cygraphics@aol.com, FB Chris Young Frog Island Tikis, Instagram Chris Young 5091.

I'm on my way to my 9th Tiki Caliente.

I'm on my way to my 9th Tiki Caliente.
One more float done for the journey to Palm Springs next week.

After burning I went back in with a Dremel to expose the bare wood in the deep portions.

After burning I went back in with a Dremel to expose the bare wood in the deep portions.
A small brush and three different colors of blue.

Some individual shots.

Some individual shots.


A drummer dude.

These last two have been my best.

These last two have been my best.
I bet they both sell.

I did a bit more finishing on this panel.

I did a bit more finishing on this panel.
I only found out three weeks ago that I was going to Tiki Caliente as I was on a waiting list.

I did "Webster" about three years ago.

I did "Webster" about three years ago.
Made from purple heart wood, this one has been a hard sell. I had retired him from vending because of the heavy weight and lack of interest but I am bringing him to Caliente next week. I figure he is a good October tiki.

Things are changing and getting more fall like on Frog Island.

Things are changing and getting more fall like on Frog Island.

Also worked this large and heavy slit gong looking ash log.

Also worked this large and heavy slit gong looking ash log.

The back is kind of serpent looking.

The back is kind of serpent looking.

It is a take on an ancient drum from the Micronesian area.

It is a take on an ancient drum from the Micronesian area.
They could communicate from island to island by pounding on them with sticks. This ash piece is hard enough that it actually sounds good and really resonates sound.

A long way to go, but I'll finish it this year.

A long way to go, but I'll finish it this year.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

I knew this would happen. Got an invite to the Tiki Oasis event which gets going the last weekend of August in San Diego. It killed me to say no but the logistics of getting everything together in a month just wasn't going to work for me this year. I will try again next time.
Since Sonic Youth is one of my all time bands I figured it would be disrespectful not to go see Thurston Moore on Saturday. It was at the Aladdin Theatre which I don't attend too often. I won't say it was a bad show but I was wishing I had brought a bottle of No-Doz with me. Nothing upbeat or loud, all art/poetry crap that did nothing to get the crowd moving like Sonic Youth could. Kurt Vile's hippie band set the slow pace, and the first band/guy was a sort of singing minstrel. zzzzzzzzzzz.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Attended the show at Ella St Social Club as part of the Tiki Kon show that was here. I like a local surfy type band called Guantanamo Baywatch and when I heard they were the headliner I had to go. I had a great time and was treated to some lighted hula-hoop dancing wahines as well as a band called Wavesauce that features a girl playing a Theremin. It's the first time I have ever seen this instrument and you play it by waving your hands over some type of electronic box. I will have to research it to see how it works. When I first arrived I could hardly see the bar for all the hawaiian shirts but by the time G B got on most had left. Too bad as they were very good.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Besides a glitch to start things off (my tikis were still in the hotel storage room when the party started) Skootiki 2011 was huge fun. Saw great tiki art from the likes of Zerostreet, Tiki Tony, Bosko, Bamboo Ben, Flounder, Big Toe, Sam Gambino, Doug Horne, Eric October and more. I sold two framed prints as well as a few unframed. Don't know if any tikis sold but I did not find out till a few weeks later last year. Next is the Gresham Artwalk this Saturday and then I should get some time to do other things.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

My daughter Jamie's boyfriend Ryan teaches at the School of Rock here in Portland and I attended the show at the Backspace on Friday. The best indoor show that I have ever seen while it is still daylight! The kids were ages 8-14 I am guessing and just shredded songs from the Beetles, Nirvana, Twisted Sister, Who, Zeppelin and more. There is hope for the future my friends.

"Moises"

"Moises"
Walnut.

Basswood. Sold

"Headly"

"Headly"
Cedar

"Elevator Going Up"

"Elevator Going Up"
Milled cedar.

"Rhythm Fish"

"Rhythm Fish"
Milled Doug Fir.

"Cannibal Drums"

"Cannibal Drums"
Cedar. Sold

"Head Hunter"

"Head Hunter"
Milled cedar.

"Randy"

"Randy"
Cedar

"Sawyer"

"Sawyer"
paddle.

Milled cedar

"Curly"

"Curly"
Poplar

"Chief"

"Chief"
Milled cedar

Milled cedar.

Untitled.

Untitled.
Basswood.

Untitled

Untitled
Milled cedar and timber bamboo. Sold.

"Sunny"

"Sunny"
Cedar

Untitled.

Untitled.
Unknown wood but maybe ash.

"Bedpost"

"Bedpost"
Pine. Sold.

"Chicken of the Sea"

"Chicken of the Sea"
Plywood. Sold

"Eruption"

"Eruption"
Plywood. Sold.

"Maminal"

"Maminal"
Plywood. Sold.

"Sundial Lyle"

"Sundial Lyle"
Cedar.

Necklace Holder

Necklace Holder
Bass wood. Sold

"Footstool"

"Footstool"
Cedar. Sold

"Wingo"

"Wingo"
Milled cedar.

An oar for my wife to hang her tiki necklaces from.

An oar for my wife to hang her tiki necklaces from.

Untitled

Untitled
Tight grain fir.

"Mingus and Miles"

"Mingus and Miles"
Cedar, sold.

A eucalyptus piece for the Tiki Central Art Swap 2020.

A eucalyptus piece for the Tiki Central Art Swap 2020.

"Potbelly"

"Potbelly"
Cedar. Sold.

A carving to match fabric from Dawn Frasier.

A carving to match fabric from Dawn Frasier.
Keeping this one made of cedar.

Untitled.

Untitled.
Cedar. Sold.

The other side.

The other side.

"Eye of the Tiki"

"Eye of the Tiki"
Milld cedar. Sold

"Voodoo Organist"

"Voodoo Organist"
Basswood. Sold. Unfortunately this one was lost by the USPS and I had to refund the money. It was purchased by the Voodoo Organist himself so I am extremely disappointed. Maybe it will turn up some day. It showed up in perfect condition a month late but we were both extremely happy!

"Tiki Time"

"Tiki Time"
Milled cedar. Sold.

"Skully"

"Skully"
Carved from a thrift store paddle. Sold.

Mahogany.

"Walden"

"Walden"
Milled cedar. Sold.

"Moe"

"Moe"
Alaskan yellow cedar.

"Kileauea"

"Kileauea"
Cedar. Sold.

Side cut-outs.

Side cut-outs.

"Art"

"Art"

Untitled as of yet.

Untitled as of yet.
Sold.

The other side.

The other side.

"Bernie"

"Bernie"
Sold.

"Rowen"

"Rowen"
Sold.

"Fez"

"Fez"
Poplar.

"Pierce"

"Pierce"
Cedar. Sold.

"Precarious Perch"

"Precarious Perch"
Alaskan yellow cedar.

"Lure"

"Lure"
Cedar, I got the idea from Spongebob Squarepants' living room.

Parrot.

Parrot.
Sold.

"King Ohmyohmyoh"

"King Ohmyohmyoh"
Bass wood.

"Orlando"

"Orlando"
Sold.

"Kamejiro"

"Kamejiro"
Alaskan yellow cedar. Sold.

"Yarnell", a Feather Light paddle.

"Yarnell", a Feather Light paddle.
Sold.

"Nightmare in Mahogany"

"Nightmare in Mahogany"
Sold.

"Porter"

"Porter"
Cedar Sold.

"Stan"

"Stan"
Cedar. Sold.

"Koo"

"Koo"
Sold

"Clayton"

"Clayton"
A mug of my design and redone by Michael Sbicca, Jungle Modern Ceramics.

"NoBobs"

"NoBobs"
Yellow cedar. Sold.

"Navigator Unknown"

"Navigator Unknown"
Sold.

"Webster"

"Webster"
Purple heart.

"Link"

"Link"

"Long Pig"

"Long Pig"

I'll figure out a face soon, this week.

I'll figure out a face soon, this week.

Buoy Boys.

Buoy Boys.
Sold.

"Red"

"Red"
Cedar. Sold

"Ku"

"Ku"
Poplar/Sold.

"Many Menehunes"

"Many Menehunes"
Cedar. Sold

"Nemo"

"Nemo"
cedar, Sold.

"Sawyer"

"Sawyer"
Sold.

"Top Knot"

"Top Knot"
Sold.

"Chance"

"Chance"

"Upside Down" was a commissioned piece.

"Upside Down" was a commissioned piece.
Sold.

"Foxtrot" is named for the antique store where he was purchased.

"Foxtrot" is named for the antique store where he was purchased.
Sold.

"Captain Fritz"

"Captain Fritz"

"Gretsch"

"Gretsch"
Sold.

"Dewey"

"Dewey"
Sold.

Bad Medicine"

Bad Medicine"

"Mr. Devlin's Luau"

"Mr. Devlin's Luau"
Sold.

"Lily"

"Lily"
Sold.

Tiki Central art swap piece "Seasons".

Tiki Central art swap piece "Seasons".

"Benny"

"Benny"
Sold.

"Joaquin"

"Joaquin"
Red Oak, sold.

"No Wake"

"No Wake"
Sold.

"Jack"

"Jack"

"Restless Natives"

"Restless Natives"
Mahogany. Sold.

"Skeptic"

"Skeptic"
Noble. Sold

Tiki Central art swap piece "Enchanted Tiki Room"

Tiki Central art swap piece "Enchanted Tiki Room"

"Bardoon"

"Bardoon"
Sold.

"Darwin"

"Darwin"
Cedar.

"Punchy's Brother"

"Punchy's Brother"
Sold.

"Mark"

"Mark"
Sold.

"Medley"

"Medley"
Sold.

"Lloyd"

"Lloyd"
Sold.

The middle jelutong piece is the only shot I have of "Ward"

The middle jelutong piece is the only shot I have of "Ward"
Sold.

"Herb and Al"

"Herb and Al"
Sold.

"Koko"

"Koko"
Sold.

"Brunswick"

"Brunswick"

Tiki Central art swap "Hawaiian Shirts"

Tiki Central art swap "Hawaiian Shirts"

"Totem"

"Totem"
Sold.

"Cannibal's Cauldron"

"Cannibal's Cauldron"
Sold.

"Nina"

"Nina"
Sold.

"Pele Lani"

"Pele Lani"
Sold.

"Orson"

"Orson"
Sold.

The top.

The top.

"Tsuga"

"Tsuga"

"Ben"

"Ben"
Sold.

Lighting by TikiSkip.

Lighting by TikiSkip.

"Dyson"

"Dyson"
Sold.

"Lonnie"

"Lonnie"
Sold.

Tiki Central Swap

Tiki Central Swap

"Orville"

"Orville"
Sold.

"Makemake"

"Makemake"
Sold.

"Tika"

"Tika"
Sold.

"Nelson"

"Nelson"
Sold.

"Maka Puke"

"Maka Puke"
Sold.

"La Tsunami"

"La Tsunami"

"Barry"

"Barry"
Sold.

This is a bass wood sign I did for a Columbus, Ohio based designer of cool tiki bar lighting.

"Lauderdale"

"Lauderdale"
Sold.

"Eaton"

"Eaton"
Sold.

"Bernie"

"Bernie"
Sold.

"Ron"

"Ron"
Sold.

"Stu"

"Stu"
Sold.

"Surfin' Bird"

"Surfin' Bird"
Sold.

"'Ohiki" (Hawaiian for sand crab)

"'Ohiki" (Hawaiian for sand crab)
Sold.

"Power"

"Power"
Sold.

"Juan and Atu"

"Juan and Atu"
Sold.

"Beatrice and Giovanni"

"Beatrice and Giovanni"
Sold.

"Airic"

"Airic"
Sold.

"Bob"

"Bob"
One of my personal favs. Sold.

"Jared"

"Jared"
Rhymes with Scared. Sold.

"Toma"

"Toma"
And this is my favorite as I like his bad attitude. Sold.

"Tiki Kabob"

"Tiki Kabob"
Sold.

"Tiki Kabob 2"

"Tiki Kabob 2"
Sold.

"Flip"

"Flip"
Named Flip because he is wearing flip flops. Sold.

"Paddleman"

"Paddleman"
Sold.

"Lucy"

"Lucy"
Sold.

"Growth Pole"

"Growth Pole"
Sold.

"Kit"

"Kit"
This is a memorial tiki for a friend.

The Real Jimbo

The Real Jimbo
Thanks a lot to Jimbo Wallace. He is the bass player for Reverend Horton Heat and they purchased this tiki and took him home to Texas.

"Sufferin' Bastard"

"Sufferin' Bastard"
Four color screen print.

"Black Clouds"

"Black Clouds"
8 color screen print.

"Two Tikis"

"Two Tikis"
8 color screen print.

"Brett Lambo"

"Brett Lambo"
8 color screen print done for the Skootiki show here in Portland.

Jimbo, Claude, Juan and Atu, Lombardo, and Airic.

Jimbo, Claude, Juan and Atu, Lombardo, and Airic.

My favorite carving tools.

My favorite carving tools.

"Lombardo"

"Lombardo"
He does use Polident but don't make fun of him. Sold.

"Jimbo"

"Jimbo"
It took most of a year but he is done. He is named after the Reverend Horton Heat's bass player.

He is a made from cedar.


Legba and Mehevi guarding their new digs in the Phillippines.

"Claude"

"Claude"
Sold.

"El Boracho"

"El Boracho"

"Hans"

"Hans"
Named by my 9 year old nephew, Max, this was made in 2001 but I never photographed it till now.

Whitey's Frog

Whitey's Frog
Sold.

Legba

Legba
Sold.

Legbas backside

Screen printed voodoo symbols on Legba

Mehevi

Mehevi
His name comes from a great book titled "Typee" by Herman Melville. Sold.

Group photo

Group photo

Flip

Flip
Sold.

The back of Flip

Ali'i

Ali'i
Sold.

Dick (Deadeye)

Dick (Deadeye)
mouth and top light up

Willard and Ben

Willard and Ben
Palm

Gus

Gus
Here's an odd little guy, named for gusto as in "go for the." Also bite off more than you can chew. Why have a little when you can have a lot?

"Dong Clock"

"Dong Clock"

Felix

Felix
Sold.

Orin

Orin

Frog Island Tikis

About Me

I started carving tikis in 2000 after a trip to Maui. I love and appreciate Polynesian culture, but rather than follow traditional ways, I put my own rather twisted view on the matter. I build each tiki with a protective edge to watch over the owner's well being. Most of them are of redwood or cedar, but my brother-in-law Jimbo brings me excellent palm from California. I start with a chainsaw and then really get into them with chisels, files, and knives. I have read that the ONLY way to breath life into an idol is through use of hand tools, but if primitive man had access to a chainsaw I know he would have used it. Tikis are for fun. Mahalo- CY

Blog Archive

Mahogany has a nice smell as you carve.

Mahogany has a nice smell as you carve.

Too many details.

Too many details.
My style does not include the tedious, so will forgo on all previous efforts.

A neapolitan paint job.

A neapolitan paint job.

This is the latest and last float till the new batch for San Diego next month.

This is the latest and last float till the new batch for San Diego next month.

I cut the top out of this one.

I cut the top out of this one.





Set up on Saturday.

Set up on Saturday.

The other sides.

The other sides.
Destination: Tiki Oasis San Diego.