The Artist Gill and the Island Essence Vintage Line

In 2001 Island Essence created the Tropical Elegance Body and Spa line, and the owners purchased some of Gill’s work for their labels. Created by the artist Gil in the 1930’s, the art depicts the romance and nostalgia of an earlier time in Hawaii.

Gill was an elusive Californian airbrush artist who layered complex textures to capture the grace and beauty of the Hawaiian wahine and kane. Today, Gill’s work is regarded as the most recognizable of the popular Hawaiian vintage era of the golden era of travel to the islands.

Island Essence still uses Gill’s artwork on our Vintage Line of products including lotions, body washes, shampoos, conditioners, colognes, and bath oils—all in the fragrances of the Hawaiian islands, created and handcrafted in our Island Essence factory in Maui.