Books
Beauty in the Beast: Flora, Fauna, and Endangered Species of Artist Ralph Burke Tyree
Ralph Burke Tyree was a prolific artist who helped popularize Polynesian art in the 20th century. Beauty in the Beast is the story of Tyree’s creative genius in painting flora and fauna, including colorful and exotic animals from around the world, many of which are endangered species.
Published to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, Beauty in the Beast explores the works of the last ten years of Tyree’s life when animals became his focus. Some endangered species covered are the pangolin, cotton-top tamarin, ornate Hawk-eagle, dwarf lemur, red panda, slow loris, and several big cats, including tigers, lions, and leopards.
A tribute to the artistic brilliance of Ralph Burke Tyree and the animals and plants of our planet, Beauty in the Beast begins with a quote by Albert Einstein that evokes one of the greatest challenges of our time: “Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.”
Leeteg: Babes, Bars, Beaches and Black Velvet Art - COLLECTORS EDITION
The sensational story of Leeteg, black velvet artist and party man of Tahiti, who painted nude vahines in his tropical paradise Villa Velour on the Island of Moorea, 1933-1953. The “American Gauguin”, Edgar Leeteg, left California in 1932, with a few paint brushes, bound for the South Pacific. He was the original “Tiki Man” who started the black velvet painting craze linked to South Pacific themed restaurants.
This is limited to only 99 number copies; Signed by his only three children, all now around 80 years old: from Jackie Cadousteau: Laverne Leeteg and her brother Edgar, Jr, Leeteg, and from Stella Ebb: William Ropati Leeteg. Also signed by the Authors: CJ Cook and Michael Ashley and the Book Designer, Claudine Mansour. Optional personalized inscription by CJ Cook. (Photos of each signature also shown on the main Collectors Edition page – click Learn More below to view.)
Buy Collectors EditionLeeteg: Babes, Bars, Beaches and Black Velvet Art - STANDARD EDITION
The sensational story of Leeteg, black velvet artist and party man of Tahiti, who painted nude vahines in his tropical paradise Villa Velour on the Island of Moorea, 1933-1953. The “American Gauguin”, Edgar Leeteg, left California in 1932, with a few paint brushes, bound for the South Pacific. He was the original “Tiki Man” who started the black velvet painting craze linked to South Pacific themed restaurants.
Tyree: Artist of the South Pacific
Ralph Burke Tyree was an American artist of the mid-twentieth century who had a prolific career painting scenes from the South Pacific. Posted to Samoa in WWII, he became the resident Marine-base artist capturing the quiet exoticism of the island people and the landscapes. He was one of the premier artists of the Tiki culture movement that swept the United States in the 1960s… continued
Leeteg and Tyree - PURCHASE THE 2 BOOK SET with FREE SHIPPING*!
Book pair includes Leeteg: Babes, Bars, Beaches and Black Velvet Art, and Tyree: Artist of the South Pacific.
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* International shipping now available! Shipping cost listed below.
Leeteg: Babes, Bars, Beaches, and Black Velvet Art by CJ Cook
The sensational story of Leeteg, a black velvet artist and party man of Tahiti, painted nude vahines in his tropical paradise Villa Velour on the Island of Moorea, 1933-1953. The “American Gauguin”, Edgar Leeteg, left California in 1932, with a few paintbrushes, bound for the South Pacific. He was the original “Tiki Man” who started the black velvet painting craze linked to South Pacific-themed restaurants. His home in Tahiti allowed him to paint nudes, drink, and party with sensual babes at Quinn’s Bar in Papeete, Tahiti.
He became one of the wealthiest and most famous artists in the first half of the 20th century. He was the Father of Black Velvet Art and the genesis of a genre that has continued today with Polynesian Pop Art and the Tiki Revolution. This is a story of a most memorable rascal from the South Pacific.
Tyree: Artist of the South Pacific
Ralph Burke Tyree was an American artist who was the most prolific portrait artist of the South Pacific peoples of the 20th century. After the war, he began his professional career in California. He traveled back to the South Pacific to live for years in Guam, Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island of Hawaii. Most of his first works were sensual island wahines in island beach and jungle settings. He painted primarily with oils on board. He switched in mid-career to painting with oils on black velvet to add depth and texture. This was in the midst of the 1960s’ Tiki revolution, and he would display many of his demure nude pieces Tiki bars and restaurants. He was likely the most prolific artist of black velvet portraits of island women and men during this Tiki era.
Awards from the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) April 2018:
- Benjamin Franklin Gold – Best Cover, large format
- Benjamin Franklin Gold – Best Biography
Free shipping USA only. California residents will be required to pay sales tax. International orders have shipping costs around $80-$100, depending on location.
Tyree and Beauty in the Beast - PURCHASE THE 2 BOOK SET!
Book pair includes Tyree: Artist of the South Pacific, and Beauty in the Beast: Flora, Fauna, and Endangered Species of Artist Ralph Burke Tyree.
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Beauty in the Beast: Flora, Fauna, and Endangered Species of Artist Ralph Burke Tyree by CJ Cook with Paige Herbert
Ralph Burke Tyree was a prolific artist who helped popularize Polynesian art in the 20th century. Beauty in the Beast is the story of Tyree’s creative genius in painting flora and fauna, including colorful and exotic animals from around the world, many of which are endangered species.
Published to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, Beauty in the Beast explores the works of the last ten years of Tyree’s life when animals became his focus. Some endangered species covered are the pangolin, cotton-top tamarin, ornate Hawk-eagle, dwarf lemur, red panda, slow loris, and several big cats, including tigers, lions, and leopards.
Tyree: Artist of the South Pacific
Ralph Burke Tyree was an American artist who was the most prolific portrait artist of the South Pacific peoples of the 20th century. After the war, he began his professional career in California. He traveled back to the South Pacific to live for years in Guam, Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island of Hawaii. Most of his first works were sensual island wahines in island beach and jungle settings. He painted primarily with oils on board. He switched in mid-career to painting with oils on black velvet to add depth and texture. This was in the midst of the 1960s’ Tiki revolution, and he would display many of his demure nude pieces Tiki bars and restaurants. He was likely the most prolific artist of black velvet portraits of island women and men during this Tiki era.
Black Velvet Trilogy - PURCHASE THE 3 BOOK SET with FREE SHIPPING!
Book trilogy includes Tyree: Artist of the South Pacific; Leeteg: Babes, Bars, Beaches, and Black Velvet Art; and Beauty in the Beast: Flora, Fauna, and Endangered Species of Artist Ralph Burke Tyree.
* Free Shipping.
Beauty in the Beast: Flora, Fauna, and Endangered Species of Artist Ralph Burke Tyree by CJ Cook with Paige Herbert
Ralph Burke Tyree was a prolific artist who helped popularize Polynesian art in the 20th century. Beauty in the Beast is the story of Tyree’s creative genius in painting flora and fauna, including colorful and exotic animals from around the world, many of which are endangered species.
Published to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, Beauty in the Beast explores the works of the last ten years of Tyree’s life when animals became his focus. Some endangered species covered are the pangolin, cotton-top tamarin, ornate Hawk-eagle, dwarf lemur, red panda, slow loris, and several big cats, including tigers, lions, and leopards.
Leeteg: Babes, Bars, Beaches, and Black Velvet Art by CJ Cook
The sensational story of Leeteg, a black velvet artist and party man of Tahiti, painted nude vahines in his tropical paradise Villa Velour on the Island of Moorea, 1933-1953. The “American Gauguin”, Edgar Leeteg, left California in 1932, with a few paintbrushes, bound for the South Pacific. He was the original “Tiki Man” who started the black velvet painting craze linked to South Pacific-themed restaurants. His home in Tahiti allowed him to paint nudes, drink, and party with sensual babes at Quinn’s Bar in Papeete, Tahiti.
He became one of the wealthiest and most famous artists in the first half of the 20th century. He was the Father of Black Velvet Art and the genesis of a genre that has continued today with Polynesian Pop Art and the Tiki Revolution. This is a story of a most memorable rascal from the South Pacific.
Tyree: Artist of the South Pacific
Ralph Burke Tyree was an American artist who was the most prolific portrait artist of the South Pacific peoples of the 20th century. After the war, he began his professional career in California. He traveled back to the South Pacific to live for years in Guam, Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island of Hawaii. Most of his first works were sensual island wahines in island beach and jungle settings. He painted primarily with oils on board. He switched in mid-career to painting with oils on black velvet to add depth and texture. This was in the midst of the 1960s’ Tiki revolution, and he would display many of his demure nude pieces Tiki bars and restaurants. He was likely the most prolific artist of black velvet portraits of island women and men during this Tiki era.
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Tyree Mai Tai Glasses, Set of 4
Tyree Mai Tai Glasses, Set of 6
Tiki Cap
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