Abstract

Original watercolor - unframed

30" h x 11" w

 

Acrylic on paper

14" h x 11" w image matted at 20" h x 16" w 

Growing up on Hawaii Island, Mark Ley has spent every spare moment in the ocean. Diving, surfing and exploring. When his daughter came along, he shared his love of the ocean with her and over the years, his ohana developed their own form of treasuring hunting. They scour the reefs and beaches, gathering the bits and pieces left behind by other ocean explorers. And surfboard fins, stuck in the reefs, became a favorite find.

But collecting them wasn’t enough.

These reclaimed surfboard fins are then used to create one-of-a-kind works of art. Using acrylic paints and carefully constructed color palettes, Mark dips the fin into the paint and then presses it onto paper—memorializing the board, the special time with his family, and cleaning the reefs—all while providing us with original works of abstract art.

“There’s an incredible scope of shapes and sizes of fins, each with its own story and genre,” shares Mark, and through his work we become ocean explorers ourselves.

Acrylic on paper

14" h x 11" w image matted at 20" h x 16" w 

Growing up on Hawaii Island, Mark Ley has spent every spare moment in the ocean. Diving, surfing and exploring. When his daughter came along, he shared his love of the ocean with her and over the years, his ohana developed their own form of treasuring hunting. They scour the reefs and beaches, gathering the bits and pieces left behind by other ocean explorers. And surfboard fins, stuck in the reefs, became a favorite find.

But collecting them wasn’t enough.

These reclaimed surfboard fins are then used to create one-of-a-kind works of art. Using acrylic paints and carefully constructed color palettes, Mark dips the fin into the paint and then presses it onto paper—memorializing the board, the special time with his family, and cleaning the reefs—all while providing us with original works of abstract art.

“There’s an incredible scope of shapes and sizes of fins, each with its own story and genre,” shares Mark, and through his work we become ocean explorers ourselves.

Acrylic on paper

14" h x 11" w image matted at 20" h x 16" w 

Growing up on Hawaii Island, Mark Ley has spent every spare moment in the ocean. Diving, surfing and exploring. When his daughter came along, he shared his love of the ocean with her and over the years, his ohana developed their own form of treasuring hunting. They scour the reefs and beaches, gathering the bits and pieces left behind by other ocean explorers. And surfboard fins, stuck in the reefs, became a favorite find.

But collecting them wasn’t enough.

These reclaimed surfboard fins are then used to create one-of-a-kind works of art. Using acrylic paints and carefully constructed color palettes, Mark dips the fin into the paint and then presses it onto paper—memorializing the board, the special time with his family, and cleaning the reefs—all while providing us with original works of abstract art.

“There’s an incredible scope of shapes and sizes of fins, each with its own story and genre,” shares Mark, and through his work we become ocean explorers ourselves.

Acrylic on paper

14" h x 11" w image matted at 20" h x 16" w 

Growing up on Hawaii Island, Mark Ley has spent every spare moment in the ocean. Diving, surfing and exploring. When his daughter came along, he shared his love of the ocean with her and over the years, his ohana developed their own form of treasuring hunting. They scour the reefs and beaches, gathering the bits and pieces left behind by other ocean explorers. And surfboard fins, stuck in the reefs, became a favorite find.

But collecting them wasn’t enough.

These reclaimed surfboard fins are then used to create one-of-a-kind works of art. Using acrylic paints and carefully constructed color palettes, Mark dips the fin into the paint and then presses it onto paper—memorializing the board, the special time with his family, and cleaning the reefs—all while providing us with original works of abstract art.

“There’s an incredible scope of shapes and sizes of fins, each with its own story and genre,” shares Mark, and through his work we become ocean explorers ourselves.

Acrylic on paper

14" h x 11" w image matted at 20" h x 16" w 

Growing up on Hawaii Island, Mark Ley has spent every spare moment in the ocean. Diving, surfing and exploring. When his daughter came along, he shared his love of the ocean with her and over the years, his ohana developed their own form of treasuring hunting. They scour the reefs and beaches, gathering the bits and pieces left behind by other ocean explorers. And surfboard fins, stuck in the reefs, became a favorite find.

But collecting them wasn’t enough.

These reclaimed surfboard fins are then used to create one-of-a-kind works of art. Using acrylic paints and carefully constructed color palettes, Mark dips the fin into the paint and then presses it onto paper—memorializing the board, the special time with his family, and cleaning the reefs—all while providing us with original works of abstract art.

“There’s an incredible scope of shapes and sizes of fins, each with its own story and genre,” shares Mark, and through his work we become ocean explorers ourselves.

Collage on paper in koa frame
11" h x 11" w artwork

Full of rich textures, this cheerful work is part of a limited series. 

Collage on paper in koa frame
11" h x 11" w artwork

Full of rich textures, this cheerful work is part of a limited series. 

Original collage on watercolor paper
17" h x 5"

The process of collage takes Mary’s work into a new dimension. The use of Mary’s hand painted papers and additional hand made papers from around the globe create interesting texture and exaggerated movement in these collages. The effect is a visual cross between painting, mosaic and block printing. Light and color and shape taking flowers and water and landscapes to the edge of abstraction and back again. 

Original collage on watercolor paper
17" h x 5"

The process of collage takes Mary’s work into a new dimension. The use of Mary’s hand painted papers and additional hand made papers from around the globe create interesting texture and exaggerated movement in these collages. The effect is a visual cross between painting, mosaic and block printing. Light and color and shape taking flowers and water and landscapes to the edge of abstraction and back again. 

Original collage on watercolor paper
17" h x 5"

The process of collage takes Mary’s work into a new dimension. The use of Mary’s hand painted papers and additional hand made papers from around the globe create interesting texture and exaggerated movement in these collages. The effect is a visual cross between painting, mosaic and block printing. Light and color and shape taking flowers and water and landscapes to the edge of abstraction and back again. 

Original collage on watercolor paper
17" h x 5"

The process of collage takes Mary’s work into a new dimension. The use of Mary’s hand painted papers and additional hand made papers from around the globe create interesting texture and exaggerated movement in these collages. The effect is a visual cross between painting, mosaic and block printing. Light and color and shape taking flowers and water and landscapes to the edge of abstraction and back again. 

Original collage on watercolor paper
11" h x 11"

The process of collage takes Mary’s work into a new dimension. The use of Mary’s hand painted papers and additional hand made papers from around the globe create interesting texture and exaggerated movement in these collages. The effect is a visual cross between painting, mosaic and block printing. Light and color and shape taking flowers and water and landscapes to the edge of abstraction and back again. 

Original collage on watercolor paper
11" h x 11"

The process of collage takes Mary’s work into a new dimension. The use of Mary’s hand painted papers and additional hand made papers from around the globe create interesting texture and exaggerated movement in these collages. The effect is a visual cross between painting, mosaic and block printing. Light and color and shape taking flowers and water and landscapes to the edge of abstraction and back again. 

Original collage on watercolor paper
11" h x 11"

The process of collage takes Mary’s work into a new dimension. The use of Mary’s hand painted papers and additional hand made papers from around the globe create interesting texture and exaggerated movement in these collages. The effect is a visual cross between painting, mosaic and block printing. Light and color and shape taking flowers and water and landscapes to the edge of abstraction and back again. 

Acrylic on paper

14" h x 11" w image matted at 20" h x 16" w 

Growing up on Hawaii Island, Mark Ley has spent every spare moment in the ocean. Diving, surfing and exploring. When his daughter came along, he shared his love of the ocean with her and over the years, his ohana developed their own form of treasuring hunting. They scour the reefs and beaches, gathering the bits and pieces left behind by other ocean explorers. And surfboard fins, stuck in the reefs, became a favorite find.

But collecting them wasn’t enough.

These reclaimed surfboard fins are then used to create one-of-a-kind works of art. Using acrylic paints and carefully constructed color palettes, Mark dips the fin into the paint and then presses it onto paper—memorializing the board, the special time with his family, and cleaning the reefs—all while providing us with original works of abstract art.

“There’s an incredible scope of shapes and sizes of fins, each with its own story and genre,” shares Mark, and through his work we become ocean explorers ourselves.

Original watercolor - unframed

30" h x 11.5" w

"Behold the trunk of a Traveler’s Palm, also known as the White Bird of Paradise, or by its scientific name, Ravenala," shares Patrice. "The paddle-shaped leaves of this plant form a large fan as the plant grows.

The lore is that the leaves funnel water down into the trunk, creating a reservoir of water for drier times to come. It’s said that if you’re traveling and feeling parched, tap into the trunk to find water.

Whether or not the lore is true, we all have an inner reservoir of strength. Also known as resilience, we simply need to remember its presence and call upon it in times of need. May this image remind you of your own vast stores of inner resilience."

Original watercolor - unframed
Image size 15" h x 22" w

"Feeling a bit bereft as “shelter in grace” orders first occurred in March 2020, a sketch for this painting appeared in my journal while I doodled and talked to a friend," shares Patrice. "I’d been wondering what I’d want to paint next. Suddenly this idea appeared. Eureka! Space & rest are needed for new ideas to appear. TRUST is always required."

Acrylic on paper, matted with white frame

22" h x 33" w

Growing up on Hawaii Island, Mark Ley has spent every spare moment in the ocean. Diving, surfing and exploring. When his daughter came along, he shared his love of the ocean with her and over the years, his ohana developed their own form of treasuring hunting. They scour the reefs and beaches, gathering the bits and pieces left behind by other ocean explorers. And surfboard fins, stuck in the reefs, became a favorite find.

But collecting them wasn’t enough.

These reclaimed surfboards are then used to create one-of-a-kind works of art. Using acrylic paints and carefully constructed color palettes, Mark dips the fin into the paint and then presses it onto paper—memorializing the board, the special time with his family, and cleaning the reefs—all while providing us with original works of abstract art.

“There’s an incredible scope of shapes of boards, each with its own story and genre,” shares Mark, and through his work we become ocean explorers ourselves.

Acrylic on paper, matted with white frame

22" h x 33" w

Growing up on Hawaii Island, Mark Ley has spent every spare moment in the ocean. Diving, surfing and exploring. When his daughter came along, he shared his love of the ocean with her and over the years, his ohana developed their own form of treasuring hunting. They scour the reefs and beaches, gathering the bits and pieces left behind by other ocean explorers. And surfboard fins, stuck in the reefs, became a favorite find.

But collecting them wasn’t enough.

These reclaimed surfboards are then used to create one-of-a-kind works of art. Using acrylic paints and carefully constructed color palettes, Mark dips the fin into the paint and then presses it onto paper—memorializing the board, the special time with his family, and cleaning the reefs—all while providing us with original works of abstract art.

“There’s an incredible scope of shapes of boards, each with its own story and genre,” shares Mark, and through his work we become ocean explorers ourselves.

Acrylic on paper, matted with white frame

22" h x 33" w

Growing up on Hawaii Island, Mark Ley has spent every spare moment in the ocean. Diving, surfing and exploring. When his daughter came along, he shared his love of the ocean with her and over the years, his ohana developed their own form of treasuring hunting. They scour the reefs and beaches, gathering the bits and pieces left behind by other ocean explorers. And surfboard fins, stuck in the reefs, became a favorite find.

But collecting them wasn’t enough.

These reclaimed surfboards are then used to create one-of-a-kind works of art. Using acrylic paints and carefully constructed color palettes, Mark dips the fin into the paint and then presses it onto paper—memorializing the board, the special time with his family, and cleaning the reefs—all while providing us with original works of abstract art.

“There’s an incredible scope of shapes of boards, each with its own story and genre,” shares Mark, and through his work we become ocean explorers ourselves.

Acrylic on canvas - unframed
26" h x 13" w

My five-year old, Sofia, asked me a question while we were visiting Kukio Beach, “Is the ocean a girl or a boy?”

I thought about it. In French, “la mer” is feminine and means the sea. “L’océan” is masculine for ocean.

Sofia said, “I think it’s both, a girl where it’s shallow and the water is transparent and a boy when it gets deep and darker.”

The Makai Series explores the masculine and feminine components of the ocean, the ying and the yang, positive and negative energies intermingling, the empty space between objects, the calm space before the wave... There can be no light without dark, no movement without positive and negative forces.

Acrylic on paper, matted with white frame

22" h x 33" w

Growing up on Hawaii Island, Mark Ley has spent every spare moment in the ocean. Diving, surfing and exploring. When his daughter came along, he shared his love of the ocean with her and over the years, his ohana developed their own form of treasuring hunting. They scour the reefs and beaches, gathering the bits and pieces left behind by other ocean explorers. And surfboard fins, stuck in the reefs, became a favorite find.

But collecting them wasn’t enough.

These reclaimed surfboards are then used to create one-of-a-kind works of art. Using acrylic paints and carefully constructed color palettes, Mark dips the fin into the paint and then presses it onto paper—memorializing the board, the special time with his family, and cleaning the reefs—all while providing us with original works of abstract art.

“There’s an incredible scope of shapes of boards, each with its own story and genre,” shares Mark, and through his work we become ocean explorers ourselves.

Acrylic on paper, matted with white frame

22" h x 33" w

Growing up on Hawaii Island, Mark Ley has spent every spare moment in the ocean. Diving, surfing and exploring. When his daughter came along, he shared his love of the ocean with her and over the years, his ohana developed their own form of treasuring hunting. They scour the reefs and beaches, gathering the bits and pieces left behind by other ocean explorers. And surfboard fins, stuck in the reefs, became a favorite find.

But collecting them wasn’t enough.

These reclaimed surfboards are then used to create one-of-a-kind works of art. Using acrylic paints and carefully constructed color palettes, Mark dips the fin into the paint and then presses it onto paper—memorializing the board, the special time with his family, and cleaning the reefs—all while providing us with original works of abstract art.

“There’s an incredible scope of shapes of boards, each with its own story and genre,” shares Mark, and through his work we become ocean explorers ourselves.

Acrylic on paper, matted with white frame

22" h x 33" w

Growing up on Hawaii Island, Mark Ley has spent every spare moment in the ocean. Diving, surfing and exploring. When his daughter came along, he shared his love of the ocean with her and over the years, his ohana developed their own form of treasuring hunting. They scour the reefs and beaches, gathering the bits and pieces left behind by other ocean explorers. And surfboard fins, stuck in the reefs, became a favorite find.

But collecting them wasn’t enough.

These reclaimed surfboards are then used to create one-of-a-kind works of art. Using acrylic paints and carefully constructed color palettes, Mark dips the fin into the paint and then presses it onto paper—memorializing the board, the special time with his family, and cleaning the reefs—all while providing us with original works of abstract art.

“There’s an incredible scope of shapes of boards, each with its own story and genre,” shares Mark, and through his work we become ocean explorers ourselves.

Original watercolor - unframed

11" h x 30" w

Acrylic on paper

14" h x 11" w image matted at 20" h x 16" w 

Growing up on Hawaii Island, Mark Ley has spent every spare moment in the ocean. Diving, surfing and exploring. When his daughter came along, he shared his love of the ocean with her and over the years, his ohana developed their own form of treasuring hunting. They scour the reefs and beaches, gathering the bits and pieces left behind by other ocean explorers. And surfboard fins, stuck in the reefs, became a favorite find.

But collecting them wasn’t enough.

These reclaimed surfboard fins are then used to create one-of-a-kind works of art. Using acrylic paints and carefully constructed color palettes, Mark dips the fin into the paint and then presses it onto paper—memorializing the board, the special time with his family, and cleaning the reefs—all while providing us with original works of abstract art.

“There’s an incredible scope of shapes and sizes of fins, each with its own story and genre,” shares Mark, and through his work we become ocean explorers ourselves.

Acrylic on paper

14" h x 11" w image matted at 20" h x 16" w 

Growing up on Hawaii Island, Mark Ley has spent every spare moment in the ocean. Diving, surfing and exploring. When his daughter came along, he shared his love of the ocean with her and over the years, his ohana developed their own form of treasuring hunting. They scour the reefs and beaches, gathering the bits and pieces left behind by other ocean explorers. And surfboard fins, stuck in the reefs, became a favorite find.

But collecting them wasn’t enough.

These reclaimed surfboard fins are then used to create one-of-a-kind works of art. Using acrylic paints and carefully constructed color palettes, Mark dips the fin into the paint and then presses it onto paper—memorializing the board, the special time with his family, and cleaning the reefs—all while providing us with original works of abstract art.

“There’s an incredible scope of shapes and sizes of fins, each with its own story and genre,” shares Mark, and through his work we become ocean explorers ourselves.

Acrylic on paper

14" h x 11" w image matted at 20" h x 16" w 

Growing up on Hawaii Island, Mark Ley has spent every spare moment in the ocean. Diving, surfing and exploring. When his daughter came along, he shared his love of the ocean with her and over the years, his ohana developed their own form of treasuring hunting. They scour the reefs and beaches, gathering the bits and pieces left behind by other ocean explorers. And surfboard fins, stuck in the reefs, became a favorite find.

But collecting them wasn’t enough.

These reclaimed surfboard fins are then used to create one-of-a-kind works of art. Using acrylic paints and carefully constructed color palettes, Mark dips the fin into the paint and then presses it onto paper—memorializing the board, the special time with his family, and cleaning the reefs—all while providing us with original works of abstract art.

“There’s an incredible scope of shapes and sizes of fins, each with its own story and genre,” shares Mark, and through his work we become ocean explorers ourselves.

Acrylic on canvas- unframed
24" h x 24" w

 

Acrylic on canvas- unframed
24" h x 24" w

 

Original watercolor - unframed

30" h x 11" w

Original watercolor - unframed

30" h x 11" w

 

Original watercolor - unframed

30" h x 11" w