tikis by marcus thorn

gotta love tikis and drums....I couldn't quite picture where this was going after just one
post....but I can see clearly now. Looks like we're gonna have another really nice one.
I like the "motion" in the hands.

Thanks congatiki for the compliment.

Yeh man! The beatnik starts to take shape! I agree that the motion in the hands looks pretty sweet.

Thanks hewey

Can't wait to see how this guy finishes. marcus, you hac=ve that ability to create movement where others just dream about it. This is a perfect example. Love the volums of the hands,feet, arms and legs. This is gonna be pretty awesome. Take Lots more pictures. Did I say Hurry?

Ben - thanks I am really loving this one - a traditional with a twist - going as fast as I can - more pics soon. I have just got my first order for a Mauri tradional tiki - the guy that wants him owns a big surf company OceanEarth - can hardly wait to get into that one - tattooed warrior.

On 2006-03-09 13:01, tiki beat by marcus thorn wrote:
Ben - thanks I am really loving this one - a traditional with a twist - going as fast as I can - more pics soon. I have just got my first order for a Mauri tradional tiki - the guy that wants him owns a big surf company OceanEarth - can hardly wait to get into that one - tattooed warrior.

Ocean and Earth! Whoa, dude you got some big name clients. My fave is mooneyes though (Im a mooneyes nut). Cant wait to see what you do with the traditional warrior.

Its also cool to know there is demand for such tikis down under. I suppose when they are as good as yours it is no surprise though.

More progress shots of bongo beatnik tiki

awesome stuff as usual marcus.
still all just chisels so far? any power tool sanding yet or is that still to come?

Man that guy is so smooth (Marus or the tiki - both actually!)

Very nice, your rough tikis are cleaner than my finished tikis :)

Great design too.

marcus, that's great looking. you do good work. what do you use to carve? a laser?

Nice. You do wonderful work. I like the whole layout of him.
JP

Marcus, you do the Most remarkable, Traditional tiki bodies of Anyone, BAr NONE. Just plane Unbelievable dude. The Only problem with your work is.. well there just is Not enough of it...
WOW

The feet on this one are great and i love the movement of the hands on the drums. This piece really shows great planning and thought. Keep kicking it bro.

Marcus, I really like the deep, 3D design of the beatnik tiki. As good as any of the vintage stuff out there. The drums are really sweet. With his feet like that, does he still stand up well? The feet look like they took a little time. Very nice one!

Sabu

Hey Marcus, very beautiful work! I´m anxious to admire your next pictures.

I'm the proud owner of Bongo the Tiki. That's what we've called the wonderful masterpiece that Marcus Thorn created which has a wonderfully welcoming face and the most incredible bongos. When my husband wanted to buy me a tiki for my birthday, I was concerned 'cause I didn't want one that seemed too menacing. I wanted it in our front foyer to welcome guests to our home. We discussed this with Marcus and he was happy to oblige, even though it wasn't strictly traditional. The end product is now the centrepiece of our home. Bongo the Tiki is convincing as a bongo player and the photos that Marcus has posted to date don't do him justice. Bongo the Tiki lives and breathes. He's incredible. He smiles, he's cheeky and he plays the bongos and his hands and feet seem to have movement - what more could a girl want. The workmanship that has gone into him is great. Marcus has done a fantastic job. To answer a question posted on the forum - Bongo the Tiki stands quite well even though it appears that his feet don't touch the ground - an outcome achieved by Marcus brilliance. Sensational addition to our family. Thank you Marcus

Hey Marcus- This guy is a gem... I've always really liked that '60's vibe, and this one's got it. A fine piece!

Here are the last photos of "Bongo the Tiki" - I cannot express how much I enjoyed carving this one - and I think it shows in his smile!

Astrid I am so humbled by your words - so happy that you guys have become a family with Bongo - hope the cats dig him.

Haikai, Sam, Harro, Hewey, JohnnyP, Loki and Sabu the Coconut Boy - thanks so much for your positive feedback.
Pdrake - no laser mate- that would take away all the fun.
Benzart - when a master like yourself gives me such high compliments it only proves that I am showing my work to the right people, who can appreciate carving both traditional and "quirky".

Next project will be New Zealand Mauri - hope to post some pics before I head off to the states next month.

unbelievable Marcus.....wonderful tiki....great smile....SPECTACULAR bongos....i love
the two-tone.....this is one of my favorite tikis....period.

VERY Well Done. With the finish he is just Perfect.I bet your head is already in the clouds with this one. Nice Quirky tradition you got going.
Can't wait to see your Maori, Can't wait at all so hurry up there.

Marcus, I'm with Ben on this ... This guy is perfect! He looked great before, but now, what can I say? Beautiful work indeedy!!

This is now on the list of one of my favorite carvings. Just awesome!!

Wow man that colour with the drums and everything, just wow. Awesome piece - one you should be really proud of! Would love to see some pics of it in its new home! Awesome - mate youve earned youself some beers!

That is a masterpiece! Truly original too. I love the colour on the drums as well. He's also a lot bigger than I thought (seeing him next to you).

Congrats to the owner!

They hardly ever laminate real bongos like that anymore. What a beauty. As a tiki freak and a drummer, I'm just crazy about that carving!

That is one truly awsome carving. I see a tiki conga player in your future. can't wait to see what is next..keep up the wow factor.

MAn, do I feel like a slacker. Nice Job. Looks like he can play with Danny's tiki thats just above and soon to be just under this post.

On the drums, is that just stain/paint or different pieces of wood. Its so good, you really can't tell.

Damn, that's good. That is a new classic.

JP

Aloha Marcus!!!
That is one Excellent Carving my friend!!!! You have such a Cool flow about all of your stuff and your own style. I love your art my friend! Keep the wood chips flying ,having fun and stylin my friend,I dont know if your into old cars but i have been looking for an old 56 Chevy Nomad that im gomma fix up(surf mobile that i can stuff the Fam into to go do surf checks and beach days. Ill keep you posted)Aloha my friend, Mooney

Marcus that is rad man. Love the bongo deal. Great stuff.

Wonderful, I think the Tiki is perfect! I realy love the form of the hands and feets.
What do you use for the black grounding? Is it ash? Keep up the good work and let us see your next one.
Mahalo, Kai

Sweet mother of Tikiness. Original and accurate. Awesome work sir.

Hello TC'ers thought I should post some progress pics of my latest tiki before I head off to the States for Vegas (WooHoo!)

I Hope to run into some of you guys when I get over there - if not stay tuned for more posts when I return down under

cya

Mate that head looks like she needs a bit more work!

Have fun in the states mate. Looking forward to seeing you in Sydney.

YOU CAN ALL SEE TIKI BEAT (Marcus) CARVING LIVE ON STAGE 5th MAY at 34b OXFORD STREET, Darlinghurst, SYDNEY at SUGARTIME'S Polynesian Burlesque show! Come on down to this side of the SOUTH PACIFIC!!!! The Kon Tiki never made it this far, but thank TIKI for 747s!
[email protected]

Yeah Hewey - I hope to catch up with you in Sydney -seem to keep missing you when we come down - no studies to stop you this time hey! Maybe you can fill in for me when I take a break on stage (might have a drink or two and watch you carve, or I could take a nap) - I'm gonna be wrecked by the time I get down there - two weeks of heavy tiki activity in the states is bound to takes its toll. hehehe.

On 2006-04-10 14:42, tiki beat by marcus thorn wrote:
Yeah Hewey - I hope to catch up with you in Sydney -seem to keep missing you when we come down - no studies to stop you this time hey! Maybe you can fill in for me when I take a break on stage (might have a drink or two and watch you carve, or I could take a nap) - I'm gonna be wrecked by the time I get down there - two weeks of heavy tiki activity in the states is bound to takes its toll. hehehe.

Mate, you can sleep on the plane home! :) I want to see you carve dammit...

I wouldn't feel comfortable hacking away on one of your pieces anyway. Like letting a finger painter help out Leonardo Divinci or something.

Are you gonna be at VLV, Marcus?

Hi Kahaka - I will be at Vegas - staying at the Palms Casino - meeting at the Gold Coast Casino Thursday arvo for the hooch & smooch - I think a lot of the TCers are planning on being there. Come and say g'day.

Hewey - awww shucks you make me blush with all ya nice words. cya soon mate.

Marcus, Another Sweet piece cominout from down under. Man, I Love the bodies you create, so full and voluptious, cartoony but realistic at the same time as well as being traditional tiki no lesss. Another one you are gonna string us along with? Make us Suffer between posts? Stretch it out for ever? You got us by the short hairs man. hurry up now and finish that tiki, you hear???

Yo Marcus,

If I don't see you at the Palms, come by the Ku tiki bar in the parking lot. We'll be arrivin' Thursday.

Woody

COOOOOL! A Maori from Marcus! I can't wait to see how you carve the face. Hurry up, I can't wait!

-Gman

we urge everyone to look out for this man. he is our very best tiki carver down under, and all of australia is wishing him well in the USA. bon voyage mate!

Oh man... I don't know how I let the Bongo Tiki slip by me! Too much time buried in my own sawdust!

Incredible work Marcus! Words fail me... the craftsmanship... everything... just incredible!

Looking forward to watching the next one evolve... more closely this time!

Keep up the great work!

I'm Back! A little sad to be at the end of my adventure and leaving all the great people and places behind - but happy to be home on my own soil and eager to pick up my tools and get stuck into some more wood - very inspired by all the tikis I saw over in the States - I will make a new thread with photos of my trip real soon. Thought I had kept you all in suspense long enough so here are some more photos of my Maori tiki.

looks like the start of another really nice one Marcus....you are getting better all the time!
Nice to see more pics.

I could'a Sworn I replied to this post yesterday, further proof I am losing it (what ever it is/was?) This tiki looks like another humdrum piece of perfection we have to put up with seeing from you. Now if only I could figure out how to get this hum-drum kind of look Marcus, then I would Truely be the master. Your carvings look so authentically, traditionally, perfect that I can't stand it. I think you need to publish a Coffee Table book of all your carvings and I get dibbs on the first copy...SOLD.
Will you send mepictures of ALL your carvings? I just Have to learn how you do this..