Post #505376 by Benzart on Tue, Jan 19, 2010 4:53 AM

JUST Ran across this,, THOR,You are sick and your works are way out there sick too.
This was incredible.

On 2008-10-09 09:54, THOR's wrote:
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.tikicentral.com/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  

[ Edited by: THOR's 2008-10-09 10:24 ]