Island Princess Polynesian Dancer

Chunky Mesquite Tiki Carving

Tiki in Texas

Tiki in Texas

Texas has a coast. Texas has beaches. Texas has palm trees and tropical plants. Where is the tiki?

A good question when I arrived on North Padre Island to plant roots. As I created my tropical oasis in the back yard, I recall thinking that something was missing. When I lived in California I recall seeing tikis in the garden section of Home Depot. Just what I need as an added touch to my yard! I assumed it would be as simple as going to my local Home Depot and picking one up, but no tiki was to be found.

One of  my first larger tikis

Well then, there must be someone that makes tiki carvings here, right? None that I could find. So it would be up to me. Ten years later I have created a large body of work, part-time as it is. It started with twelve-inch attempts, but what I wanted was something to dominate the yard. An imposing god! So my attempts at five and six-foot versions, and everything above and below, were cranked out at every opportunity.


Eventually a local restaurant took notice, they asked what it would take to "tikify" their place.  I really had no idea, but I was willing to try, and they were willing to let me. I was constrained only by my own imagination and was allowed to make permanent cuts into the supporting structure of their establishment. I took the responsibility seriously and made the coolest tikis I could at the time. My first gig a success.

Tiki carving and haka at the restaurant

Tikis adorning the bar area

Tiki warriors protecting the entrance

A gentleman eating at the establishment took notice and decided that my work would fit perfectly with his residential palapa beside his pool. Again I was given the honor to just go crazy. His home bar now has an exotic touch that no one else can match.

Tiki palapa supports

Tikis at the outdoor bar

A local home builder caught wind of my creations and decided that adding tiki to his new construction would help him become the winning entry in the annual parade of homes. I was given free reign on the waterfront deck to turn it into a functional art object with an exotic feel.

Boat port Polynesian supports

Boat tie-up tikis

Tiki Books

Mark Ferdinand has created an unusual chronology of his tiki carving works. As an added touch he has filled in the blanks to the pesky questions of the origins of humanity.

Budget B&W print version or full-color Tiki Books

"Every Tiki has a Spirit" is an immature account of the works of a tiki carver, and a serious account of the origins of the earth and mankind. The author indulges in his quest for creating bad-ass oceanic art that one can sip a cocktail by. This he alternates with a concise mythological blueprint of how this all came to be, and what we were given to navigate our way through it. A book for tikiphiles, mythology buffs, and wood carvers.

Other Books by Mark Ferdinand

Fortune on the Spectrum – An Adventure Novel

You’re Gonna’ Get Bit! – Harrowing Tales of Herpetology 

The Autistic Prankster – Enjoying the Fun Side of Autism

Every Tiki has a Spirit

Wild Boar: A Case for the Most Beautiful Game Animal

Mark's books are available in Paperback, Kindle, Android and Apple devices.

Available through other retailers as well!

 

See Mark's tiki work at https://www.facebook.com/texastikis/

Texas TIKIS!

Tiki Books

Tiki Books

Mark Ferdinand has created an unusual chronology of his tiki carving works. As an added touch he has filled in the blanks to the pesky questions of the origins of humanity.

Texas Tiki Carver

"Every Tiki has a Spirit" is an immature account of the works of a tiki carver, and a serious account of the origins of the earth and mankind. The author indulges in his quest for creating bad-ass oceanic art that one can sip a cocktail by. This he alternates with a concise mythological blueprint of how this all came to be, and what we were given to navigate our way through it. A book for tikiphiles, mythology buffs, and wood carvers.

Tiki Books - Black and white version

“True, you are of the sky and eternal, but I am of the earth. Man and woman are to be part of the earth, they should be created by that which is familiar and at home with the earth. You know only the way of the sky.”

Mark started carving tikis in order to have a large tiki to decorate his garden. Ten years later, he still has no permanent tiki in his garden as he has created and sold over a hundred of them without being able to keep one for himself. 

"Tohumoko is the god of artists. Tohumoko overtakes certain men which present carvings of wood, stone and bone. Designs on the skin of man and woman come from those with the spirit of Tohumoko."

 

 

Tiki Books

 

Mark is the author of the adventure novel “Fortune on the Spectrum”, the herpetology stories of “You’re Gonna’ Get Bit!”, the autism stories of “The Autistic Prankster” and the hunting book "Wild Boar: A Case for the Most Beautiful Game Animal". 

Books by Mark Ferdinand

 

Autism and Fatherhood*Fortune on the Spectrum – An Adventure Novel

You’re Gonna’ Get Bit! – Harrowing Tales of Herpetology 

The Autistic Prankster – Enjoying the Fun Side of Autism

Every Tiki has a Spirit

Wild Boar: A Case for the Most Beautiful Game Animal

Mark's books are available in Paperback, Kindle, Android and Apple devices.

Available through other retailers as well!

Oceanic Art of Texas

Oceanic Art of Texas

Texas Tikis - Best tikis in the state of Texas

Over a decade of creating large and small tikis in Texas to keep evil spirits away.

 

Bar entrance tiki guards

Tiki palapa supports

 

Backyard tikis

Dock tieup tikis

Restaurant entrance tiki carvings

Polynesian pattern beams

Tiki carvings for the home

Corner support tikis

Permanently mounted wall tikis

Tiki bar decor

Small tiki carvings

Large tiki decor

Large outdoor tikis

Tiki Books

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Texastikis.com

Slickpages.com

https://www.facebook.com/texastikis

Tiki Carving Support Posts Project Part 3

Tiki Carving Support Posts Project 

Part 3

This video is the final 2 tikis from the palapa tiki project. Unfortunately I was not able to get final video and photos after the job site was cleaned up.

Palapa support tikis

Author Mark Ferdinand has tiki books for tikiphiles, mythology buffs, and wood carvers.

Every Tiki has a Spirit is available in color and black & white versions.


#tiki
#tikibooks
#tikibar
#palapa
#pooldecor

Female Tiki Carvings Unearthed

Female Tikis Unearthed

When, oh when, will the time come where we see more female tiki? The world of tiki carvings is still a male-dominated entity. For too long diversity and inclusion in wooden Polynesian figures have eluded us.

Well gals, things are finally changing! I submit these three gorgeous and chesty examples found off the Texas Gulf Coast. A tribute to the weaker sex.

Hope looks aren't important

As a first attempt this tiki represents just that. Her bosom is amateurish, that face of hers is not model material at all. Still, she has a few things going for her. She has a lovely grass skirt, ti leaf kupe`e adorning the ankles over her smooth, well-proportioned feet. The flat head has its appeal as well.

Dignified tiki queen

In this example we have a proud, fine wahine. Obviously of noble birth, she carries herself in superb posture, knowing that she has birthed many strong children to the king, as evident by a smooth and healthy tummy. Her face is sleek, handsome, yet feminine. She looks into the distance with confidence while wearing a dignified, long, grass skirt. Great set on this one.

Beautiful, and finally ready for her man.

As with most ladies, she looks all the better when taking the time to dress up. Here she truly shines in her accoutrements of neck lei and lily flower above the ear.

A celebration of butt crack as well

Maori maiden

In this final example we move from queen to goddess! A proud Maori maiden warrior. She is temporarily adorned with neck lei and lily flower, but permanently identified by her dainty chin moko. One disrespects her at one's own peril.

















It is my hope that these tiki women represent the first of many to be discovered in an ever-changing new world. Progress can only be achieved through awareness and by moving boldly into the future. Take note, our daughters and granddaughters are watching!


All of the above tiki ladies were fashioned of traditional logs of

Washingtonia robusta (Mexican Fan Palm)

Available now- 

Paperback copies of Mark's tiki book "Every Tiki has a Spirit"

-Full color and black and white versions- 

Tiki Books

Books by Mark Ferdinand