Today we’d like to introduce you to Harry Decker.
Harry, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Aloha and Guten Tag. I’m a German guy who loves Tiki Culture, Polynesian Pop, Exotica—and Hawaiian Shirts.A designer and Creative Director by trade, I also love Photoshop and started painting digitally a few years ago.
Oh, and I have a passion for experimenting with rum cocktails in my backyard bar—the Hula Hideaway.
Mix all that and shake it up—and you get the colorful and rum-soaked Tiki art of Harry Decker.
TIKI BAR MEETS ART STUDIO
The Hula Hideaway is my humble Tiki Bar and studio. Tucked away between swaying palm trees and bamboo, you can see its roofline peek out—if you know where to look. Sometimes, when you listen closely in the evening, the sound of a cocktail shaker might reveal its secret location.
This is my creative place and art studio when I am not tinkering with rum cocktails. It’s a place from which I draw inspiration, relaxation and balance. And it is the birth cradle for the artwork you see here.
Created with the idea to have a place of inspiration, I started building the Hula Hideaway in the southwest corner of our yard, right in the spot where the sun sets in the summer. A palm thatched A-frame roof, hand-carved rafters and lights made from fishing floats, pufferfish and lobster traps. A rum bottle weather vane on top points those in the right direction who are indecisive of their drink choices.
Who knows, maybe one day you get to visit the Hula Hideaway and I’ll make you a fancy cocktail.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
In my paintings, I tell stories that give you a peek into the dream world of Tiki. I like to share my imagination and start a conversation in which people want to find out more about Tiki culture.
The allure of Tiki lies in its inherent idea of escaping from your everyday world into a tropical vacation place where you can forget your daily stress and let loose for a few hours. That’s what made Tiki so popular in the 50s and even today. That’s why Tiki bars traditionally never have windows to the outside world. That’s also why tropical rum cocktails are presented in Tiki mugs, with elaborate decorations and tropical flavors—all to create and maintain the perfect illusion of a tropical getaway. Often visitors had to cross a symbolic threshold to enter this world, such as a small bridge or a pair of Tikis guarding the entry.
In my art, I am trying to create a visual bridge to that world—to draw people into this world because everyone can use a tropical getaway once in a while. And if one of my paintings lets you imagine whisking away to a tropical island or take a dive into the world of Tiki, my mission is complete.
I draw my ideas from Tiki culture, Polynesian Pop, Exotica and traditional rum cocktail culture. All these and a lot of the mid-century cultures are loosely connected and influenced by each other. I find it fascinating—there is so much creativity and inspiration, so that’s how I got hooked on Tiki.
I paint in Photoshop because I already was darn good at it being a graphic designer. It’s the same process as traditional painting—canvas, sketches, composition, underpainting, brushes and color palettes—just in a digital medium. It allows me to be very detailed in my art, so that I can create a complete world that people can get lost in. Their first reaction often is curiosity, and then they start discovering all the different layers and elements—and get drawn in. So, come take a closer look!
Artists rarely, if ever pursue art for the money. Nonetheless, we all have bills and responsibilities and many aspiring artists are discouraged from pursuing art due to financial reasons. Any advice or thoughts you’d like to share with prospective artists?
My art is a hobby at this point, and it would be great to be able to do this full time and support myself. I like hanging out at tiki events with a Mai Tai in my hand—but it does not pay the bills yet. But I will stick with it and try to get myself out there as much as possible, not only because I’m passionate about it, but because over time I will find my audience and who knows, maybe one my little tiki bar will turn into a tiki gallery.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
My artwork can be seen live at various SoCal art events, such as Tiki Trader at the Bali Hai, Tiki Oasis, TikiBeat, Tikiland Trading or other weekend art shows between San Diego and LA. I am trying to go to these shows about once a month. I always have some pieces that I put in refinished vintage frames that really let the art shine.
When not trading and vending, my art can be found online in the Etsy Marketplace at Hula Hideaway Art.
I always appreciate people supporting their local artists, so come and visit at one of my shows and I’ll tell you all about it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HulaHideawayArt
- Email: HulaHideawayArt@gmail.com
- Instagram: @hulahideaway
- Facebook: @hulahideaway
Image Credit:
Harry Decker
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