Da Monkey Business | Original Painting

This piece was inspired by a true story that happened in Waikiki a few years ago. One early evening before one of my shows, I was walking through the International Marketplace. I got to know a lot of the little cart vendors there. But this one evening, I noticed a cart loaded full of those coconut carved monkeys sold to tourists all over the Island. In my heart, I suspected that they were made outside of Hawaii...but I was in a curious mood, and so I stopped to sort through the stash of monkey madness. This fairly old Chinese lady, tending the cart, saw my interest and walked towards me. "You like Monkey?", she said, with a twinkle in her eye. Yeah! I replied, but they say, "Aloha" on their tummies...are they REALLY made in Hawaii?

The woman grinned like a cat outside a bird cage, and quickly replied, "OH YES...they are!" I asked her WHO made the Monkeys here in Hawaii? She didn't hesitate a moment...and with a glint in her eye, she held her index finger to her lips and said, "Shhhhhh, I can't tell you...it's the secret!" I laughed and bought a coconut monkey!

Well, as I walked down Kalakaua Ave. to where I needed to be that night, my mind went, as always, into it's fantasy mode. I immediately thought of my gecko series. Who else would need to be so secretive...yet so obvious as the perfect monkey makers than the geckos! I noted this in my sketchbook...and to this day, the idea has been at rest...until now! So here is MY answer to who makes those coconut monkeys! I imagined what the geckos would do, if they are, indeed the secret makers of the coconut monkeys. Hiding away in the thick tropical leaves, they carve and create. What a great business! So, I painted this event for you to see, and called it, "Da Monkey Business". Enjoy!"--THOR

This original art by fantasy artist Tom Thordarson shows playful, colorful geckos carving a monkey out of a coconut. They sure aren't monkeying around in running their monkey coconut business! This gecko art is one of a kind and is sure to bring a smile to your face!