Hukilau CD Cover 2012

It's Hukilau time again and I completed this year's cd this week.  The cover was created from a photo of our little group at the Mai Kai last year.

Check out last year's cover here.

Hukilau 2011

Here's a little something I drew last week in memory of the great time had at Hukilau.

Left to right: Tiki, myself, Sue, James and Sherill.

Hukilau CD Cover 2011

For any special occasion (parties, trips, etc.) I always make a themed cd to commemorate the occasion.  Hukilau was no exception.  Gearing up for Hukilau I had been working on some tiki art anyway so I used one of those pieces as the cover art for my Hukilau cd of polynesian and surf rock music.  It began with a photograph I had taken of the Enchanted Tiki Room at the Magic Kingdom on June 4th that was manipulated and digitally painted.  With the addition of some simple text in a fun font it was complete.  The original art (without text and uncropped) titled "Where the birds all sing..." is available for purchase in my Imagekind store (link on left).

Hukilau 2011

So I just got home yesterday from Hukilau 2011 in Fort Lauderdale.  This was my first time going and boy was it fun.  Three days of tiki culture overload.  Tasty tropical beverages, kick-ass surf inspired rock and exotica bands, tiki and mid-century symposiums, parties, fire-eating mermaids, dancing, fantastic people, shopping and dining culminating with an evening at the Mai-Kai restaurant and Polynesian revue made this a weekend to remember.

It was an inspirational weekend from a creative standpoint. I was really happy to meet Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily of whose work I'm a huge fan.  But even besides them I met lots a great artistic people and was inspired by many of the works that were on display or for sale.  There are now several new mediums at which I would like to try my hand.  So far this year has been a great renaissance for me artistically and this weekend kicked that up several notches.

Me, Sherill Anne Gross (who is both a fantastic artist and super groovy chick) and my Hukilau roommate Sue. Not terribly visible is my Pele t-shirt which I made for the event.  It started as a photograph I took of the Pele tiki at Disneyland's Enchanted Tiki Room which was designed by the amazing Rolly Crump.  With a dash of photo manipulation and some digital painting I had a great graphic I could wear.  I'll be sure to post a better picture of that soon. 

My Hukilau roommates (Sue and Jason Tiki Tackett) and I in the Mai Kai gardens after dinner Saturday night

The Exotics rock the house while the revelers dance.

Kevin Kidney autographing my Black Magic snifter featuring artwork he created for the Hukilau.

Jody Daily waiting for his chance to sign.

Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid at the unbelievably cool Wreck Bar at the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach.

Enjoying some cocktails at the Mai-Kai with Tiki.