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"trader hic's" finally painted and posted here!! enjoy!!! |
THOR's
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 30, 2004
Posts: 481 |  Posted: 2008-10-09 09:54 am Permalink
ALOHA ALL!
My painting I shared the thinking process with you all on was finished almost a year ago. I have had several TC'ers ask me at events why I have not posted the final result, and I have no excuses, except I just plain forgot! This painting kept being postponed for other more "marketable" images and sat in drawing form for a few years until it was finally painted around this time last year. All those who understand Tiki have loved this piece..but those who do not have said this was about the weirdest freaking image they ever saw! I was accused of doing speedballs chased by corn liquor to come up with such nonsense.
To view the very first idea sketches in my sketchbook and the feedback from all the great TC friends, view the original thread: http://www.tikiroom.com/tikicentral/bb/viewtopic.php?topic=20312&forum=18&hilite=trader%20hic's&PHPSESSID=8d662eb68caeb5f54a63d3b175782098
So here it is!! Inspired by my trips to paint old farm houses while at Disney and doing what we called "paint-outs". I visited many old barns in the deep mid-west..and wondered what would happen is some homespun farmer out there wanted to BS all his neighbors and kin into thinking he had been to the Islands and knew how to create an "authentic" Tiki bar. So he took all his farming junk, his wild imagination and talent for weaving tales about his adventures in Tiki and created this! ENJOY!! The Mai Tai's are "genuine" plain label punch and fine corn liquor!! OH...and they are served up in hand painted "Tiki" milk bottles, garnished with REAL canned pineapple rings and maraschino cherries straight from the jar! Great with a pickle or corn on the cobb..FREE from the Poo Poo platter!!!
ENJOY!
This guy is stealing from the pickled egg lava lamp...note the cork lei, carved apple core tiki necklace and magnificent POO POO platter!! Nothin' like "Cheese Wup" on white bread and corn on a stick too..and FREE yet!!!
What great puffer lights can be made with a nice hot water bottle, a couple corks and a hand full of toothpicks!! That old mounted trout sure came in handy!! Just add an old butcher knife and twine and they'll all believe its a real life "Tropical sordfish from "Hawaia"!! Strung tin cans are the base of one of two palm tree and nothin' like chicken wire for fish netting! Dig the farmer's wife in the back!! She makes real hula dancer's "pale" in comparison!!
Here's a better view of the other "palm tree" made of a couple moose antler plaques, bowling ball "coconuts" and strung tin can trunk. A neighbor farmer tries out the "surfing simulator" made out of an old Ironing board. Note the "januine" shark jaws above the door(bear trap), and the "Moo Moo" with Hawaiian Island markings(miracle?... or was it from the help of a little creative white wash adjustments??).
Now meet "Trader Hic" himself..tendin' to bar! He is cleanin' off a milk bottle for the next customer. Note his hand carved Tiki pendant("carrot wood" of course!). His authentic Island "Parit" sits patiently in it's bike inner tube ring perch. No FEEDIN', now!!..He's on strict exotic diet (most likely the Poo Poo's).
last but not least,this shows a close up of a "hillbilly outrigger". This one is a fountain and jacuzzi! He is shootin' us the Shaka! Surrounding him are two of the Tiki's made of stuff found around the farm.
Soooooo FOLKS!! If Ya ever make it to The Trader's parts!! Look Him up!!! Rest assured...you can find a little Tiki in a LOT of unlikely places!!!
Look for more of this series.. It's part of the "Home Spun Tiki Bars" Series I plan to continue where you will see the creativity of Tiki bars in basements and backyards that refuse to be without Tiki..and makeeTiki out of whatever is available!!
Aloha y'All!! THOR
[ This Message was edited by: THOR's 2008-10-09 10:24 ]
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Chongolio
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 02, 2002
Posts: 2765
From: The Coast of Kauai
| Posted: 2008-10-09 10:25 am Permalink
Yee hoo that looks like a bar where you might find my kin folks talkin' story like about the time grandpappy while all snockered up on roadhouse corn tried to tie a grass skirt to the neighbors sow. Well that ol pig knocked him clear o'er into the still and Grandpappy burned his sunday britches clean through to the skin. He ended up marrying that pig.
As always an amazing piece of work Thor. So much to take in and boggle on.
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THOR's
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 30, 2004
Posts: 481 | Posted: 2008-10-09 10:35 am Permalink
Chongolio!! YOU are a HOOT!!! lol!! Just don't get Squid started on this Hillbilly banter again...He can go on till the cows come home!!! Giggle....Snort~
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TikiG
Grand Member (2 years) 
Joined: Jun 17, 2008
Posts: 1519
From: Palmdale, California
| Posted: 2008-10-09 10:45 am Permalink
Thor -
GOD THIS IS HILARIOUS - A true modern classic!
This is on par with anything created for MAD magazine - and I say this with utmost respect and admiration. Your technique is so intense, the characters are spot on and the end result is universal; The scene created here inspires out-bursts of laughter from everybody I've shown this to.
I'm honored to have the chance to express my gratitude to you here on this forum, and I look forward to all of your future works that share the same degree of brilliant execution and level of comedy / satire that this piece explodes with. Thanks Tom for sharing.
Cheers!
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Swanky
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 03, 2002
Posts: 4807
From: Hapa Haole Hideaway, TN
| Posted: 2008-10-09 10:47 am Permalink
Ah bleve that's just over the ridge from Nawger Nob up in Townsend. Just past Tater Sparks place.
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little lost tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 12, 2006
Posts: 7460
From: Orange,CA-right near the Circle!
| Posted: 2008-10-09 11:06 am Permalink
Very Nice, Tom!
You're an incredible artist
with an incredible imagination !
what a powerful combo!
i just wish we had a Trader Hicks in Danville, Illinois
where i grew up....
free pickles...man!
Kudos to You-dos!
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MadDogMike
Grand Member (3 years) 
Joined: Mar 30, 2008
Posts: 6408
From: The Anvil of the Sun
| Posted: 2008-10-09 12:37 pm Permalink
There's a fine line between lunacy and genius...that's all I have to say 'bout that  Great work! I had seen your amazing shrunken heads in various posts but somehow missed your paintings, guess I'll have to go back and search them out.
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twitch
Grand Member (4 years) 
Joined: May 12, 2006
Posts: 415
From: Vacant lot where T. Vic's, Van. was
| Posted: 2008-10-09 3:55 pm Permalink
That is completely awesome. And the light/coloring is amazing. Brings back memories of visiting the relatives in Saskatchewan. (Well, sorta)
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hewey
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 14, 2004
Posts: 4270
From: Sydney, Australia
| Posted: 2008-10-10 12:13 am Permalink
Looks great, as Id expect from you  Some great ideas in there
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croe67
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 05, 2003
Posts: 1011
From: Land of Cheese & Beer
| Posted: 2008-10-10 10:16 am Permalink
Love the puffer fish water bottle
Thanks for sharing, Thor - Fabulous!!!!!!
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THOR's
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 30, 2004
Posts: 481 | Posted: 2008-10-12 10:34 am Permalink
Thanks!! I couldn't think of anything at the time to be glass fishfloats that would be in a barn....so went with the puffer bottles. Anyway..I am currently working on what I call "Huma Hummer". It's a view at what a hard core Tiki fan does with a military hummer, a .50 cal. machine gun and other military periphenalia in the middle of the Iraqui dessert amid the date palms. Stay tuned!! Thjat will be done in the next couple days!
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Robb Hamel
Grand Member (first year) 
Joined: Mar 07, 2008
Posts: 1013
From: Ohio
| Posted: 2008-10-12 3:19 pm Permalink
This is a MONSTER piece of work, nothing less.
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danlovestikis
Grand Member (8 years) 
Joined: Jun 17, 2002
Posts: 3568 | Posted: 2008-10-12 4:20 pm Permalink
I'm sitting here thinking that I can't even find the right words to say how I feel. It's so fun and imaginative and covers ever base, a great work of art.
We are looking forward to all the tiki treasures we signed up for at Oasis 8. You rock. Wendy and Dan
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[ This Message was edited by: danlovestikis 2008-10-12 16:26 ]
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THOR's
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 30, 2004
Posts: 481 | Posted: 2008-10-12 5:26 pm Permalink
Thanks Dan and Wendy!! My goodness I look hung over in all the Oasis pics I have seen!! HAaaa It was great meeting you.
Robb, I have been meaning to write on your blog for months. Your velvets are absolutely AWESOME!!! I have a series I began a while back that sold well in the Gallery and have all sorts of ideas I need to get onto the fuzzy canvas of love myself. I appreciate your sense of light and we share a similar background in past careers where we had to learn to imagine light and form when inventing things that don't exist. Anyway..I love your work as well and send you at LEAST equal praise.
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TIKI-TONGA
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Dec 08, 2004
Posts: 317
From: Arcadia Ca.
| Posted: 2008-10-12 5:46 pm Permalink
Fantastic painting Tom! Love the depth and detail in it, from behind the bar to outside the front door. Great sense of humor too. Kudos to you.
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