It has always been a dream of mine to ride my motorcycle across the beautiful landscape of the Hawaiian Islands. To step off that bike, rest a tired soul against the honed leather of a bike’s seat and gaze off into vastness of the Pacific Ocean. What would be more relaxing? Creating Momona Keiki. This painting came to me in a time when getting away consisted of driving my own motorcycle down the roughened country roads of small town Illinois, USA. Hawaii, still just a dream, or the landscape of Momona Keiki.
I was born in Moline, Illinois, in the late winter of 1962. I started airbrushing at the age of 12, painting on cars, vans, and motorcycles rather than creating paintings of them. By the time I was 16 my self-taught style was becoming widely accepted and I was being sought out to paint on garages, race cars and motorcycle helmets, some of which have been worn by several peers as we raced each other in my local motocross circuit. As an adult I had graduated to painting on canvas, metal, plywood, any material that would accept the medium of airbrush acrylic. I have always found comfort in the feel of an airbrush and it was a natural progression to move from the 70’s art style of free hand depictions to the defined and disciplined style represented in Momona Keiki.
In addition to painting, I have an extensive background in metal crafting, creating anything from whimsical lawn sculptures, to iron gates, to steam punk lamps. I live by the motto, “if it can be dreamt up, it can be built.” I have always been told that art should evoke emotion. It is much easier to evoke anger or sadness, but serenity is also an emotion. Sometimes in our world today it is much harder to take the viewer to a place away from their stress, allow them to calm down and relax, to remember a moment when their worries just disappeared. There is simple beauty in most of the things around us; sometimes you just have to look at it from a different perspective. Thus, Momona Keiki.
The views expressed by our artists in their artist statements do not necessarily represent the views of our art galleries. Artists can be visually expressive but may verbally misrepresent their true intentions or ideas. Please note that we support expression, whether it is controversial or not, but our intention is never to offend.
Art Galleries Los Angeles
If you are passionate about art collecting and would like to buy this beautiful artwork, give our Los Angeles art galleries a call. Our art gallery is a wonderful place for art collectors.
Our owner and curator is photographer Linnea Lenkus who has a passion for high quality art. Her goal is to promote artists in her art gallery in Los Angeles.
