Hawai'i and the South Pacific’s pre-eminent artist, Kim McDonald, "Eats, sleeps and breathes the tropics, and then somehow magically transforms her experience into art" according to a friend. It's true; whether paddle boarding in Maui, outrigger canoeing, diving for pearls, or journeying up jungle trails to Tahiti’s breathtaking waterfalls,  Kim McDonald revels in the lush beauty and excitement of the islands— both as an acute observer and enthusiastic participant.

Perhaps that is why her works resonate so deeply. She doesn't just paint what she sees, she paints what she knows. She has spent decades exploring:  the uncanny light and shadows, the liquid moon, the impossibly lush colors and fragrances, the rich, strange music of the surf and the reef, the exhilaration of being an active part of it all--Kim knows her islands.

Kim McDonald will be joining the m/s Paul Gauguin, providing fellow enthusiasts with a fascinating multimedia exploration of Paul Gaugin’s artistic love affair with Tahiti, and 120 years later, her own. Part history, part art theory, part poetry, Kim’s presentations will explore the unparalleled allure of the islands—and the artistic challenge involved in evoking that beauty on canvas.

Language spoken: English