Artwork

Like many San Diego County teen-age boys in the '60s, Hosaka took to riding motorcycles in the canyons near his Fletcher Hills home. He started racing in 1966 and hit the big time at the end of the 1970 season, when he finished eighth in his first AMA Nationals event at Houston. He awoke on the morning of Feb. 7, 1971 as one of the nation's up-and-coming motorcycle racers. He finished the day a quadriplegic fighting for his life. Fifteen years ago, after yet another round of surgery further restricted his body's ability to function, the Mira Mesa resident returned to a love that predated motorcycles -- painting. My wife (Carol) bought me some watercolor pencils and I started by dabbling," he said. "Then I discovered I could put my emotions on canvas."
"At first, I was doing it for fun . . . for therapy," Hosaka said. "Then, I started to think I had a story to tell and maybe I could tell it through my paintings." And when he recalled the music and emotions of his rehab, Hosaka began a journey. "Rock Visuals" has nothing to do with his youth riding cycles in the desert. It speaks of his view from the inside out. These days, Wayne creates his water-colors by the only means he has available, by holding the brush with his mouth. His story is both gut-wrenchingly tragic and redeeming at the same time. His art-work speaks for itself.

 

Billie Holiday
7 1/2" X 9 1/2"
Watercolor on archival paper

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