A Creative Escape to Maui: Inspiration, Adventure, and Artistic Reflections

In September, I went on an artist retreat to Maui, Hawaii, with Melissa from Beeble Art Center! Reflecting on the trip now, I’m still in awe of everything we experienced. Between the two of us, we took over 1,300 pictures in just four days! It was a whirlwind adventure, but we got to see so many amazing things. Here’s a short list of the breathtaking sights we encountered:

• A black sand beach surrounded by clear blue water and lush green foliage
• A botanical garden dedicated to preserving native Hawaiian plants
• An underground lava tube that hasn’t changed in over 900 years
• The top of Haleakalā Mountain to watch the sunrise, just as Native Hawaiians have for generations
• A full moon setting behind a mountain early in the morning
• Sea turtles sunbathing on the beach, and later, swimming right by us as we floated in the ocean
• Trees that looked like an impressionist painting

I wish I could spend hours telling everyone about everything we saw, but even then, I wouldn’t cover it all! My favorite part of the trip was spending time with my friend and collaborator, Melissa, sitting and painting together. I learned so much about plein air painting and can’t wait to bring these new skills into The Artful Astronaut. I’m also excited to paint more of the scenes I saw and hopefully make them available to all of you!

Rainbow Eucalyptus tree that literally looks like someone painted the bark on.	Bought this sketch book just for this trip. I filled up quite a few pages!	Exploring a 900 year old Lava tube. It was very dark in there!

Woke up to a full moon setting outside of our AirBnb window.	We actually took this picture with our underwater camera! I still can't believe it.

 

The Harrowing Road to Hāna

We ended up doing the Road to Hāna twice, but our first attempt was the most harrowing. We had planned to stop for food on our way home, but everything along the route closed earlier than expected. Caught up in the breathtaking views, we lost track of time, and before we knew it, the sun had set. We had always been warned not to drive the road at night or in the rain, yet there we were—navigating the dark, winding jungle roads, cliffs looming beside us, the narrow one-lane bridges adding an extra layer of stress, and worst of all, we were starving! It was both nerve-wracking and exhilarating, a true adventure that I won’t soon forget.

Channeling my inner mermaid at the base of a hidden waterfall	Faced my fear of fish to stand near this pond. We were overlooking a rock that is in the opening scenes of Jurassic Park!	Giant Bamboo Forest? Sign me up!

 

Gee I wonder why we lost track of time?	Just a sweet thing we found

Exploring Nature’s Masterpieces

One of the highlights of my trip was exploring Haleakalā National Park. Haleakalā means "House of the Sun" in Hawaiian. A boy is that a perfect name! Watching the sunrise from the summit was nothing short of magical—an explosion of colors sweeping across the sky as the world below remained shrouded in mist. At this 10,023 ft elevation, I was able to see the most beautiful sunrise on earth, as well as check out the Haleakalā Observatory! An absolute must for my love of space! The shifting light and shadows immediately made me think of ways to incorporate these color palettes into my next series of designs.

Had this little guy photobomb my picture!	Had to get up bright and early for the two hour drive up to the top of Haleakalā for sunrise

 

Absolutely stunning sunrise. Next time I go back, bucket list item is to see sunset!

 

Another unforgettable adventure was visiting the black sand beach at Waiʻānapanapa State Park. The stark contrast between the deep black volcanic sand, the vivid blue water, and the lush green cliffs was almost surreal. It was unlike anything I had ever seen, and I couldn’t resist sketching the shifting patterns left by each wave. I even ventured into a small cave along the shoreline, adding an extra layer of adventure to the experience. The striking scenery left a lasting impression, and I can't wait to capture its essence in my artwork.

Would you believe me if I told you it really looks like this in person?	Some more cave exploration

Finding Artistic Inspiration in Everyday Moments

Days two and three of our Hawaii adventure were dedicated to creative exploration. Melissa and I set aside time to draw and paint some of the local plants over in Northeastern Maui. Sitting in nature and truly observing the details of these plants helped me appreciate the intricate beauty of Hawaiian flora. The experience of plein air painting in such a stunning environment was incredibly rewarding, and I can't wait to incorporate these studies into my future work.

This trip reinforced why travel is such an important part of my creative process. Stepping away from my usual surroundings, immersing myself in a different culture, and experiencing new perspectives always fuels my passion for storytelling through art.

Taking a break to do some sketching	My camera definitely got some use during this trip!	Some more art during our pizza break

 

Not too bad for my first ever plein air paintings	My water still needs some work but that's what practice is for!

Looking Ahead: A Dream to Return

I always thought that my first trip to Hawaii would be with my friends Erika Chlupsa and Francesca Milde from DAVE School. I thought of them often while we traveled around the island and wished I could be sharing it with them as well. I want to be there with you both one day, and I miss you so much ❤️

Now that I’m back, I’m excited to take all this inspiration and channel it into new designs, whether it’s a collection of tropical-inspired stickers, a painting series, or even a new film project. Stay tuned—I can’t wait to share what comes next!