Featured Artists: Trina Jezik & Don Slocum
Featured Cover Artist: Trina Jezik
Trina and her husband, Rhys, moved to Hawai‘i Island in 2015 from British Columbia, Canada. “From one beautiful place to another,” says Trina. She had been to Hawai‘i 13 years before and dreamed of a time they would live here. When her husband received a job offer on-island, they jumped at the chance.
A self-taught artist for 10 years, Trina creates art full time and enjoys experimenting with different media. Painting primarily with acrylics, Trina has ventured out to silk-screening, watercolors, art on reclaimed wood, and most currently to Japanese wood block prints.
The front cover painting, Manta Dreaming, was inspired by Trina’s love of snorkeling and her encounters with the manta rays in the blue waters surrounding Hawai‘i Island. Trina discovered the majestic nature of the manta rays off the coast of the Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area. Known for her blend of surreal and realistic styles, along with her use of vibrant colors, Trina says she was moved by the way the manta rays glide through the water and their unique anatomy. She captured both in this painting, Manta Dreaming.
Trina does extensive research when she is painting an animal new to her collection. As a trained massage therapist, Trina studied the human anatomy and finds her education helpful as she translates the composition to her painted subjects.
Trina’s mentors range from traditional to eclectic. Drawn to the work of Czech artist Alfons Mucha, Trina says, “I like his blending of his subjects with beautiful patterns and flower designs.” Equally important in Trina’s work is the influence of a Canadian street artist, Ken Foster. “Ken can pick up anything and make it art,” says Trina. Watching Ken work, Trina has stretched her creativity as an artist to cross over into various media and is pleased with the results.
Trina says, “Now my whole house is my studio. It’s controlled chaos with multiple projects in process.” For her paintings, Trina makes her frames and stretches her own canvas. For the other art forms she is exploring, Trina finds herself consumed in the creative process from start to finish.
In creating silk-screen pieces, Trina explains, “Each one of my silk-screen prints is completely unique.” She believes in the entire art process, stretching the silk, and using her own hand drawn (not computer generated) art designs. Trina shares, “When I’m printing, I play with the inks to give each print its own unique color and design.” Trina’s products include printing on canvas bags and cotton clothing.
Living near South Point, Trina has found the perfect thriving art community throughout Hawai‘i Island to enhance her artistic journey to new levels. Trina says, “I want to keep learning new art forms, there are endless possibilities of potential.”
Trina’s silk-screen and woodblock art, along with her paintings and giclées are available on her website, at many of the island’s farmers’ markets, and at Aloha Jewelry and Gems in the Kingsʻ Shops, Waikoloa Resort.
For more information: Pakelecreations.com
Table Of Contents Photographer: Don Slocum
Don Slocum, a professional photographer, has called Hawai‘i Island home for over thirty years. Beginning his career photographing fashion, performers, and commercials, Don gravitated to landscape photography, inspired by the natural and raw beauty of the Hawaiian Islands. He says, “With its rich assortment of locations and wide diversity the Big Island may be unmatched on planet Earth.
“My time spent in Hawai‘i has been a spiritual journey and this has greatly influenced my art. As a trained intuitive many times I receive internal information about where to go and when. This nearly always results in spectacular images.”
Don’s prints are available at the Glyph Art Gallery and Volcano Garden Arts, as well as online at donslocum.com
