Lake Tiki - 8/23/2013 - Red Cedar

Hell ya! thats the spot for sure.

Been busy doing research and sketches for this year's work... many hours spent in reference at the library scouring pages and making notes.
Soon it will be time to put chisel to the wood and start work on this year's new collection... OCEANIA!

But as I was going through some old cds here at the homestead, I came across some memories of carving days gone by.

Thought I'd share them here.

Next year is 10 years of tiki carving. :)

Some sort of a Lono inspired guy... 2003

It amazes me what I tried to do with just bench chisels back then.
If I only knew then what I know now.

Plumeria Tiki - Spring 2004
Back then I had an endless supply of large pine... I miss those days.

Mailbox Tiki - August 2004
This was a wedding gift to a good friend of mine
4 feet was buried on the side of a rural highway... no snowplow or mailbox baseball was taking this guy down.
The tiki outlasted my friend's marriage unfortunately, and is still there.

[ Edited by: Lake Surfer 2010-01-12 12:47 ]

I love how you have pretty much the same expression in every pic.

If your work is this good now I can only IMAGINE how freakin awesome its going to be in 10 more years.

Looking forward to seeing it all!

The basement in that apartment was never heated, Liz, so I think my face froze that way. :lol:

Thanks for the kind compliment!
I hope my body keeps up with my mind and I keep carving for another 20!

Best of luck with OCEANIA this year, buddy~ I'm sure it'll prove to produce some amazing stuff~!
Cheers-
Andy

Good stuff Lake, I remember that Mailbox stand when you were carving it and showing pics on here. My how time flys.

Thanks to both Andys for swinging on by!

I just finished up carving a Female Abelam Figure.

Stain and paint to come next.

This is a good size piece at 38" H x 9" W

I put the new chisels through their paces.

Update after she gets her paint...

[ Edited by: Lake Surfer 2010-01-20 19:13 ]

Alright! Now this is gonna set a pretty high bar for the new year.
Can't wait to see more of what you have planned. And it's from
Wisconsin!!

HELLL YEAH!!! THATS WICKED SWEET CARVIN LAKE!!! im gonna haave to do some searious readin and get better aquainted w this stuff so i can carve stuff like this!!! u my man are a big inspiration for me!!! thnx for sharin and big props from here!!! cheerz lake!!

She's gonna be a nice one Lake,, Nothing like a few new tools to spur some intense new works.

Just posted up some new pictures... trying to get the right lighting to show some of the subtle details...
Maybe some sun next week to photograph her in when she's done.

Conga... thanks my Northern Friend!
Many of the pieces I've got going this year are pretty challenging.
I had a blast with this one trying to figure everything out.
I'm really looking forward to the painting too.

BIG tiki scott, thanks much, appreciate the compliment!
I enjoy the road less traveled when it comes to tiki carving.

Benz, thanks so much for the kind words, I've giving her all the love I got... hoping she doesn't break my heart.
I'm sure when she wanders off to a new home it will hurt, but I'll be a better carver for it. :wink:

YOU continue to AMAZE! Great chops Lake!! :drink:

Wowow !!! :o I've miss this wonder ... I like the chiseling texture, and the open work on the hairdress, and the tiny details who make the beauty of this carving.

Can't wait to see her finished! :D

Jérôme.

Thank you very much Jonesey, I always appreciate your kind compliments!

Thanks also to you Jérôme! Lot's of tiny little details in her, and the painting was a bit of work itself.

But she's done now...

Finished up all the painting last night, couldn't put her down until she was complete.

38" H x 9" W x 3/4" D

Upper torso detail

Lower torso detail

[ Edited by: Lake Surfer 2010-01-23 01:08 ]

Hot stuff Lake...she's a real beauty. I've always loved the Abelam figures
and you really nailed it. One of my favorites of ALL of your work.

Really outstanding finish, Dave!

rub a little of that brown stain on the Lauahala while you're at it.

:wink:

Come to papa! :)

Love the new direction Lake...keep it coming!

Conga, thank you kindly!
I'm having fun on this path.

Woody, many thanks!
Late night of painting on this girl!

Benboo, now ya tell me! :wink:

Sven, yep, that's Daddy!

Babalu, thanks so much!
There's more to come, I promise.

Killer!!

GROG like.

SWEEEEEETTTTTT!!!!! luvin all that detail!!! u my friend are def an artist extradenaire!!!! lookin foward to what you got next !! cheeerz lake!!!

On 2010-01-22 14:08, Lake Surfer wrote:
...the painting was a bit of work itself.

A bit of work itself! :o :o Just few minutes for you or what... :lol:

If all new collection have this taste... WOW!

J.

Lake Surfer glad Grog like! Lake Surfer thanks Grog!

BIG tiki scott, you're too kind. The compliments are much appreciated. I'm looking forward to what is next also!

Thanks again, Jérôme! The painting did take more than a few minutes. :wink:
I did it all in one sitting of something like 6 hours. Started at 9 pm, finished at 3 am. :o

hey lake
that piece is really outstanding

if i promise not to make fun of the cold anymore will
you lift your curse?it actually snowed at my place
all my tikis want to move!

Hella nice work on this last one. Very Nice!

Man buzzard, that's brutal! Sorry about the snow!
That's what all my guys in the yard look like right now though.

Thanks for the kind compliment on this last piece!

Seeks, good to see ya! Thanks much my friend, hope you are finding time to carve!

On 2010-01-22 14:15, Lake Surfer wrote:
Finished up all the painting last night, couldn't put her down until she was complete.

Super nice. Was outstanding even without the paint. Now a MASTERPIECE.

Awesome!!!....very inspiring.

PNG is like dope.

Wow! Great piece!

Intense! bravo man, bravOOO!

TikiVic, Murph and surfin, thanks much guys for the kind compliments!

You're ugly, and you stink.

(Just providing a little balance since you're getting nothing but compliments)

SNIFF... Whew, time for a shower!

As for the ugly part, blame my parents. :wink:

Love ya Grog!

Just finished the first of a few masks inspired by the big piece.

Here's both outside in the balmy 10 degree air...

18" H x 9" W

I'm planning on bringing a few of these out to Bamboo Ben's Garage Sale in May.

SWEET.

What did you do, de-ice part of your backyard for that pic?! :P

Mahalo Big T!

You know, that's the thing about the MIdwest... one day its 40 degrees and rain... you melt all the snow... and then the next day its 10 degrees.

The grass is green, its just frozen solid. :P

Hey, we know you're up to something, let's give us a little inspiration
for these cold snowy days.

Lotsa stuff in the works Conga. So snowy and cold here that I have locked myself in the studio and refuse to come out until May.

Update soon!

Hey when did you become a playboy? :) Very pretty ladies you have there

Sick sick sick the women is outstanding love it.

Clarita and Seeks, thanks for your compliments!

Working on another one of these girls so I have a pair!

Stockpiling duplicates for this summer's vending, but I have a few new things going right now...

Here's one of them...

Taiaha

7" W x 23" H

I'm planning on doing a larger version of this also, in the 36" high range.

Hum.... Gorgeous! I like it!

J.

Thanks Jerome!

Great looking fella, stick end, Taiaha.