Post #309689 by little lost tiki on Tue, May 29, 2007 10:25 PM

Thanks Sneaky, for allowing me to return some of the inspiration your thread has given me!
Jen,have those faces started talking yet?
Brad,Thanks man! I was hoping to get a "double-image" thing going with the faces...
we gotta get you on track for a mug,man! Have you seen Paipo's "Creature" carving?
between that and the mug in your mysterious maiden's hand...it's time for a COTBL revival!
Thanks Clarita! You need to make a mug too! You already know how to carve real good,the rest is easy!
Randy! Missin your amp-iness and enthusiasm already! when you comin back to visit us Landlubbers? "Starry Night",eh? I also like that one to one of Rousseau's jungle paintings meet Miro or Klee...I got a new one planned for this or next week, so keep your eyes peeled!
Foamy,thank you sir! I agree with GROG and will just keep with the "prolific",the"talented" part makes me blush.Us artists are never wholly satisfied with the talent part because it never captures the pictures behind our eyeballs...Miro referred to that as "Divine Discontent" Seeing the Divine, but only able to portray a glimpse of it....Sigh!
Had the Best Memorial Day weekend,from an ArtJam with Kirby and Clysdalle on Friday to seeing all the TC ohana the rest of the weekend..Truly fun and inspiring! Kirby showed me the painting he created for the London Luau-pretty cool! You'll see it soon enough! And Dave carved a whole piece that night! Kirbs also did a Bob Ross Painting with a tiki in it....I'll have to get a shot of that for ya! He also did a pretty cool little carving that night....Artjams rock! i think all our IQ's went up at least 5-6 points!
Anyways,being the fluttering Attention Deficit Disorder Boy lately,I thought i'd START yet another painting,and leave those other 3 to gather a few more cobwebs (Black widow ones,too! Yikes!)This one has been whispering since the Tiki Farm Parking Lot Sale,where i found it at Bamboo Ben's booth.it was a beautiful piece and i even told him i was gonna paint on it,and he didn't seem to mind(he doesn't have separation anxiety like normal artists).Now, the problem with painting over some body's stuff is that you'd like some of the previous artist to show thru-an homage if you will,to the original creator of that piece...So ,first I started with some sketchbook entries...

Nope! Next!

Nope! Next!

Maybe!No! Ben's frame deserves something better!

Hell Naw! Next!

Wait....That's it!
They always talk about "the Gaze",and how primitive works,especially those from New Guinea have an almost otherworldly power imbibed into the eyes of their carvings and art.This could possibly be the subject that could compliment the Master's frame....
So I went for it! And here's what i got so far!

Sorry about the bitmapped cut-out...that was for GROG...
Note the beautiful color and burnt accents on that Bamboo! It's like he's got an Angel
guiding his hand....well, maybe a menehune at least!
Got MOST of the first phase of the lighting,shadow,and outlining done,,,still a little way to go,but this one has a groovin mana to it...so much, I thought a sneak peek would be in order....I started on a gesso/gouache ground and just built it up from there!
Here's some details...
Here's the very top so far...notice the skull that gives it a little bit of uneasiness....

Gotta love that smile!

I threw in some Orongo birdmen for good measure.... i like their hands...

And here's an extra close-up just to give y'all a peek at how I build up and layer these puppies....

So there you have it.....I hope Ben approves of me co-opting his work,,,
If not,this will be my final post! A pleasure to have known you TC ohana! :)
Thanks for visiting!