Page 17 - MidWeek - Sep 22 2021

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021 MIDWEEK 17
New Style Makes Artist Feel ‘Alive’
FROM PAGE 12
I’m always like, ‘Sweet! Punky Aloha lives to see an- other day ... the art directors (from brands like Amazon and Sephora) know who I am, pat yourself on the back.’ But it doesn’t influence the way I work on the project because I get so excited about working with small businesses in Ha- wai‘i. That’s my bread and butter. That’s why I am where I am.”
my artistic journey,” she says, adding that she spent her ear- ly college years splitting time between the fine arts classes at Windward CC and the digital arts classes at Leeward Com- munity College.
painting, drawing from life. That kind of stuff was really important to me, it still is.”
super-happy, super-positive, that is something that I had to grow into because I think I cre- ate work honestly, and when I was younger and didn’t know who I was and figuring myself out, things were a little more — glum, I think,” she recalls with a rueful chuckle.
The Kailua native grew up immersed in art. She remem- bers going with her mom to her art classes at Windward Community College, where her mom took classes from Snowden Hodges. Years later, when Tuiasoa was at Windward CC, the man she describes as “another father figure” taught her as well.
“I think that first year, I made, $200, $500 ... the whole year!”
“He’s such a big, big part of
“A lot of figure drawing, oil
Humble beginnings, for sure. However, Tuiasoa per- severed. She is quick to credit partner Keali‘i Arakaki and their parents for supporting their family — which includes her 15-year-old daughter, Tei- sa Balsano, and 5-year-old son, Ehukai Arakaki — during those early years.
That ability to visual- ly express her feelings and thoughts is no doubt why she was tapped for topical artwork like those for AAPI Heritage Month campaigns for Ama- zon, Sephora and AT&T.
Along with her childhood surrounded her mother’s art, the Kailua High School grad- uate credits the strong arts programs at Windward and Leeward community colleges for her foundation in both fine and digital arts. After her ma- triculation, she moved on to Laguna College of Art and Design. She says that part of the reason why she chose the campus was because “it was super close to the beach.” But she points out that the school had a good foundational arts program.
Once back in Hawai‘i, Tu- iasoa knew she had to make a commitment to starting her business.
“I did it really out of des- peration because we had no money,” she says.
“As I grew into myself and learned to love myself and my culture, it really started to in- form this new style. I literally just felt alive. I put that on pa- per because I was feeling alive and so happy and grateful to be where I am and who I am.”
So, in 2018, Punky Aloha was born.
The 38-year-old notes that her art has evolved over time. “I don’t know how to real-
Tuiasoa’s come a long way from that triple-digit profit first year. She had a full schedule of work and she was invited to create a mural at the POW! WOW! The First Decade ex- hibit at Bishop Museum.
ly describe (my style),” she explains. “I think the ‘aloha’ part of Punky Aloha is my ethos. That’s how I conduct my business, how I create my art- work, it’s the story behind my artwork. It’s how I live my life, how so many people here live our lives. And, ‘punky’ is just the description of the aesthet- ic that I use, how I approach design.
“It was just too much amaz- ing-ness coming at me at once,” she describes the ex- perience of being surrounded by world-class street artists for the week that they were all at Bishop Museum, creating their murals for the exhibit.
Tuiasoa says that no matter the client, her style and her perspective are always present in her work. She was recently tapped to work on campaigns highlighting AAPI Heritage Month by Amazon (top) and Sephora (bottom). IMAGES COURTESY SHAR TUIASOA
“But coming into this place where I am right now, where everything is brightly colored,
It’s that spirit of camarade- rie, along with a desire to lift up Hawai‘i, that inspires her work.
Tuiasoa isn’t about to slow down anytime soon. Her online shop is scheduled to launch at the end of Septem- ber (learn more about her and where her work may be pur- chased at punkyaloha.com or follow her on Instagram at @ punkyaloha). She also has a new mural going up at the new Target in Līhu‘e.
When she reflects on how far she’s come, she’s quick to point out that she’s not one to take any of it for granted.
“I think my passion lies more so with working with Hawai‘i businesses because of that relationship we have with each other ... building each other up so we’re not always so reliant on outside sources of in- come for Hawai‘i. I think that’s something I’m really passion- ate about. Keeping things re- ally local and the community
“I understand and recog- nize that I’m really blessed to be busy every day,” she says. “I’m so grateful.
base. I get excited either way. Amazon’s cool, but you know doing work with Mahina Made is also amazing.”
Beyond that, Tuiasoa has a children’s book coming out in summer 2022, called Punky Aloha. It will be the first of two books she’s writing and illustrating.
(Above) Shar Tuiasoa worked with one of her “favorite collaborators,” Kate Wadsworth, on a mural for Pow! Wow! The First Decade at Bishop Museum. PHOTO COURTESY SHAR TUIASOA (Inset) While most of her work is digital, she loves working with oil paints and charcoals.
“Target was actually a dream client of mine, a buck- et list client,” she says of the store, which is slated to open in November.
“I don’t think I’ll ever feel like ‘Oh, this is my Cinderella moment: I’m here, I’ve arrived at the ball,’ you know? I don’t think that moment will ever come.”