The Place to Be
Makeup on Canvas
16" x 20"
 
The Place to Be is a dazzling, high-energy tribute to the nocturnal elegance of Waikīkī. Born from a night of creative camaraderie with fellow artists at the Coconut Club—perched on the 21st floor of the Twin Fin Hotel—this piece carries a profound full-circle energy. It was within those same walls I had my very first solo gallery residency for almost four years, making this view as much a homecoming as it is a landscape.
 
The artwork challenges the idea that Hawaiʻi’s beauty fades with the sun. Instead, it captures the sophisticated "hustle" of the city from afar, where the urban glow meets the rhythmic pulse of the Pacific.
 
To capture the electric atmosphere of a Waikīkī evening, I dedicated over 40 hours of meticulous layering, using a complex array of mixed media. Using my signature illumination method, I utilized nearly 80 different products, and meticulously "lit" each window and streetscape to ensure the city shines with a realistic, golden brilliance.  The base of the piece was specifically engineered to create a sense of movement, mimicking the white crests of the waves as they roll toward the shore under the moonlight.
 
The composition offers a sweeping, bird’s-eye view that balances the serenity of the ocean with the vibrant, neon heartbeat of the town below.
 
"The Place to Be" comes already framed and wire hung. All you need to place it in your home is put a nail or screw in the wall and you are set! It will come with a microfiber duster and a certificate of authenticity certifying that it is hand created by Danielle.