Tiki VIP #52 LeosLowbrow – Tropical Painter – Rev. Dr. Leo Hartshorn

LeosLowbrow

As I’m getting older, I’m realizing that my life has been a series of chapters like in a book and the same can be said for Rev. Dr. Leo Hartshorn.

Leo has gone from playing drums in a 60’s psychedelic band, to becoming a minister and more recently a painter. Leo had done many styles but the paintings that stood out to me where that of famous tiki people. Leo has done paintings of Donn Beach, Shag, Martin Denny, Bob and Leroy of Oceanic Arts and Sven Kirsten!

Here is Leo’s story so far…

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Tiki VIP #43 Dave Avanzino – Mixed Media Paper Sculptures

There’s nothing like art that just jumps off the page, but what if that art literally did jump right off of the page? Dave Avanzino likes to call his art mixed media paper sculptures and his work is truly unique and original. I’ve never seen anything like Dave’s work and if you have a home tiki bar, his art would feel right at home in it. Here is Dave’s story …

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Tiki VIP #36 Bobby Doran – Graffitiki

Bobby Doran Graffitiki

Graffiti and Tiki, what a combination! Bobby Doran’s art, Graffitiki, combines elements of tiki with graffiti and a little bit of nostalgia thrown in for good measure. What makes Bobby’s art so special is that it pulls from the past, yet is still firmly planted in the present day. I could totally see Graffitiki painted on the sides of buildings just like Banksy work, but it’s tiki! Here is Bobby Doran’s story …

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Tiki VIP #30 Tony Canepa-Tiki Artist

Tony Canepa

If you live in Seattle and have spent some time at Rumba or The Diller Room you have seen Tony Canepa’s artwork. It’s truly beautiful! Tony used to live in Seattle but has since moved down to Austin Texas. It sounds like there isn’t much Tiki going on down there but maybe Tony’s tiki art will give someone inspiration to build something great! Here is Tony’s story…

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Tiki VIP #28 Christine Benjamin (Tiki Artist)

Christine Benjamin

Remember those “big eyes” paintings?

I do! These were paintings of children with big heads with even bigger eyes and I remember seeing them everywhere when I was kid. The artist’s name was Margaret Keane and her paintings were quite cute.

When I first saw Christine Benjamin’s art, it reminded me of Keane’s paintings, which at the same time reminded me of my childhood! I know I’m not the only one who has been moved this way by Christine’s art. Here is Christine’s story…

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Tiki VIP #19 Joshua Head (Tiki Artist, Melbourne, Australia)

Joshua Head Tiki Artist Melbourne Australia

It’s all in the details…

When I first saw Joshua Head’s work, I couldn’t believe the detail. Everything is fine lined and the more you look into his work, the more you see. Joshua is located in Melbourne, Australia where sadly at this point, there isn’t much of a Tiki scene going on. With the help of Joshua’s Tiki art, that might change! Here is Joshua Head’s story…

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