Judd Boloker Art of Hawaii Blog

First New Print of 2023

2/20/2023

Boloker, Plumeria, Plumeria Art, Plumeria Print, Oahuartist

Winding Yellow Plumeria - Print Number 177

Winding Yellow Plumeria - Print Number 177. Back to basics this year with the "dreaded" plumeria - a beautiful flower that is so elegantly simple, I find it really hard to draw. This is my fourth attempt over the years using yet another technique to try to better capture the plumeria's softness and subtlety.

Last Print of 2022 - Cryptospira Elegans

12/29/2022

Cryptospira Elegans Judd Boloker Shell Print

Cryptospira Elegans - Print Number 311

Continuing to work on the Sea Life Series - the 7th shell of the group (11th print of the folio). Cryptospira Elegans - Print Number 311. Available on our www.boloker.com store . . . . . and coming in 2023 to shows and stores. As always, the shells are available in 36 x 24 inch full sized limited edition prints as well as smaller sizes (18 x 24 and 11 x 14 matted).

Work in Progress:

People often ask how much of my work is traditionally hand drawn vs. digital work. To the right is the print as drawn by hand (as opposed to the final print above) before scanning. The shell prints tend to involve more digital work. This digital work (via Photoshop) allows for more color variation as well as techniques to bring different elements of the shell forward and backwards. The lei prints also involve some digital work, but not nearly to the same degree as the shells.

Another Sea Life Print - Orange Sea Urchin

12/3/2022

Orange Sea Urchin - Print Number 310

I've been playing around with this design since 2005 . . . . Finally feel satisfied with it.

New Shell Print

11/24/2022

Working on expanding the sea life portfolio. . . . "Banded Marble Cone" is print number 309. Available in 11 x 14 Open Edition, 18 x 24 Limited Edition, and Full Sized Limited Edition 24 x 36 matted prints. The design can be purchased on this site and will be coming to stores soon.

Photos of Work in Progress:

New Lei Print

7/21/2022

Ohia Lehua Judd Boloker Haku Lei

'Ōhi'a Lehua (Imagined) - Print Number 176

'Ōhi'a Lehua (Imagined) - New print number 176. Please note, unlike all my other work, no actual 'Ōhi'a Lehua lei was used as a model to create this print. Instead the design was literally pieced together from 55 different photographs on Photoshop. This alternative method was chosen to be extra-cautious in helping to prevent the spread of Rapid 'Ōhi'a Death which threatens this crucial native Hawaiian tree. To read more about this issue, please visit rapidohiadeath.org .

Work in progress:

This particular print relied more heavily than usual on computer work to generate the colors of the flowers. Hand drawing was used to create all the lines, but the tiny spaces between these lines did not allow for color to be adequately added. Each of my prints requires some flexibility and adjustment of technique to get the desired effect.

New Print for June

6/23/2022

Judd Boloker Haku Print

Mixed Haku with Thistles - Print Number 175

New print for June . . . . Mixed Haku with Thistles. Print Number 175. Definitely one of the most difficult prints in terms of computer work. The huge amount of small elements required multiple layers / masks to get the color match right. The print is available for purchase on this site and at our next show (Haleiwa in July) . . . . and will slowly make its way into stores soon.

Two New Prints for 2022

4/27/2022

Ginger and Peony Haku - Print 174

Cigar Flower State II - Print 131

Here are the first two new prints of 2022. "Ginger and Peony Haku" is based on the amazing creations of Umahana. As always, a big thank you goes out to him for allowing me to work with his leis. . . . . "Cigar Flower State II" is an updated version of an earlier print from 2013. As always, these prints are available at upcoming shows, on this site, and will be coming soon to stores in Hawaii.

A few photos of Ginger and Peony Haku in Progress:

Last New Work of 2021

12/17/2021

Abalone, Boloker, Judd Boloker, Donkey's Ear Abalone, Haliotis Asinina, Hawaii Art, Hawaii Artist, Shell Print

Abalone - Print Number 308

Last new print for 2021 - Abalone - Print Number 308. Some of the process is shown below: The design starts with a colored pencil drawing, followed by shading and background done digitally using a digital pen and Photoshop (only digital thumbnails and original shell photos shown).

Work in Progress Photos:

New Shell Print 2021

9/19/2021

Clamshell , Judd Boloker , Hawaii , Shell art, Paratapes undulatus

Print Number 307 - Patterned Clam Shell

Next shell print completed . . . .

Print Number 307 - Patterned Clam Shell . . . . . Scientific Name Paratapes undulatus. A 2-inch shell was the inspiration for this 24 x 36 inch full sized print (smaller versions available). I chose the shell because I really liked the pattern within the pattern (lines going the length of the shell within the zig-zags).

Early Stages

Original Shell

Pattern completed.

Burning through lots of pencils . . . .

Next Print for Sprint - Croton Mammy Haku

6/4/2021

Judd Boloker Croton Mammy Haku Lei Hawaii Art Prints

Croton Mammy Haku

Next print of 2021 completed ! Croton Mammy Haku (Print Number 173) is the third print of the year and another based on the work of the talented eco_mindful_lei . Apparently, there are a number of Croton types. I'm not sure why this one is called "Mammy." If anyone knows, it must make for a good story. . . . .

Work in Progress Photos: