Post #379382 by THOR's on Sat, May 10, 2008 11:35 AM

ALoha All...

This is a quick thread to introduce, informally one of my latest experiments in artistic mayhem!! It started by accident..but has become my new sorta signature series endeavors. Some of my neiboring artists in Hawaii that are painters...Lassen and Wyland do this thing where they do fairly quick Chinese brush and ink paintings of dolphins and simple sea creatures in swooping lines. Basically..something that can be done in 15 minutes or less. Visitors at some of my signings have asked me why I don't offer this as well. It allows for someone to own a small original piece for a more affordable price. Well...first of all, I thought, I like this, but am not going to be a copy cat and emulate any artist. That's a bore!! However, I recalled something I did once by accident..that turned out pretty cool! This could be my answer to the challenge!

Those who know me know I love my rum. I have been known to sip a fine rum as I paint at the end of a long day. One day, I made the mistake of dipping a brush into a fine mug of sipping rum. It was a Lemon Hart I think. Not a bad rum to sip. Well, this brush that I wanted to have full of water to blend an area of acrylic washes drenched my canvas with a golden brown, sweet smelling splash of magic. I though..wow..this is a beautiful, subtle golden brown. I was horrified at ruining my rum, but delighted at the idea of making good use of my tainted drink.

Fast forwarding...I experimented with rum as a sort of "Ink." I found that I could light a Demerara 151 rum in a Sake cup and as it burned, I would do a fast, light pencil sketch on watercolor paper. The rum would reduce in volume and darken in color. It also left a wonderful caramelized residue on the inside of the cup I could pull my brush into for the darkest brown accents in my sketch. So..by the flickering glow of rum on a cool spring night..I painted. I am having a ball!!! (yes..I do drink a little of my "ink"..to justify my investments in the finer rums!!

We are just about to release a framed series of these under UV glass..all are small..about 11"by 14" unframed. The response has been unbelievable so far..so it looks like this is one of my fun kinna trademark creations. I committed to my publishers to paint as many as possible this month in rum!! We hope to have a good stock for summer. Poor me!!! Everything in my studio smells like rum!! What a true pirates dream!

Anyway, just sharing with my friends here as a sort of first glimpse. Figured you guys would get a kick out of it. Here are a few. I just paint whatever fun thing that comes from my head at the time. In my mind, I imagine being a pirate at sea who paints things he saw on adventures or aboard ship. So..the subject matter is based on this idea. I spray fix them at the end to seal the pieces. The UV protective glass will assure these will not fade over the years.

So..there's my answer to competing with fellow artists in faster brush paintings in Hawaii!! I think it suits me just fine!! If you visit Waikiki this summer..I plan to do a bunch in the gallery and you can wittness the burning event. It will smell like a still in there... but as long as I don't lose my goatee or eyebrows, I should kick out a few fun rum soaked sketches for the eve.

Oh, On a side note. I posted a response to a thread here regarding the closing of the Holakai grill and feelings on the new Beachwalk development in Waikiki. There was a comment or two where some TC'ers were concerned the THOR STOR closed it's doors. Not the CASE!! We just moved to the new area on Lewer's street and if you read the thread comment there it explains our new plans for this season!! LOTS of fun stuff in store!!! We are growing!

Anyway.. I got rum on fire that's just the right color to paint with, so I better get goin!!...see ya around soon!! some rum sketches below!!! Tiki's and more pirates coming soon! Check out my MYSPACE page for better pictures...it's @ http://www.myspace.com/thor_hawaii

[ Edited by: THOR's 2008-05-10 11:43 ]

[ Edited by: thor's 2008-05-11 12:30 ]