PATRICK CHING

Born in Hawaii in 1962, Patrick Ching has spent a lifetime teaching people about nature through his art. He grew up exploring the valleys and shorelines of Hawaii and by age sixteen was a professional artist painting everything from surfboards coconuts to large murals.

Patrick received a scholarship and attended the Otis/Parsons Art Institute in Los Angeles, the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he studied print making, and Leeward College where he majored in ceramics. His most influential artistic mentors were Jim Rayker, Herb Kane, and international surrealist artist John Pitre.

Patrick volunteered for many wildlife organizations and eventually became a ranger for the US Fish and Wildlife Service at the Kīlauea lighthouse on Kaua‘i. He also lived for extended periods of time among sea turtles and monk seals on the remote North Western Hawaiian Islands.

In 1984 Patrick wrote his first coloring books on Hawaiian animals and the success of those books launched his publishing career and he has since authored many award-winning books including Sea Turtles of Hawaii, The Hawaiian Monk Seal.

His latest book entitled “Honu and Hina” was illustrated with the help of many children, teachers and parents. It received the Hawaii Book Publisher’s association’s “Ka Palapala Po’okela” award for the most excellent children’s book of 2015.

From 1986-1992 Patrick wrote a monthly column in the Hawaiian newspaper “Ka Wai Ola O OHA”.

The column entitled “Naturally Hawaiian” featured a different Hawaiian animal each month.

Naturally Hawaiian was also the name of Ching’s business and he opened the first of his art galleries and art schools under that name in 1996 in Waimanalo, Oahu. In 2008 he opened his next gallery in Princeville, Kaua’i.

Patrick has done three State Foundation on Culture and Arts commissions including “Moanalua Memories” acrylic painting at the Salt Lake Public Library in 1997, “Waimānalo” ceramic tile mural at Pope Elementary in 2005, and Ka Makani Lehua ceramic and glass mural at Lehua Elementary School in 2015.

Follow Patrick on Instagram: @patrickchingartist