Topsail Island, NC - Discover Da’Kine Artists
Story by M.J. Vieweg
Photos Courtesy of M. J. Vieweg and Da’Kine Artists

 

A sunny yellow staircase leads up to Mike and Malia Edman’s Da’Kine Artists Studio and Shoppe on Sneads Ferry Road in Sneads Ferry.  Their studio is named for a pidgin Hawaiian expression that translates loosely into “that thing.”  The term is used when just the right word escapes you.

A visit to the Da’Kine studio won’t leave you at a loss for words.  At first, the showroom brings to mind the sense of anticipation a child may feel when first wandering into grandpa’s attic.  Here in the cool hush on the second floor, the Edmans display their wares.   Hand-painted accents and embellishments adorn vintage pieces of furniture deliberately chosen for their form.  From small accent pieces to larger furnishings, hand-painted furniture is just part of Mike and Malia’s repertoire.

Murals to Go

The first mural Malia ever sold was a tropical rain forest scene commissioned for a Wilmington hair salon.  “I painted the scene on two four by eight sheets of wood and called them ‘Murals to Go,’” she said.  Word spread and Da’Kine murals were finding their way into private homes and other local businesses.

“Everyone wants to make their house unique,” Malia points out.  “And a mural can bring a room to life.”

Some of her clients have a particular theme in mind; others just make a suggestion and step back.  Recently, Malia completed a mermaid mural a client requested for the bedroom of two little girls.

Those funny, odd pirates that glower across the dining area of the Clamdigger Restaurant in Sneads Ferry are Malia’s work.  “They are one of my favorites of the work we’ve done locally,” said Mike.  “I always enjoy looking at them.”

Open Water Marine, coincidentally next door to the Clamdigger, boasts a floor to ceiling mural by Da’Kine Artists.  It depicts a boat heading out to sea, leaving behind its wake.  The first mural of that size for Malia, it posed other interesting challenges.  “I’d never tried to paint a boat wake before,” she said.  “And I worked pretty hard to capture the liveliness of, well, open water.”

Beyond Murals

“I’m drawn to dramatic furniture.  I like pieces that are unusual,” Malia explained.  Dramatic and unusual can describe her painted mannequins.  She recalls her first mannequin that she sold at the Raleigh Flea Market a few years ago.  “I painted (the mannequin) an allover tropical theme with a parrot on her belly.  People went crazy when they saw her,” Malia admitted.

More recently, Malia finished painting another full body mannequin named ‘Makala.’  Makala sports zebra stripes, jungle fauna, and across her torso, a full frontal lion’s face bedecked by a regal mane Simba would envy.

“The mannequins are such a unique idea,” Malia said, referring to their potential in home décor as conversation pieces.  Makala has found her home with a local resident who has a jungle-themed room. 

Custom Design for the Passionate Homeowner

Mike worked in graphic design at an engineering firm for nearly a decade.  But as a trained fine artist, he found the corporate environment stifling.

For Mike to join Malia in the decorative painting business was always the couple’s dream.  As the two artists build their business, Mike assists custom furniture builder Harry Smith, whose workshop sits below Da’Kine Studio and Shoppe on Sneads Ferry Road.

“I’ve known Malia for years,” said Harry. “Through several conversations we thought having Da’Kine set up in this business would be good for both of us.  We discovered we have a similar customer base .  .  . people who want something out of the ordinary.”  That type of person, Harry suggests, will not be satisfied with what even the higher-end chain stores can offer in terms of home décor.

The customer who seeks out Harry or Da’Kine is looking for something rare and of exceptional quality.  They might be passionate homeowners striving to make their home a showcase or perhaps a private, intensely personal sanctuary.

Whimsical and Less Whimsical

“The word I use to describe Malia’s work is “whimsical,” said Mike.  Malia’s skills are largely self-taught, from early pen and ink facsimiles of Disney characters to a wood carving technique she learned from watching her father carve Hawaiian mementoes for tourists.

Malia’s early years growing up in Hawaii still bring her artistic inspiration.  “I love to paint the tropical and ocean scenes that people think of when they think of Hawaii.  People like to romanticize Hawaii and the Hawaiian connection is popular.”

At any time, there is furniture in the studio she and Mike bought at auction and transformed into functional works of art.  When musing about what to paint on a piece of furniture, Malia considers the lines and the piece’s potential function.  An heirloom quality bureau may have lines that inspire peacock tails or trailing roses.  A preening heron can be a surprise on the side of an antique armoire.

Mike’s more traditional background combines drafting, 3-D graphics, and technical knowledge gleaned from work in graphic design.  Mike incorporates some of these techniques into his art, describing his contributions as “less whimsical.”  But his work is no less enchanting than his wife’s work, as he quietly admits to painting the eye- catching pale butter-yellow chest of drawers that serves as a backdrop for two sea turtles.  The turtles seemed to be dipping and diving through the ocean.  As one visitor to the showroom remarked, “Anybody can paint furniture, but not everyone can paint it well.”

Now they have added decorative room screens (hinged wood panels) to the mix.  At the time of this writing, the Da’Kine studio displayed a screen Malia decided to paint with nearly life-sized dolphins.  This is not the usual ‘beach house’ decor.

Relaxing Work

Many people turn to creating art as a way to unwind from the stresses of their jobs.  But what if creating art is your job?  How do the artists relax?

Both Mike and Malia say that the process of creating is relaxing for them and that the actual act of painting a design is rejuvenating.  But when they need to clear their heads, they are off to the beach to be near the water.

So why do they need down time?  Besides tending the growing business side of the studio, the Edmans juggle five kids and two horses.  With such a multi-faceted life, Malia said that set hours at the studio have not been established just yet. 

She penned these words in a note for visitors who happen to stop by when the artists are out:

“If the surf’s up or the fishin’s good,
Chances are we are closed for the day.
If we’re not here, just give us a call
Chances are we are not far away.”

Da’Kine Studio and Shoppe is located at 259 Sneads Ferry Road in Sneads Ferry, NC.  The phone number is 910-581-4704.  Visit their website: www.creativeartbymalia.com.

M.J. VIEWEG writes from Sneads Ferry, NC.