"Cecilia the Psychedelic Seabird" original watercolor

I sold the original painting but prints of this fabulous bird are available through Fine Art America, this one's called "Cecilia the Psychedelic Seabird" ~ Prints available here: http://fineartamerica.com/featured/cecilia-the-psychedelic-seabird-erika-swartzkopf.html?newartwork=true
ALOHA

Aloha, All! 

Well, it's been almost a year since I started this blog and I'm SO excited that I've had more than 7,000 views, thank you all SO much for following along with me! ~ I decided to do a 'lil retrospective of 2011 with 15 of my very favorite photos from last year - some of them are available as prints on Fine Art America, as well. The pictures of me are mostly taken by my husband, Joe Lohmeier and the pic of us at the big tree was taken by Anela Lauren. Everything else was taken by me. 

Looking forward to starting to do some silver-wrapped beachglass jewelry give-aways this year, so be sure to watch for that!  Will post more fabulous art and photos reflecting this wonderful, beautiful land of Aloha this year, spring is coming, here in the islands. Continue on my journey with me~

Erika and Joe in Kauai, March 2011 

Cool surgeonfish we saw in Lydgate Park, Kauai, March 2011 
Prints available here: http://fineartamerica.com/featured/blue-and-yellow-hawaiian-reef-fish-erika-swartzkopf.html

Huge trees in Kauai! March 2011 

BEST waterfall I have ever seen!  Kauai March 2011. Prints available here: http://fineartamerica.com/featured/best-waterfall-erika-swartzkopf.html?newartwork=true

A 'lil psychedelic digital art, prints available here: http://fineartamerica.com/featured/waterfall-mana-erika-swartzkopf.html

A Makua Beach birthday in May 2011 

Birthday Makua Crew 2011 

Upper lanai view from Bitsey Kelley's house, May 2011

Westside sunset, Makaha Fall 2011. Prints available here: http://fineartamerica.com/featured/makaha-sunset-erika-swartzkopf.html

Comedy Queen, the Dragon Upstairs  August 2011 

Waimanalo boogie-boarding 

My wonderful Joe at one of my comedy performances 

Comedy at the Dragon Upstairs September 2011 

Hiking to the Makapu'u Lighthouse December 2011 

Turtle at kaimana Beach!

The Waikiki Aquarium

Visited the Waikiki Aquarium the other day with family in town, my mom and her boyfriend, Nick.  Hadn't been there in a while and saw some awesome things and got some nice pictures. Check it out if you're on Oahu, we were so impressed with all the exhibits.

 We were told this Hawaiian monk seal is blind but can see shadows - he came right up to this tourist kid!

 Mom and a Humuhumunukunukuapua'a fish (Hawaii state fish)

 The monk seal looked like a person standing in the water like that!

Giant clams 

My favorite fish!  I'm thinking I will do a fish painting based on this one, love the color and shape of the tail~

LOVE the designs on this one~ 

A starfish leg, growing four new legs at once! 

Jellyfish 

This guy was checking out all the tourists" "Hello, Everybody!" 

Another inspiration for a fish painting

1st Friday gallery walk and a ride on the Atlantis submarine

We had a fun nite at 1st Friday with mom and Nick, so nice to entertain relatives because you get to do all the touristy things you never otherwise have time for - stumbled into James B. McCarthy and Kim Mackenzie playin' music at the Mendonca bldg shortly after we found the free pupus and martinis then checked out the cool and talented capoeira dancers outside Indigo and a kick-ass, four-piece band on a street corner that had a cello player and a guy playing a fiddle like a mandolin. Hilight of the night? At Mark's Garage gallery, listening to a DJ and watching rare Hawaiian bird videos as a marching band came in the room and the horn player was making shadow puppets goiung after the birdies on the wall. Gotta love 1st Friday!

Then, we went on the Atlantis submarine ride and cruised the real and man-made reefs off the Hilton in Waikiki - we were impressed by how much we could see 100 feet down there, check out our cool pictures - Aloha!

 James McCarthy on guitar and Kim MacKenzie on fiddle

 1st Friday Capoira dancers behind Indigo restaurant (Brazilian martial arts dancing)

 Mom Diane and nick cheering on the Capoira dancers

 Cool band we ran into with cello player and guy playing fiddle like a mandolin

 We start our Atlantis submarine adventure!

 Waiting for the shuttle boat

View from the shuttle boat 

Lookin' at the fish through the submarine porthole 100 feet down! 

So many fish!  They explained you can't see the bright colors of the fish at this depth (100 feet) Everything took on a blue cast, even our clothes inside the sub 

 Mom got some great pics!

The captain of the sub - They explained that the subs run on huge, rechargeable batteries

Artificial reef