Crazy AL Tiki !?! New stuff of old stuff? pg.19

On 2008-03-24 19:04, Basement Kahuna wrote:
Kudos, Al...Hence what has been said here earlier many times (and often lambasted) referring to some tiki carvers out there in the world who can only seem to draw inspiration from other tiki carvers and not their own efforts/brainpower/investment to go out and study the wellspring of Polynesian art and carving indenpendently on their own. What is the end result? Copies of copies of copies of other people's styles. It pisses me off and has happened to me several times as well. Wayne Coombs, God bless him-the guy can hardly move without ten bandwagon-jumping copycats on his tail. He said he has to change his style every year. Forging your name on imposters is an even newer low.

Cheers BK!

lol!

"imitation is the most sincere form of flattery" so i keep telling Bamboo Ben...

Picasso is said to have imitated the masks imported from Africa... and started a whole 'new' movement... today Mark Ryden took the '60's - 70's big eyed child paintings of 'my' child hook memories and now you can't spit without hitting a 'painter' specializing in giant doe'ie eyed characters/or subjects.. and on it goes...

although i did not realize i was doing it till i sat down to wright the article on #11... I may have been influenced buy the Kachina Dolls of my Southwestern roots...look at this...a similarity that i found years after i carved #55

Hmmm very similar...
and i doubt that Japanese SiFi artist knew they were doing this??

or did they.... art is all inspiration from some where..

[ Edited by: crazy al 2008-03-24 20:30 ]

I hear ya and raise you 5!

Can't wait for the flattery. lol!

Confucious say "Out of house borrowing good, but less in-house borrowing breed much better eye candy in end".

Great PalmSprings weekend!

nice to sit in the pool and not vend this time out!

so... how about a MaiTai with this gal?

or these folks???

add this spooky chick...

and a fun little Menehune!!! and smile!!!

Mai Tai Roa Ae!! folks!!!

Wish I had a pick of this frosty treat during the show... complete with true recipe and fresh mint!! Thanks to Soccer Tiki!!! too busy enjoying a TV Mai Tai of my own!!

CrazyAL Tiki#144!! Est. 1944!! "Keeper of the Mia Tai"!!!

Mai Tai back story here:
http://www.tradervics.com/maitaistory-0.html

Nice placement in the gallery JAY!!!

Kind of a Ten Year Anv. Salute to CrazyAL Tiki#13 "Keeper of the Charm" Est. 1998
http://tikimania.com/docs/bt_13.html
read all about how I developed this Buddha Tiki in the last to issues of Tiki magazine.

Here's the start of something Big.... 600-800 lbs??? who knows

[ Edited by: crazy al 2008-05-13 11:30 ]

[ Edited by: The Sperm Whale 2008-05-13 10:58 ]

I finally got a page up for the 5 in One...
Crazy AL Tiki #107 "Lee Tiki Tree"

http://tikimania.com/docs/bt_107.html

and new mug!!

The tiki tikifies the family of Father, Mother, two daughters and son as well as future descendants.

[ Edited by: crazy al 2008-06-05 16:28 ]

I don't KNow Al. you think you can get Any more Intricate? How's a good upstanding carver supposed to Copy that, Tone it down a little, give those guys a chance? :lol: :lol: :lol:
Probably the Most Unbelievable Mug ever was out there. I gotta have one of theze.

How lucky are we, that you choose to do this with your talent and not something more mundane and mainstream? I'm sure some of these objects will end up in a museum someday.
That tiki is one of my absolute favourites, as is the work Ben did on the room it's in. Mindblowing...somehow I will have to get one of these mugs.

now if i could only figure out this f'n HTML thing... my paypal button has a mind of it's own...

i even took the bottom AM107C link off the bottom of the page and saved it so there was
no AM107C in the HTML... and the AM107E link still went to AM107C... now how the
f does that happen?????? stick with wood and clay...

you guys have the goods i want/need... so... hmmm.... wood stone for clay??

[ Edited by: crazy al 2008-06-05 21:06 ]

Crazy Al, It was Truely great seeing you again at this last Hukilau and your latest mug was just Unbelievable Over the top. It's good to hear you have been working a good bit too! HappyHappyHappy.

So here is what Carving in Hawaii is like...
CrazyAL Tiki #146 "Keeper of Pleasant Dreams"

http://www.tikimania.com/docs/bt_146.html

Thanks to Chongolio, the best Hawaiian bud ever!! i saw the local night life and did not get my but kicked by the locals and got the tiki finished and a ride to the airport!! here's his handy work

here is what 8 days of carving coconut wood does to a brand new flex-tool i got with my stimulus check! maybe i should have stopped long enough to sharpen it occasionally.

so it was not all work... here is one of my first tiki creations from 1996 finally seeing it's birth place???

eat your heart out Bamboo Ben...

from hiking the Na Pali cliffs on the north side

to body surfing the Na Pali cliffs on the West side


fun stuff

these fine rocks where arranged everywhere so i joined in the fun with an arrangement of my own.

somewhere... i can't seem to find it... is a pick of me in this exact place 35 years ago...

except for the last day the work day ended like this

NICE!

[ Edited by: crazy al 2008-09-09 17:18 ]

VERY NICE!
Looks like a brief crazy creative journey!
"Keeper of Pleasant Dreams"
the way it looks in the firelight...
magical.....
and you got to see chongo?
:)

your chess set rocks...........hard!

What a Pleasant visit from the , I mean THE Tiki KING! Nobody does it BETTER Al and I mean No One.
SWEEEEET!

Well, I met C.Al for a brief 2 seconds at this years Hukilau and he looks as hot as his work. Crazy? Nope don't think so. Fun, it just drips out of him. You got to love the men who just aren't shy about any thing. The best carver, party animal, great dancer, musician, etc. What else you got under that belt of yours?
OH, wait a minute I don't remember you wearing a belt! :D

Come on Al, put up some photos of your latest creations.

Good times Brah! It was a blast hangin' with Al and watchin' him do his thing both carvin' and on the dance floor. It was a real treat to have a snorkel buddy at Tunnels beach and drinkin' partner at the Tahiti Nui in Hanalei. Go to Al's Site to see the video that we put together of him carvin' the days and nights away in Kiluea.

So when is the mug due out?? :)

Absolutely, undeniably beautiful, Al!

And why wouldn't it be.... a Crazy Al creation done in such amazing environs!

The Tang is crisp and clean! Love the detail work including the tiki holding the hammock knot! And all that on a vertical log.
Thanks for the pics and video Randy, and Al thanks for brightening a rainy gloomy day here!

Al, hope to see you this weekend in San Diego!

Damn I'm so jealous of you! Do you ever do anything that's not awe inspiring?

Ditto! Friggin' jealous...Al, you can never say you didn't live a good life!!
Da Kine!
I really, really, really, really need to get to Hawaii... and to drink with Al and Chongolio!

The only thing harder than trying to work out how to carve this well is trying to express why your tikis are so incredible. I love the 180° twist on the totem concept, and the reasoning behind it. Ben is right - nobody does it better! Thanks to Chongo for the masterful lenswork too!

Excellent!! Sounds like a great way to spend a vacation.

there are to many carvers kicking ass these days to take all these kind words for myself ... thanks folks

i was to spend 8 days in the beginning carving and then mess around for four days on the island after... but I'm glad i reversed my plan because it took four days of staring at the leaning pole to figure out how the guy on top would not look like he was going to fall of Tangaroa...

i was scratching my head over this and then notice i had the world's best level off in the horizon... w/ the clear view of the ocean, i could at least get him sitting level. Then i had to carve him like a stack of poker chips divided into his head, chest and legs... each segment was gust pushed off center a bit.

it was a bit off here and bit more off there for a while, but he really looks like he might sit there for a some time... in the wettest place on earth, Kauia, who knows how long that will be.

[ Edited by: crazy al 2008-09-09 17:43 ]

Just watched the time lapse video Chongolio did of the carve. Amazing footage. Glad you had a fun, working, vacation. The stuff you do is top notch.

Master Crazy Man Al...now that was a a kick ass fun adventure you took us all on - Thank you! You know, I know that the folks who live over there really don't want any people moving over...but I would sure love to none the less.

I love that shot on your site showing the hands (the blue of the horizon showing through) of your new tiki, and how they hold the end of the hammock...that is just the sweetest!

It was also really cool meeting you at Oasis Al...your a down to earth dude. Hope we can kick it some more down the road sometime.

My favorite purchase at Oasis...and your right, it fits great in the hand...easy to hold, quite functional as well as just being darn right cool.

well, although many may have a hint at what Tiki #151 may look like.... Here is a sneak peek at CrazyAL Tiki #151... Guess It's name and submit a drawing if you like... the person who gets the closest will win a Tiki#12 decanter! $70 value!!
http://tikimania.com/docs/ALmug11_12.html
and a FIGHT TO LV!!!
... just kidding about the flight.. sorry

Those in the Las Vegas area are excluded, as well as MR.ben and Tiki Diablo, and who ever has talked to these guys??

contest here: bottom of pg.
http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?mode=viewtopic&topic=27618&forum=1&start=90

Hint #2 Pg.8

[ Edited by: crazy al 2008-11-22 11:59 ]

luv ya stuff, Crazy Al

hmmm... here is the final thing......
work in progress
http://www.tikimania.com/docs/bt_151.html
final install
http://www.tikimania.com/docs/bt_151A.html

so... this perfect dense chunk of wood was quite the endeavor as I am not the king of giant sculpture and have no equipment to deal with it....

this log was acquired from Gary @ Tikimaker.com and after the most gingerly placement of the log in the back of my Tacoma... and a 12ish mile drive across town.... the thing caved in the bed of beautiful ride! just enough that the side walls would not let the tail gate close..... so anyway... flipping this mother over with out a wench or forklift, just me and my bud who owns this studio.. was fun to say the least....

I Always say that you have to imagine that the palm log is a stack of five gallon buckes of water stack one on top the other...well, since this was an excellent dense tree... just add allot of sand to those buckets of water.....

i was not there... but Ben said it only took three guys to dead lift ol'151 up on it's perch!! they did say it was the heaviest thing they ever tried to lift.....
I "Love" the BEN!!

I think he really wanted Tiki#151 to be called "Keeper of the Corona"!! not the "High Roller"

in a (coco)nut shell, this peace is..
Tiki of... -High Risk Stakes-, 'Consuming' a little 'Viagra' boost with a defiant tongue display to 'Lady Luck' to assure great success of prosperity in all endeavors.....

Damn your eyes Al! I have a log here at home laid out with a Royal Flush in its hands much the same as yours (But it can't be as cool as yours turned out!) because I'm a Poker player! You beat me to it (Nice Hand!)! Very nice!! I'll have to post a pic of mine when it's done, but yours is so sweet I might just be embarassed (I'm on Tilt now!)!

the 'crazy' thing is... that i was commissioned for the piece in Feb... it took till july to really start carving. In the mean time the great 'Leroy' was commissioned at the same time, and in a wild spike in the universe, he busted his out right away... a pic was sent to me by Frankie's.... with out my knowledge, Leroy carved a tiki holding cards!! and it was a Maori Too!!!! i only had a sketch at the time..... what the?? i patted my own back, and decided to carry out the sculpt with a slight modification

P.S.
luckily that studio my friend has used to make furniture and large sculpture... i was able to reverse a clamp and push the side walls out so that my tail gate will close if I pull the latch open when i shut it.

[ Edited by: crazy al 2008-12-15 10:15 ]

Nice pics, love the tong on this sucker!

Good god!!! that tiki is AMAZING! Ben told me about the dice for eyes, but that looks totally crazy!!!!! Perfect for vegas!!!! You are one very talented man.

is that a little OA tang on the tongue? Too cool!

Thanks for sharing your creations!

yes... i use OA 'curio' tikis in many of my pieces to symbolize the signature 'Poly Pop' Icon, they are the perfect example of the main-lander creating his own Exotic Environment. No one has ever done it better then OA, but i do believe that sharp horned Diablo will take over for Leroy!! they should sell the shop to him if any one gets it... I've seen his last 4 or 5 tikis.. off the hook... check out the Spermy's Blow Hole, totally traditional but totally Danny..
there are so many carvers kicking as right now, Danny just has a few years on them. He gets my ten-year vote.

awesome work i love it keep up the good work

Dude, Wow!

Gosh, I love what your doing with the hands and feet. The hands have become amazing on your stuff lately.

CrazyAL Tiki#155 "the Collector:..."

fill in the blank ... here:
http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?mode=viewtopic&topic=27618&forum=1&start=210

thanks SVEN!! for these great shots

if you ever want to get a lot of crude non PC comments on your carving...give it one of these,,,

I guess Tiki is a male dominated world... Living the the past as we do.....
although this nose'ie guy has kept it clean... must be all those years working in TV

The Collector sees nothing but MUGS! (it's Crazy)...
and maybe it spy'z an old TC'er or two (old like been around, not old like gray hair)

more pics soon... this one is still a bit far away from the finish.
oh... in if you where wondering here is #154 "Hana Ala"

[ Edited by: crazy al 2009-04-15 16:22 ]

Al, You NEED to Crunk it up a notch or 3, I think you are getting a bit Mellow in yer old age. We need some of that CRAZY AL Fire Back. Of course your Carvings are STILL the ones to beat (and copy) and I don't know how but they get Better and Even Better Yet. How YOU DO that MAN? Just keep a eye out behind you,,, they're coming for you!

i think there's a few i might have to follow after by now... that damn eye of the tiger, i gotta carve or i'll die... i had a great week off hiking and roller-coastering and shooting pool... most guys carve tikis on their week off and get paid to do it! by their employer!!... i gotta get to get on my boss about that... he's a real cheep bastard though... i should know!

[ Edited by: crazy al 2009-04-14 19:33 ]

Hey, I Met your boss before, He's really a good guy and I Think he paid for my lunch or maybe that's what he Wanted me to think. All he wants is for you do do a little bit more work and he Really wants you to post more pic's here on TC. He must have told you that already because Look at all these Photos!

Beautiful carve, C'Al..

Absolutely awesome. You are so incredibley gifted, It's undeniable.

Nice Al! that #154 is sharp looking.

bit more work... on "the Kellector: Mug-a-mania"
The 'Flordilea' and these Shamrocks on each shoulder are a tribute to Kelly's Husband who has helped just a bit... or put up with the 'mania'.

the abalone pedicure goes with the 'HooHa' for lack of a better word.

It was Don-o-mania Saturday Night at Tiki Yakie's Don the Beachcomber's Revival. There's about $700 or so in the eye-sockets and chest...DTB originals!! glad most the crowd had no clue....


wish i had better shots... was to much fun to take pitchers

[ Edited by: crazy al 2009-04-20 22:24 ]

Nice work Al... all the bells, whistles and HooHas that make it so uniquely you!

Upping the ante on the toe nails too there!

Looks like a A-1 cut of palm that helps make your work shine.

See you in a couple of weeks at BooBens!

Looked positively Awesome in person!

American Tikiana at it's best!

wow al, the detail work you put into your stuff is great. gives me incentive to do better. just gotta find the time for it.

bd

GROG can't wait to set it on fire at the beach burn.