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 …
What is the tiki scene like where you live?
Dave- I live in Southern California and there is a pretty big Tiki Scene here. Lots of fun bars and restaurants and other places to visit. We have several Tiki market events throughout the year too, with lots of vendors showcasing their artwork, clothes and more. I live near Disneyland, so Trader Sam’s is a must for any Tiki fan. It’s tough to get in, since it is very small, but it’s amazing if you can make it in the door and find a table.
What brought you into the ‘Tiki lifestyle” and how long has it been part of your life?
Dave- I have always been a fan but just started creating artwork a few years ago. I am an independent contractor for the Disney Theme Parks and they keep me really busy, which is a good problem to have. Over the years I have created several pieces based on “The Enchanted Tiki Room” and they were always some of my favorites. I decided to branch out and create my own unique Tiki artwork and start offering it at marketplaces and online. It’s been fun to explore and adapt my 3D paper sculpture style into the Tiki theme.
Can you give a little history of how you became an artist?
Dave- I was a really creative kid but more of a fabricator than an illustrator. I liked to make things more than I liked to draw. In middle school, I got into musical theater and music then took me away from art and that lasted into my first 2 years of college where I was studying to be a vocal performer. I realized that was not for me and found my way back into art starting in graphic design. I changed my major and graduated with a degree in art from Long Beach State.
I was still working in graphic design but expanded my work to murals in homes and offices which eventually led me to go out on my own as an artist. In addition to graphic design and murals I worked in the fields of theater design, production design for TV and Film, fine art and more. I developed my current 3D paper style back in the 1990s creating a line of art called TEXTures which were contemporary illuminated manuscripts using scripture as their basis. These were picked up by a publisher for a few years and reproduced as fine art, calendars and greeting cards. When I got in with Disney I adapted this style to their characters and famous phrases and have been working with them for over 20 years. Now I’m adapting that style again with Tiki themes. It’s been a winding path over the past 30 years but it’s interesting to look back on to see how one project led to the next to get me where I am today.
How would you describe your style?
Dave- I typically call it Mixed Media Paper Sculpture. I use a lot of paper in my work but I also use materials like wood, metal, plastic and more. Traditional paper sculpture uses just paper but mine often incorporate so many other materials I feel I need to call it something different.
Who or what would be some of your influences?
Dave- One of my current favorite paper artists is Brittney Lee who works for Disney. Her work is amazing. In the Tiki World I’m a big fan of Tiki Tony because his work is so unique, playful and fun. I also really like the color palettes that Mookie Sato uses.
What is your favorite Tiki drink?
Dave- I’m a sucker for anything with pineapple and coconut so a good Blue Hawaiian Cocktail, The Castaway, or Coconut Rum Painkiller will do. I have to admit I enjoy a drink with an umbrella in it.
What does the future hold for you?
Dave- That’s tough question to answer these days. The one thing I have been able to do during this season is to expand my Tiki artwork collection and finally make some of the pieces I’ve been wanting to make for a long time. I had a weird idea some time ago to create a series of “Tiki Bots” which are a mashup of mid-century robots and Tiki. I’m thankful that I had the time to actually create some of these as well as explore some other themes I had thought up but had not had the time to actually create. My hope is to come out on the other side of this event with a stronger collection of artwork that I’m able to offer to people.
Anything else you would like to add?
Dave- I’m always open to suggestions for new themes and styles of artwork and fans have definitely inspired much of what I do. I’m always open to those ideas and can even create custom artwork for people as well. I’m still relatively new to the Tiki world so I hope your readers will feel welcome to send me any ideas they might have.
Throughout my career the thing that has meant the most to me was that I had the privilege of making something that someone wants in their home. People often send me pictures of my work hanging in their home and tell me how much it means to them. While I definitely appreciate the income, my artwork provides that kind of response from people has always meant the most to me. I feel very blessed to do something I love for a living and look forward to many more years of it.
Here is the Dave Avanzino Designs Website