Nature's Dance

Bow to the right, bow to the left,

overlapping, color changes,

harmony, playfulness,

loving life,

abundance,

partnerships, friendships,

all kinds of relationships,

you, me, they, them,

we all

dance to the rhythm of beating hearts.

Hibiscus

2013-03-05T12:12:00.000-06:00

Inspired by nature's beauty . . .

Nature Smiles

2013-02-17T14:25:00.000-06:00

Photograph at the beach, Nature Smiles © 2012 Fannie Narte
When we're busy going from one place to the next, one project to the next, we may overlook seeing and receiving our gifts.

We may not receive the gift of love from the person that smiled at us as we walked past them, because we were looking down.

We may not receive the gifts of hope and healing from the rainbow in the sky revealing itself in its full glory and splendor, a free gift to all who see and notice it.

We may not receive the gifts of compassion and empathy from a lonely child curled in the corner of the sofa silently wiping away tears of sadness.

We may not receive the gifts of acceptance and nonjudgment from the half-dressed man walking along the busy street holding a handmade wooden cross high in the air and chanting, "I Love You."

We may not receive the gifts of perseverance and joy from the young boy learning to surf, falling and falling and falling and finally taking his first wave to shore.

If we pay attention and look around us, we can see things that we might otherwise not see; we can receive gifts that are meant to bring us abundance, love and joy. Gifts are waiting for you. See . . . and receive . . .

Living a life of Love . . .

Different Voices, Similar Songs, Birdhouse Quilt

2013-02-14T15:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Valentines Day!

Grace Birdhouse Quilt

2013-02-12T20:23:00.000-06:00

Grace Birdhouse Quilt, 10" x 18" © 2013 Fannie Narte
Having fun with my fabric panels. For the past week, I've been sketching ideas for using my fabric panels. I love to use my panels in bags, totes and purses and mug rugs . . . but what else could I create? I love birds and butterflies and anything with wings and ideas of journey and fearlessness . . . and sketched birdhouses, homes, houses, lighthouses . . . homes of all kinds, which is also a symbol I enjoy using in my art. Home, a sense of belonging, a safe place to be . . . home . . . a feeling in the heart that gives me the freedom and gratitude to be me.

These sketches and journal entries started a new "Home" series using my fabric panels. This is the first quilt . . . my sketches and ideas come to life. More to come . . .

If you've purchased my fabric panels, this is an example of how you can use them. Use this as inspiration for your next project.

This quilt took less than four hours to complete. This was easy to make. See all the embellishment possibilities? Once I work things out, I'll make this pattern available to my customers in my Etsy shop. Enjoy!

Welcome Home!

Abundance

2013-02-10T16:07:00.001-06:00

© 2012 Fannie Narte

We know true abundance when we feel joy, health, happiness, a sense of purpose and vitality in every moment of our existence. An overflowing fullness that infuses every facet of our lives.

We never need to seek abundance. We simply need to notice and open up to what's already there and allow the bounty of the universe to flow through us.~Deepak Chopra

Abundance . . . Enjoy!

A Gift from Dreama Tolle Perry--Be Inspired

2013-02-08T14:55:00.000-06:00

BE INSPIRED Adventures for the Heart by Dreama Tolle Perry by Dreama Tolle Perry

Dreama is a talented and generous artist and writer. She wrote this book available as a free download. You can read it here, or click on the link to get your own free download available as a pdf file. This is what she wrote on her blog:

The book is available to read online, to download, to print out, to share with your best-est friend:))

Spread JOY!

Click here for your free ebook.

Thank you, Dreama! I'm spreading joy.

Dreama talks about "glimmer" sightings:

The universe speaks fairly softly. It wants to see if we are indeed tuning in, listening for our next directive. It takes time, so they say, to create a new habit; 21 days in a row is supposed to do the trick. Personally, I think having an epiphany can cut that down to say....0 minutes.

A knowing that this is how it works suddenly moves “glimmer” to the head of the line in terms of what gets your attention. When you recognize that this is how Source, creativity, and inspiration, is showing up---that this is how the game is played, you realize you don’t want to wait, to put it on hold, take a message, or get back with it later. Later never comes. It’s now or never---at least for that particular inspiration. ~Dreama Tolle Perry

Have a great weekend. I wish you abundance and inspiration. Enjoy!

Harley Brown's Eternal Truths For Every Artist

2013-02-03T16:59:00.001-06:00

Little Quilt #1, 5"x 7" © 2012 Fannie Narte
If you can get a copy of the book "Harley Brown's Eternal Truths For Every Artist" from your local library or bookstore, get it. I highly recommend it for all artists working in any medium. My art world shifted Big Time throughout my critical study of this book.

I don't even know that I can articulate exactly what happened, but what I do know is that things definitely look clearer now. It feels like my mind was in a fog--and I didn't even know it was in a fog--until the fog lifted during the reading of this book and I suddenly understood general art theories and elements of design as I never did before.

It made sense to me that, generally, all art and design principles applied to all forms of artmaking, and after reading this book, artmaking became more enjoyable because my new understanding eliminated any fears I may have had. Does this make sense?

It may simply be that this book eliminated my fears and I now create from my love and joy of artmaking.

I especially enjoyed the chapters on values. Harley is a pastel/oil painter, and I applied his principles to quilts. Little Quilt #1 is my first project based on my understanding of what I learned from Harley about values. I plan to create more Little Quilts practicing my knowledge of values and maybe experimenting to discover pleasing designs that sing. Sounds like fun!

Join me in the fun. Pick your favorite colors, dark, medium and light/bright and have a go. You can even copy my simple design, if you like.

Make magic. Enjoy!

Gifts of Love

2013-02-01T14:31:00.000-06:00

When your life is filled with Love,

miracles appear in the forms of

See the Love that is within you and the Love
that surrounds you.

Share Love, Accept Love, Be Love

Painting at The Rumley Gallery

2013-01-11T20:00:00.000-06:00

Work progresses on my portrait painting of my niece, Calaeana, who loves hula.

Oro Whitley

Oro's work hanging in the Rumley Gallery

Kira Kamamalu

Some of Kira's amazing work. The center portrait is a painting of my 77-year-old mom who was a lauhala hat weaver.
We had fun learning from each other, visiting with friends and customers. I look forward to the next on-site painting! Thanks, Tess, Kira and Oro!

Happy New Year

2012-12-31T22:27:00.004-06:00

Mele Kalikimaka

2012-12-24T16:58:00.000-06:00

Thanks for your visits, supportive comments and friendship.

Enjoy your celebrations with your family and friends.

Mele Kalikimaka!

Violet Eyes Went to Canada

2012-12-23T16:29:00.002-06:00

Tony, Me and Shirley
The Rumley Gallery, Kailua Kona, Hawaii © 2012 Fannie Narte

"Violet Eyes" found a loving home with Shirley and Tony from Canada on Friday night. Thanks, Shirley!

A Look Back in Time . . .

2012-12-12T15:16:00.000-06:00

After the Show, WIP, Colored Pencil, 8" x 10"
© 2009 Fannie Narte

This slideshow doesn't show the finished piece, but it's a good look at my work-in-progress photos while painting After the Show 2 using colored pencils.

REFLECTING ON WHERE I'VE BEEN . . . My journey into the realm of Fine Art started with exploring colored pencils as a medium because I was interested in creating portraits.

My first pieces were all still life . . . I used what I had . . . the kukui nut lei, cups and a piece of lace.

Then quickly moved to dessert . . . on a blue plate given to me by my good friend Pat, who is watching me from heaven.

And another "sweet" dessert, a work-in-progress photo.

And back to painting cups with a Kukui Nut Lei.

Then discovered my favorite product, Neocolors, (which I use on fabrics), for use as underpainting in my colored pencil paintings, Thank You Ranjini!

And a fun colored pencil painting of an apple emerging, representing me emerging from darkness as an artist . . . Yes, I see symbolism in everything . . .

And took workshops from Nicole Caulfield and produced this painting. I also took workshops from Ann Kullberg, the colored pencil portrait artist who opened up my world to Fine Art.

MY ARTFUL LIFE BEFORE COLORED PENCILS

Before this point, I made quilts . . . memory quilts, custom hawaiian quilts, portrait quilts, quilts for my family, quilts for my friends, wedding quilts, etc. I own a few, sold a few and gave away a lot.

Crystal Star Quilt,
Made by Me, Designed by Jinny Beyer

GIFTS OF LOVE

I also owned a business called "Gifts of Love" and taught weekly stamping and craft classes in my home for years. We created together, talked story, uplifted one another; it was a nurturing time for all of us. Students came fearful of making mistakes and went home feeling success and returned to grow their art and expand their fearless hearts.

HULA FOR FITNESS

At the same time I owned Gifts of Love, I also taught hula classes, was a certified personal trainer and taught exercise classes in our City's Adult Education program, an original 45-minute exercise class titled Hula for Fitness. We warmed up using the poi balls, a Polynesian dance instrument, which I thought was great for working on those swaying "hula arms," while dancing to the right and left, kaholo steps to the beat of the Ipu Heke, a Hawaiian percussion instrument made from dried gourds, played by my husband, Tremayne. Life is more fun when you experience it with loved ones. ;-D

THE ALOHA EXPERIENCE

Hula for Fitness was a six-week session. The first class, they were greeted with a lei (silk leis or shell leis and once I made T-Leaf leis) and given their own set of poi balls. During our workout, I would teach them Hawaiian words such as imua--forward, or place names and teach them a bit of history of the words and places. While this was interesting to them, it was an effective tool to keep their focus on the fun rather than the pain of the class.

ALOHA AND MAHALO

At the sixth class, we celebrated their success. Their family and friends were invited. This was the students' opportunity to shine and "show off" their routines. We had ono (delicious) food and desserts. Completion certificates were presented, photos taken and a parting gift given.

When a student doesn't want to leave, the teacher feels the experience is complete.

During the beginning, my classes were attended by women. Later, my classes were joined by professional hula dancers, mothers-and-daughters, those who could not find success in other exercise programs, the elderly, those who were medically challenged. As in my weekly stamping and craft classes, my Hula for Fitness students attended their first class with apprehension and fear, and left feeling success and joy, feelings I hoped would continue in their daily experiences.

INSPIRATION FOR MY ART TODAY

My experiences from these activities have informed the art I create today. I paint imaginary portraits of girls and women inspired by my experiences with my daughters, my mom, my women mentors, my students. Their fears, their joys, their successes, their dreams, their hopes, and my wishes for them for all that's good are in each of my paintings.

Now that I'm living in Hawaii, my paintings are evolving again as the Hawaiian culture, landscape, seascape and lifestyle inspire what shows up on my canvases today.

12 - 12 - 12
Enjoy!

My Mother, My Daughter Greeting Card

2012-12-07T10:00:00.000-06:00

My Mother, My Daughter Greeting Card by FannieC

A mother nurtures hearts and develops wings.

A daughter speaks. A mother listens.

A daughter cries. A mother opens her arms.

A daughter hungers. A mother feeds.

A daughter explores. A mother watches.

A daughter dreams. A mother dances.
A daughter sings. A mother celebrates.
They dance.

They sing.
They elevate one another.
They give love.
They share love.
They are love.

A Delightful Surprise . . . at the Beach

2012-12-06T18:54:00.000-06:00

I was sitting at my usual spot at the beach, enjoying the birds and fishes . . . watching them play with each other among a school of fishes. It must have been recess because some of them were jumping out of the water . . . and to my delight . . . he . . . appeared . . .

right below me!

He swam in the ocean in front of me, nibbling at the rocks, staying underwater most of the time and . . .

peeking above the water sometimes . . .

© 2012 Fannie Narte
So nice to meet you. I appreciate your visit today . . . and hope to see you again . . . soon. Be safe . . . A hui hou--Until we meet again.