I sold my first oil painting in 1989 when I was 40. Uncle Walter bought “Garden at Moanalua” from the trunk of my car, and I was thrilled because he was a man of good taste. After he died I learned that my cousin Millie inherited it. I’m happy the painting is still in the family.
In 2011 another Native Hawaiian artist reminded me to reserve “one work per year” for a retrospective collection. The pieces I selected are either paintings I already decided to keep, what I have taken off the market for this purpose and like, or works in the private collections of people I felt comfortable enough to ask, “May I come to photograph the painting?” I’m still in the process of gathering the electronic images.
My most prolific period so far (35 original oils) was 1993-1994 when I devoted my time to recording Ka‘a‘awa town and the ‘ili of ‘Īoleka‘a on canvas. Most of the paintings from the one-person shows were purchased.
There was a 5-year hiatus from 1998-2002 when I concentrated my energy on developing the Hale Kū‘ai Cooperative that bought and sold Native Hawaiian made products. In 2003 I began to paint regularly in the landscape of Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Garden in the Luluku area of Kāne‘ohe.
In 2014 at 65 I was honored to deliver a commission that was a collaboration of visual ideas between me and the patron. Starting 2015 I began making collages with hand-dyed tissue paper. — Rebekah Luke
Garden at Moanalua – 1989 – Mildred Lui Collection
Kalama Beach – 1990 – Ariel Krape Hylton Collection
Pine Trees at Kalae Oio – 1991 – Artist’s Collection
Harriet the Cat – 1992 – Artist’s Collection
Mitchell’s Miss Hawaii – 1993 – Artist’s Collection
Valley of the Temple – 1993 – Artist’s Collection
Gas Pumps in Paradise – 1993
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| Anita’s Place | Kaiwikee | Edge of the Forest |
Unforgettable Iolekaa – 1994 triptych – Artist’s Collection
Yellow Plumeria – 1995 – Carol Takahashi Collection
Annie, We Love You – 1996 – Al Pi‘ikea Miyamoto Collection
Where She Took Her Bath – 1997 – Nani Ho Collection
Wild Orchid Faces – 2004 – Ruth Sinclair Collection
Luluku Patterns – 2005 – Art and Rosemary Eberhardt Collection
Rain Fantasy – 2006
Golden Retreat at Ho‘omaluhia – 2007 – Diane Bennett Collection
Looking Down Upon the Path – 2008
Morning Destination: Kalaeokaoio Beach – 2009
Welcome Spring – 2010 – Maile Williams Collection
Good Morning Kaaawa! – 2011 – Artist’s Collection
Kalo diptych – 2012 –
Eva Weiss Collection & Kingston Weiss Collection
Makapu‘u – 2013 – Kathy Cho Collection
Bluegrass Hawaii – 2013 – Maile Kim and Bren Chun Collection
Pi‘ikea’s Lo‘i Kalo – 2013 – Al Pi‘ikea Miyamoto Collection
Tantalus View from Pu‘u ‘Ōhiʻa – 2014 – Robert Tam Collection
Bromeliads – 2015 – 18” x 24” hand-dyed paper on canvas — Leslie Miller Collection
Water Lilies in Paper – 2016 / 18″ x 24″ hand-dyed tissue paper on canvas panel — Susan Arnett Collection
A Lovely Afternoon — 2017 / 20″ x 16″ hand-dyed tissue paper collage on canvas — Rebecca L. Covert Collection
FIERY VOLCANO diptych, Volcano Series — 2018 / 60” x 40” two panels combined, hand-dyed tissue paper collage on canvas — Susan Arnett Collection
CRATER VIEW, Volcano Series—2019 40″ x 30″ Hand-dyed Tissue Paper Collage on Canvas $1,200.
I think you will, Linda.
I really enjoyed looking at these and seeing your journey over more than twenty years. You inspire me to keep on painting. I want to be able to see all those colors and paint them.
What a surprise! I consider that a compliment. Thank you.
Rebekah there is something in your work that reminds me of Madge Tennent.
Good stuff.
Leilani Kama….formerly Cosmio
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