This 1927 two-flat is home to Serena and James. Their diverse art collection reflects the cities they have called home and the artists they have encountered over the past 25 years. Misfit Tiki is James' side hustle creative brand focusing on tiki and tropical-inspired art. This home will showcase a wide range of art from New Orleans, Cuba, Provincetown, MA, and Chicago, including James' workspace, home to an extensive collection of limited-edition tiki mugs.

Details of the art and artists in this home are available at:
misfittiki.com/wesleyave

The Artist: James/MisfitTiki

How long have you been practicing Art?

“Practicing” feels like a strong term for me. I view art more as a hobby and a creative escape; I've only been selling my work for about a year. My initial outlets were photography and graphic design. I consider myself more of a 'springboard' artist than an 'original idea' artist. During the pandemic, I experimented with acrylic painting, which led to my first release: a hand-pulled screen print of the alley mural from Three Dots and a Dash, produced by All-Star Press.

What is your Art process?

As a springboard artist, I take inspiration from what I see and then attempt to recreate a version of that in a different form. The Three Dots Print was my first attempt at translating a Paint-by-Number-inspired concept. I forced myself to learn Adobe Illustrator over a weekend to get that project off the ground. My ornament series of Aloha shirts stems from my ~300+ collection of Aloha shirts and borrows from VanTiki, who created a Library of Libations series using laser-cut wood and acrylic layers. The "Paint-by-Clicks" series was inspired by vintage Paint-by-Number kits but updates the color pallet and enables collectors to enjoy the art in larger formats.

What do you enjoy the most when creating?

I enjoy getting lost in the creative process. I can easily spend a weekend working on a project in Illustrator, and the time flies so quickly, which is very different from my 9-5 job. For the Three Dots print, I likely reviewed and reworked that work 50+ times after I called it 'done,' and I would find new edits each time. While that may sound like torture to some, I thoroughly enjoy this part of the process.

What are you currently working on?

When I have the time, I continue to work on my Paint-by-Clicks series. Coral Sunset was released in August 2024, and Majestic Macaws will be released in 2025.

Anything else you’d like to mention?

In 2017, I wrote a children's book based on New Orleans artist Terrance Osborne. After 4 years of silence, he expressed interest in moving forward. After an exhaustive search, I landed a literary agent and publisher, only to have Terrane pull out of the project. I mention that mainly from a lens of rejection. I've had many ideas and concepts that I thought would resonate but didn't materialize. While I'd enjoy making money as an artist, rejection is an unfortunate part of the art process. I cope by reflecting, processing, and pivoting to my next project.

The Collectors: James & Serena

How did you begin to collect art?

Growing up in Tennessee, walls in my parent's home were mainly filled with photos of family members and "Home Interiors and Gifts" art. [Home Interiors was an art version of 'Home Parties' meets Amazon of the time]. My family stopped taking vacations when I was born, so I wasn't exposed to art outside of school or 4-H trips, and I'm sure I didn't appreciate them then. As a theater nerd in high school and college, I began collecting signed Broadway posters. As a frugal 20-year-old, I'd often create art for my apartments rather than buy it. Serena's family, also from Tennessee, appreciated art differently, and she opened my eyes to ceramics, turned wood, oil, acrylic, watercolor paintings, etc. New Orleans left an imprint on us from a creative arts perspective. As Katrina survivors, we continued to collect art from New Orleans to support that community and keep New Orleans close to us. Cuba, a sister city to New Orleans, is our other passion for art collection. We enjoy the humanity and scrappiness behind the art. In Cuba, you can't run out to a local art store for supplies; you must be inventive and create your own technique to reproduce what artists outside of Cuba are doing. That notion inspires our collection: artists with a story and art that tells a story.

How do you find artists and how do you select the artwork to purchase?

Before social media, we leveraged local art fairs and travel. These days, friends' art, social media, and travel dominate how we find art. I'm definitely in the Facebook and Instagram algorithms, and they often present new art and artists that catch my eye.

Do you have a process for displaying your art collection or does it happen organically?

In general, the space dictates where the art can go. Since we live on two levels at Wesley Ave, we wanted the main living room to be devoted to art and less to TV, as most living rooms might be. Most rooms on our main level provide three large walls without windows; we leverage those as best possible. We also gravitate towards larger-scale art, which can help invoke a gallery-like feel.

Do you have a favorite piece?

It's a two-way tie for me for different reasons: Serena and I were engaged at Race Point in Provincetown. The Old Station at Race Point [dining room] holds sentimental value and is a beautiful loose oil on canvas. Second, there is the large art of the female in the purple dress in the dining room. I love the scale, the colors, and the loose acrylic. It was an eBay purchase and likely one of the least expensive pieces in our collection.

Any unusual stories to tell about an art piece?

Nothing unusual that comes to mind, but when traveling and something catches your eye, go with your gut - within reason. That art may be gone in seconds and you may miss your window.

Anything else you’d like to share about collecting?

If you collect art, please make it a priority to inventory/document it. This is for insurance purposes and to ensure that whoever inherits it has details on the art and artist. It may be a cumbersome task, but it is worth the time.If you collect art, please make it a priority to inventory/document it. This is for insurance purposes and to ensure that whoever inherits it has details on the art and artist. It may be a cumbersome task, but it is worth the time.

Nr. 4 on Wesley