LUAU, AMERICAN SAMOA, watercolor on Arches

LUAU, AMERICAN SAMOA, watercolor on Arches paper, 7.5x10".
Painted during my recent cruise from Los Angeles to the South Pacific islands of both Samoas, and the French Polynesia. The luau in Samoa is cooked ON the ground, while in Hawaii they cook the pig UNDER the ground, other than that, I think it is pretty similar. Delicious!!!

Basket Weaver in Papeete, Tahiti, watercolor on Arches

BASKET WEAVER IN PAPEETE, TAHITI, 7.5x10" watercolor on Arches paper.

The skill and speed of this woman, weaving hats, baskets, flower crowns, was impressive to watch. Papeete is a big town, capital of Tahiti in French Polynesia. People here speak Tahitian and French. They use the French Francs as currency. It is interesting that they are not used in France any more, only here. So the French government makes the Francs especially for them. They are French, but the pictures on the bills are of Tahitian people. Very cool!