Plein air painting near Anaehoomalu Point in Hawaii

Bio

Born in Hawaii and raised in the mainland, Malia had a talent for drawing people at a very young age. In fact, drawing a live-sketch of family and friends was often the only artwork she created much of her early life. She started painting in oils in 2007 and spent several years in Colorado to observe the light and changing seasons for landscape painting.

While most of her work is done in the studio, she often travels out to paint en plein air. Her favorite subjects are seascapes, snow scenes, and figures doing every day tasks. All paintings are created using oils and all drawings are done in charcoal and conte. She is most inspired by the works of Sargent, Fechin, Sorolla, Monet, Zorn, and Degas.

For nearly two decades she has enjoyed a profession in the design + illustration industry. Higher arts education was completed at San Antonio College in 1997-2000. She was also awarded a scholarship to attend the McNay Art Institute in San Antonio. Recent classical art training was done with Watts Atelier and numerous painting workshops. She has exhibited her work in Colorado and Texas and currently operates her studio-gallery, Quinn Gallery, on South Padre Island, Texas.

Statement

I am interested in exploring the elements of form, light and space where the end result is a striking balance between chaos and order. Through compelling composition, abstraction and color harmony, I seek to create works that reveal life’s observed and authentic moments. Avoiding unnecessary detail and instead focusing on the abstract qualities of the brushwork and design of the composition are my intentions when painting.

The early stages of a painting–blocking in shapes. Big Thompson River in Estes Park, Colorado