Local artist JT Ojerio shares her aloha and teaches us how to draw her signature hibiscus

McKenna Maduli, host of Talk Story, welcomes JT Ojerio onto the show. JT is a Punahou grad and wrestler with a Master’s Degree in Exercise Physiology, but she discovered her talents go well beyond the gym. She is a self-taught artist that found the therapeutic healing powers of art as she recovered from a surgery during her time in Chicago. While studying on the mainland, JT was missing her Island home and found comfort bringing the beauty of Hawai’i to life on paper. JT presents McKenna with a beautiful self-portrait and gives her and her one-man band dad Kata Maduli an art lesson: 101 on how to draw her signature “perfectly imperfect” hibiscus flower.

DOWNLOAD: Hibiscus flower drawing template.

ABOUT: JT Ojerio is a self-taught artist that was born and raised on the beautiful island of Oahu, Hawai’i. Although grew up in Pearl City Palisades, her family ties are from Waianae and Kailua Kona, and she attended Punahou School where she took her one and only art class. Her creative journey did not actually begin until much later in life, after earning her Masters in Exercise Physiology in Chicago and a Post-Professional Certification of Pain Medicine from USC. In 2017 she suffered a hip injury that resulted in reconstructive surgery and a long recovery process away from home. During this down time, she was able to explore her creative side for the first time and began drawing images that reminded her of Hawaii and the aloha spirit she missed so much. She quickly fell in love with the peace drawing gave her and continued on after her recovery with her best friend at her side, her pup Mele.

For More Information: @alohademele, www.alohademele.com

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