BENZART's Carvings Second original thread

P.S. You wrote:
"Thanatos, Thanks for yours too,You are gonna grow up before you know it. Yes those casinos keep some wierd stuff and I heard there was a room full of tikis being stored for sombody at the Trop.
I'm still makin New stuff for more savings."

So, are you "saving" up new stuff for next year's carving classes?

Oh, you mentioned a carving book, i know a few authors, if I can help drop me a P.M.

Ever think about doing a video on tiki carving? And having a director shoot it and someone edit it so it turned out the way you wanted?

Bete...

Is Forbidden Island a tiki bar?

Info here on Forbidden Island... and elsewhere in General Tiki

http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=18002&forum=1&110

And info on Ben and the work he did in Las Vegas at the Tropicana...

http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=7074&forum=7&hilite=tropicana

http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=7079&forum=7&hilite=tropicana

http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=7212&forum=7&hilite=tropicana

There's much more... actually a lot more, of Ben's spectacular work here on TC...

Ben, I'll give you the microphone back now... :)

Keep up the great work!

[ Edited by: Lake Surfer 2006-04-12 10:07 ]

Thank you Lake Surfer.

Wish "I" was retired.......

Great stuff Ben. You are one busy man!

Having seen a few of these up close recently, the photos, despite their fantasticness, don't even do these justice. Those Koruru masks have a finish and polish reminiscent of a Ming Dynasty carving! They are perfection personified. Ben, you're a monster!

Big Mahalos to everyone for the props and support. You guys are what makes me want to get up and carve these nutty things. Everyone of you gives me great pleasure with your kind words, even if they are a bit overblown. HappyHAppyHAppy
The 2 Maori pendants are finally finished. they took a lot of work but I am very happy with them.











Thanks again.
These are for someones anniversary coming up soon.

OK, the group shot

OK POPTIKI, here ya go! I also added this to the Carving seminar thread.

I guess no one has done this yet (And I know how we all like to put faces with names, So prepare yourselves for a matching game. I now present to you the members of "THE ORIGINAL COONTIKI BROTHERHOOD".

I will provide their Tiki Central Name and if they did not YET have one, their first names. Believe me we sorta suggested heartily that anyone who attended Coontiki but is a TC lurker needed to register as soon as they got home and unpacked. So without further delay, here's the gang!

From Left to Right.
Back Row:VONTIKI, TIKI LEE'S, BASEMENT KAHUNA, CRAZY AL, TONY, DOUBRAVSKY, TIKIGAP, CONGATIKI

Center Row: TIKI DIABLO, VINI-TIKI-VECHI, LINDY, TIKISKIP, AARON'S AKUA, KAPU KAHIKI

Front Row: 8FT TIKI, JIM, SWANKY, BENZART

NOT PICTURED: OUR HUMBLE PHOTOGRAPHER: SILVERLINE

I once was lost............but now I'm found

[ Edited by: 8FT Tiki 2006-04-13 18:45 ]

I recently had the opportunity to see some of your work up close, one of which was one of your pendants. The pictures you take are fantastic, but actually holding one and seeing it in person was a humbling experience. I also was able to look at a BigBenz lono. It was an honor. You do absolutely wonderful precision work!

JP

awesome face on that first one!!!......I may never sleep again!!!

8ft - nice job on the identification! That's it! There were two names I couldn't remember, and you got 'em!

On 2006-04-12 16:37, 8FT Tiki wrote:

NOT PICTURED: OUR HUMBLE PHOTOGRAPHER: SILVERLINE

Here he is!!! Working on his Benzart!

And having fun too, as I remember. Thanks everyonefor Coon Tiki.
Here are the final pic's of the Forbidden Island tiki. As soon as the varnish dries he will be ready to go to his new home.

Wow! Benz he looks so great! I thought that palm was gonna give you trouble, but not you aye? Wow again! He looks a lot like the big redwood you did for the Trop. The toes on these guys kill me. I love this style that you do. A fantastic BigBenzart! Where's mine?

Happy Easter to you too!

-Gman

It didn't take you long to knock that one out, and a wonderful one at that.
JP

Just when I'm gonna embark on the greatest tiki of all time...you go and do this again!
It is such a treat to see all the different twists you put on your big Benz....I really like
the "open" look of this one...you know...the "cut thru" in the legs and arms....Happy all the
time!

Wow Ben, you sure got #10 done fast, I can't beleive how fast you did that one, it looks so great! Cool you got the 2 pendants done, they sure turned out nice, you sure have been busy! Hope everything is good by you and hope you had a nice holiday weekend!

Fantastic as always. I was just getting pumped up at the thoufght of seeing this on Saturday. I guess he'll be long gone by then. Oh well. That just means you'll have another one by then - right?

Can't wait to give him a new home. Fantastic as always, Ben!

Mahalo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks again to Everyone for their Kind words and props.
#10 is complete and waiting to be shipped and I have begun work on #'s 11 and 12. They will be a 36", in the round Maori and a 4', to 4 1/2' MAori Mask. Both are from Coconut palms .




Here is # 11



an here is # 12





I will be bringing one of these with me to the Tiki Jam.
Can't wait Can't wait Can't wait

Awsome as usual........

Ben, Beautiful work as always. I really appreciate you sharing pics of your work, it's very inspiring. It will be a privilidge to see you and #11 on Saturday.

• Helz

Dang Benz! Those are gonna be great! I can't wait to see them further along. I won't be seeing them this weekend, so post some more pics after you make some more progres. Thanks.

-Gman

Me again.....these really made me smile today!

-Greg

Coontiki has been a lot of fun to watch, but it is great to see you posting progress carvings again. These are going to be fun to watch.

JP

Thanks everyone, it's nice to be back home and carving again too. Yes Coon Tiki was Great but home is batter (I think!)

Ben,
#10 has a killer finish to him...he looks a hundred years old...

#11 and #12...cant wait to see the "in the round" work you do on them...I'm guessing carving that way takes a bit more thought and surely makes them heavier in the end...hopefully you bring one to the tiki jam this weekend so we can watch how you work on their body...looking forward to seeing you soon.

Great post Ben, #10 turned out great and #11 is looking very cool. Have fun at the tiki jam this weekend (is that a carving event?).

Ben you just never quit do you. You are one busy man. Thought I was busy, but I think you have me beat! Looking awesome. Tell Mrs. Sherry we said Hi:) Can't make the tiki jam this go a round. Maybe soon though.

TG, It's never enough.

Bette, Yes I will have fun CARVING. and I'm taking # 12 with me because he is smaller.

Loki, I'm bringing # 12 because he is the "In the round" one and he is smaller

Here is an update to # 12.
Sorry #11 I didn't get to work much on you yet, First thing next week

M

[ Edited by poptiki on 2022-10-12 04:47:42 ]

wow!!...that little egg-headed bastard is gonna look real cool when he's done.....awesome work, once again!!

It's like watching a baby being born!!!!! I love the beautiful shape to the body Ben.....

You work fast, man! Always tops in chops!

fast is right, you're cranking right along. I really like the body shape on that Maori, very abstract and VERY cool. Top work, my friend.

The stain on the tiki at the top of the page is excellent. I love the old look to it, like it's been in a tiki bar for years.

i was just fortunate enough to score a benzart pendant. i can't stop looking at it and touching it! :)

That's a nice "score," very cool pendant!

That #12 is looking cool Ben!

12 is taking form nicely. I wish I had your skill.
JP

Thanks for the comps PopTiki, I appreciate the kind words. You Blew me away with the Volcano mug you sentto me at the Tiki Jam. It is Awesome and you just don't know what that means to me. HappyHappyHappy.

Tipsy, thanks for your props. From an artist with your ability, I take that as a real compliment. I'm working on yours alone today...

Hiltiki, thanks. The carving you picked is one I have wanted to do for a Loong time. It is a real challenge and the flow of the body is the Maun feature I am hoping to capture.
Here is what it is Supposed to look like. This is NOT My carving, just a picture from the 'net.

BK, my friend and mentor, since it was you who really got me hooked on TC, Thanks for your comps :)

PolyN, thanks for your support, nice to hear from you. The "Forbidden" tiki actually has no stain at all, only a light burning to highlight some features. I wanted him as light as possible so he might show up better in a Dark room, Thanks.

KingsTD, thanks for going Benzart and Welcome to the Family. I remember this tiki well. HE went to Hukilau 2004 and found a home there with a local TC'r. He survived the hurricane after Hukilau so he's a fighter.Thanks

Bette, Thanks and thanks again, my main Man..

JohnP, from what I see of your carvings, I may well be saying the samew thing soon, Thanks for the props.

All right now it is BAck to work after a great weekend. I will post pictures of todays progress later after I make some. Hopefully. This thread is getting pretty long and is longer than the first one which I cut off at 50 pages. Should I archive this one and start a new one??

Ben I just love the curves and the harmony in design from head to the bottom, the way the arms are positioned and where the leg begins and ends in relation to the entire body. Please keep on posting it is very exciting.

Thanx Hiltiki, I'm really hoping he turns out as good as the original. I Was going to put a club in his left hand, but have decided against it. I don't want to cover any more of the beautiful curves than I have too.
I JUST Realized I left my Mallet at Loki's house at the Tiki Jam and I should be able to get ti tomorrow so I'm gonna Clean up today so I won't be able to find ANY toolz for awhile.
More later..

The style you are going for with that tiki example is going to make for a nice new piece, looking forward to seeing how yours turns out. I think you should just keep going in this forum, instead of starting a new one, nice to keep everything in one place and watch it grow. So you are doing a spring cleaning with your workshop today, huh? Well, good luck with that as that must be a big project.

Awesome work as always Benz. Love to see your tikis progresss along. And they do it so quickly and they're so big before you know it.

One day I check in and they're just developing in the womb, I check back in a few days and they're asking if they can have the car please, 'cause, like, there's this cool party and everyone's gonna be there... :)

Ben I swear your carvings are alive before you even get close to finishing....the head shots of
this one are spooky...love it.

Thanks guyz, but so much for anything involving Quick. I haven't carved in a few days it seems. been going to doctors and dentists and should be seeing a shrink as I am losing my mind. So I finally got a chance to cut up a bit today. This is the Tipsy tiki









The Holes in his face is from when he was innoculated for the "Lethal Yellowing" that killed off all the local coconut trees many years ago. A few survived through innoculation programs like these. They drilled several holes and injected tetrecyclene directly into the heart of the tree. This worked until a resistant strain was finally developed. So this guy is a survivor, that is untill Hurricane Wilma I think it was last year..

Here's the thing Ben... how do you go so deep and square in the mouth and under the upper lip... and then get such good detail on the teeth? I find the deeper my mouths go the harder it is to do detailed teeth. Just can't get the right angle...

Which tools are best to get in there?

Scary detail on this guy... so lifelike.

You da man Ben.

Thanks Lake, Good words appreciated.
I am using different sized chisels and gouges for the detail, nothing fancy. It takes practise and once you get the feel of a tool, you start to do scary things with it. Most all the detail in the mouth was done with a 1" and a 1/2 " straight chisel and a 1"#5 fishtail gouge.. I'll get down to smaller chisels when I start to finish the teeth. This is basically the quick rough out.

what i want to know is what tool did you use for the eye? are coco palms always this tight deep in? the palm that i carved was very pulpy and soft inside.