Page 6 - MidWeek - May 3, 2023

6 MIDWEEK MAY 3, 2023
From stickers to aloha shirts, the whimsical art of Jennifer Arm- hold is spreading joy around Hawai‘i and beyond. Wheth- er it’s a pickle or a frog, she endows each unique charac- ter with a kick-back personal- ity or a jaunty swagger.
me. I have learned so much from Saumo and we often bounce ideas off each other. I am very grateful.”
The Colorful, Sparkling Artist Behind ‘SurfJoy’
By MaryAnne Long
Armhold, a resident of Hau‘ula, says her characters are a reflection of her person- ality and lifestyle.
“The benefit of digital cre- ation is that you’ re already coloring your work in ‘com- puter language’ — so a lot less gets lost in translation. This is especially valuable for surface design. Physical mediums, like an oil painting for exam- ple, have to be scanned and often the colors are skewed because printers can’t repli- cate the depth or hues of actual paint,” she says.
“My characters and I share a deep love and appreciation for Hawai‘i living,” she says. “They’re often portrayed surf- ing or on the beach — or just enjoying life, just like me.”
(Left) Jennifer Armhold sits among her colorful creations. (Above) Armhold’s Rippit is part of a series
of surfing frogs. PHOTOS COURTESY SURFJOY
Although she has no formal art training, she has been draw- ing little whimsical characters since childhood. Back then, she used a peanut-shell shape for their bodies and may revisit that design in the future.
When not at home working
Using digital art helps Armhold achieve consistent color intensity.
Much of her inspiration for immersing her characters in everyday life has come from the work of San Francis- co-based artist Felicia Chiao.
“I resonate deeply with her themes, which mostly revolve around being introverted and at peace in your own space at home. She was able to quit her job as an industrial de- signer to become a full-time artist,” explains Armhold. “Her technical skills regard- ing perspective are mind blowing.”
She adds that “colors bring me joy,” and credits fellow Hau‘ula artist Saumolia Puapuaga with inspiring her.
“I have a lot of Sau- mo’s color-filled paintings around the house for the same reason,” says Armhold. “When I’m busy working from home, I feel like I have a little piece of the ocean with
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