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Tattoo Detour. This Jack Balas solo is dominated by watercolors and drawings, though there are also some oil and mixed-media paintings included. Most of the pieces were done during a working vacation Balas took to Hawaii. It was the first time the artist ever created "out of a suitcase," he said, and he loved it. The drawings, which are freely done in ink, like doodles or scribbles, were created at coffee shops and restaurants. They depict surfers in unlikely settings, like a guy riding his board on a table, or another with trees coming out of the board. For the more finished pieces, Balas began by sketching the Hawaiian scenery, especially the beach, and photographing the people there, both candidly and in poses. It is no surprise, considering his oeuvre, that most of the models were extremely fit young men. Back in the hotel room, Balas merged the imagery in his studies -- landscapes and people -- to come up with his watercolors and paintings, a number of which really hit the mark. Through August 2 at Robischon Gallery, 1740 Wazee Street, 303-298-7788, www.robischongallery.com. Reviewed July 17.