Aloha, and thanks for visiting.  Here's just a little bit about myself. 

     I have lived in Hawaii since 1967.  I was sixteen years old when my mom moved us here.  She was a jazz singer then and had been hired to work in some of the clubs in Waikiki. While growing up my mom, myself, a brother and two sisters had lived all over the country: N.J., MN., CA., AZ, S.C., finally landing in Hawaii and not because of the military or her singing.  We were just dysfunctional.  Though we moved a lot and had been through some rough times, my mom always kept us together.  She was very affectionate and we knew we were loved. 

     Since her youth, my mom had wanted to be a singer, dancer and actor, in fact, she had even entered a singing contest with Patti Page when they were about 12 years old.  Patti Page won, but, my mom never gave up. She had finally made her mark as a greatly loved jazz singer here in Hawaii in 1967-74.  Finally at her death in Aug. 1974 her contemporaries had given her wonderful, heart felt accolades at her musical celebration which featured many of the top acts for that time.  Happily she passed her creative genes down to all of us and and my portion has revealed itself in pretty much the same way; singing, drama and art.  My brother Mike is the brain, my sister Terry, the creative one with kids and my sister, Kathy is also very smart and creative as well.

     Of all the places we have lived in, Hawaii was the best.  I fell in love with this place from the very first day, standing in the backyard up on a hill in Makakilo.  I could see the ocean, the forest, and feel the trade winds on my face.  It was heaven!  I finished 12th grade at Campbell High School in Ewa Beach where art and music were my favorite subjects.  I think if I did not had those artistic and creative opportunities I would probably not have graduated.  Somehow I passed, and when I got out, I took a "Hippie" detour for awhile doing some art and dance, until the late seventies when I started selling pencil portraits. I was married by then and had four children which included a set of twins. 

     When the kids got older I started getting more portrait commissions while also adding illustrations to my "repertoire."  Around 1995, I finally started painting even though I was afraid of color until I attended a color class at Leeward Community College. It really opened my eyes and taught me how to "see" and even though I know I still have a lot to learn, I am content because that process will probably never end. 

     There is "so much scope for the imagination" (Anne of Green Gables) here that I will never run out of beautiful scenes to paint and now that I am the grandmother of ten I have even more inspiration for my paintings.  So, take your time and hopefully you will experience a little bit of Hawaii while you take a look at my work.

Mahalo & Aloha

Patti Carol Walden