Hawaii Artists
Arthur Johnsen, Painter
I am a keiki o ka ‘aina — a child of the Hawaiian Islands — born and raised on the island of O’ahu. My artwork is shaped by the memories of Nuuanu Valley where I grew up, with its lush jungle and wind-blown waterfalls.
I attended Punahou High School (‘70) and U.C. Berkeley (‘74), and spent some years on the craft fair circuit in Honolulu, selling hand-painted apparel and other artworks. My art-to-wear stand in Waikiki attracted the attention of an L. A. stylist, and I was off to the big city to design costumes for entertainers, and to create original art for the L.A. garment industry.
Returning to the Big Island in ‘89, I settled as artist-in-residence at the Kalani Honua retreat center in Puna, where I printed large scale fabric designs for the Kona Village Resort. I have remained in Puna over the years, charmed by the tranquil lifestyle and the lingering sense of an older Hawai’i.
If you have driven the Puna coastal road from Kalapana to Kapoho in the last 10 years, you may have seen me at my plein-air easel, capturing the fleeting impressions of light and salt spray through the jungle and along the cliffs.
I have worked with designers and architects on many ambitious public art works (see murals and commissioned paintings), and am available for projects of any size.
Aloha, and enjoy the paintings!
