People often ask artists where they get their inspiration from.  I guess for me one easy answer would be “from nature”.  Hawai’i is so full of natural beauty I feel constantly surrounded by inspiration for new paintings. I especially love big trees, and banyan trees are one of my favorites. The Big Island has some beautiful old banyan trees and so does Oahu. But the most famous banyan trees are found in Lahaina on Maui. I love the twisted intertwining branches and roots of the banyan and they have been the subject of many little sketches.

The first painting of a banyan tree I created was a few years after a trip to Maui. Here I was able to visit what many say is the oldest and largest banyan tree in the islands. It is a sprawling giant located in the artsy and quaint seaside town of Lahaina. If you ever visit Maui, do not miss it! 

The second banyan tree artwork I painted was inspired by various tree’s I have seen in Hilo, and Maui. I added a rolling sea to the background of this painting because banyan trees are often found by the sea and I love how the twisty branches and roots of the banyan seem to mimic the swirling waters of the ocean. 

I am currently working on my third banyan inspired painting. This is the largest painting of a Banyan tree I have done so far at 18 x 24 inches, and is based on a banyan tree I snapped a photo of while visiting Honolulu on Oahu. One of my favorite things to do when I see a large banyan tree is to stand under it and look up. This is how I took the picture I am using as reference for this new painting.