pots made in kaaawa, hawaii
pots made in kaaawa, hawaii
Each month, Icky Love Art Loft & Gallery features a new artist working in Hawai‘i. All artwork displayed in the gallery will be available for purchase. If you would like a virtual tour or private appointment, please contact us.
Janet Meinke-Lau is a watercolor artist and surfer whose paintings are inspired by life in Hawaii. From surfing at dawn to smelling plumeria blossoms at dusk, the ocean and the natural world bring her a sense of connection and wonder for life and all the beauty it holds. In her paintings, Janet seeks to capture the emotions of being alive in this glorious world. From the moment when paint first touches paper, she is focused, inspired, and invigorated to create. She is in flow.
Janet has exhibited at several juried Hawaii Watercolor Society shows, and sells her art at local galleries including Magnolia Hawaii, Polu Gallery, and Icky Love Art Loft & Gallery, in addition to national retailers such as HomeGoods and Target.
We focus on the natural world, noticing the powerful medicine that is held in green and growing things, and the air, light, and water that sustain them. These are the same elements that sustain us – we are also all growing our own medicine, as we are growing our own healing potential.
- Education Incubator, Foundations of ALOHA + Mahina Manaʻo 6.7.2023
This collection is inspired by my personal journey of healing and growing. In the midst of a difficult separation and eventual divorce, I started filling my home with indoor plants. While I nurture the plants, I am also nurturing myself – checking in, observing and attending to my needs. Am I home enough to water my plants regularly? Am I giving myself enough rest and self-care?
What am I trying to heal from?
Pain. The pain of lost love, lost family. The pain of not feeling good enough. The pain of childhood loneliness. Etcetera.
The process of building the paintings layer by layer is slow and tedious, much like the healing process itself. I am learning to feel my emotions and let them go, but it’s not easy and I must continually work at it. Healing requires facing pain, fear, and several other negative emotions, but eventually it paves the way for the good stuff - joy, wisdom, love. Being healed results in peace, kindness, grace, forgiveness, improved relationships, and the freedom to respond instead of react. As I grow my love for myself, my capacity to love others grows. To heal the world, we start with healing ourselves.
