Karla Sachi Works

Karla Sachi was raised in Malibu, in the late 60's a haven for artist's and celebrities, where she states, she received "a sensational creative education." She with her poet husband Jon Woodjack, and friends Patrick & Susan Farrow, shared the old Positano's Coffee House on the cliffs overlooking Malibu--often entertaining celebrities and writers like Henry Miller, Mia Farrow (Patrick's sister), and Peter Sellers.

In 1966, Karla Sachi (then called Karla Conway), became Playboy's first Centerfold Surfer, demonstrating the skill in her April layout of riding waves in tandem with professional Malibu Surfer Jon Fain. On January 25, 1967, after a years travel through Africa and Europe, Karla gave birth a baby boy--in London. Some months later she returned to California to work in a number of teen movies which including "Fireball 500" , with Annette Funicello, Frankie Avalon, and Fabian.

In '67 Karla moved to Denver to ski Vail and Aspen, where she worked a year as a Playboy Bunny. In 1968, with her baby in tow, Karla with other gypsies, and fellini-esque period characters--wenches, jugglers and Shakespearean actors, traveled with the seasonal Renaissance Pleasure Faire. After two years she was off again to Puerto Vallerta, Mexico, to help her father with his beachfront restaurant. From Mexico she ventured further to Guatemala, then continued to search for a home, and finally found it to be Hawaii, her Grandmother's Island home--where she's lived off and on since 1978.

In the 80's her art career began with whimsical soft "life-sculptures", original works carried by Circus Circus in Las Vegas and FAO Schwartz . A gift of a 30" likeness of Hugh Hefner was commissioned by his staff for a gift--and later featured in the December '82 issue of "Playboy."

In 1987 Karla lost her only child, Aaron to a sudden illness. For several years she channeled her grief into art, and by 1997 had created over 600 paintings and sculptures. She later dropped her first name, changing it to "Sachi," a shortened version of her true maiden name, "Musacchia"--the street name posted on a main boulevard in a town in Sicily. Her fine art has granted her numerous first place awards in exhibits, and covers of noted books, periodicals as well as licensing agreements.

In 1994 Sachi's portraits of rock stars from the sixties, for the 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll commemorative calendars gained her the American Advertising Federations' prestigious, "AAA's Award of Excellence". This Rock & Roll Collection includes thirteen 24"X24" oils portraits of luminaries such as Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, and Tina Turner .

Sachi has been described as a "living master," whose work is characteristically bold, sensuous and idealistic. As well as paintings a wealth of subjects in Watercolor, Mixed Media and Oils on Canvas--including Hawaiian Monarchs for museums, her art has since grown to also include writing--non-fiction as well as children's books, Poetry, Visionary Music, and Bronze Sculpture.

Sachi's paintings have benefited marine and wildlife preservation programs such as Ted Danson's American Oceans Campaign, PORF, Dolphin Quest, Hawaii's Green Sea Turtle Tag & Release program, and Great Britain's Wildfowl & Wetland's Trust, over which Prince Charles presides.

Among collectors of this broadly talented artist's work are Michael Richards, "Kramer" of Seinfeld, Oprah Winfrey, Vice President & Mrs. Al Gore, and Yoko Ono, as well as many private corporations such as MCA Records and The Ritz Carlton Hotels.

The winter 1996 release of the highly publicized book, "Playmates" by Playboy Magazine, features her art and music.

Today Sachi resides in her mountain chalet in Holualoa-- an artist's community in the tropical misty foothills overlooking the beach town of Kona , Hawaii on the Big Island.. Much of her work is collected, exhibited throughout Hawaii and distributed worldwide. She actively supports the preservation of marine life, wildlife and encourages a balance between Man & Womankind--& Nature.