I first came across Southern Californian artist Kerne Erickson’s work in Hawaii in 2006. I was immediately captivated by the striking colours, definition and old world feel of another time and place.

For the past 30 years Kerne has worked as a full time artist and continues to today in his home studio located in Orange County. From the Hula Girls, to the Retro Travel Poster Series, his work conjures up a nostalgic feeling of a simpler time.

 “Aloha”

In the early 1900′s tourism really started to take off in Hawaii and in the mid 1930′s the Eastman Kodak Company decided to sponsor the Hula shows to greet the tourists in Kapiolani Park. Erickson located several pictorial postcards of the hula shows to use as a reference for this classic poster.

“Waikiki, Los Angeles Steamship Co”

 In the late 1920′s, surfers and visitors would often share waves and ride side by side in outrigger canoes and 11 foot solid wood surfboards. In 1922, the Los Angeles Steamship Company decided to compete for the San- Francisco to Hawaii ocean liner passage service. This became the theme for Erickson’s poster.

The Retro Hawaiian Postcard Collection by Kerne Erickson available at Plumeria Coastal Home.

“San Francisco TWA, The Lindbergh Line”

Having recently visited San Francisco, I fell in love with hanging off those cable cars going down the hill at speed. The California Street Cable Railroad in San Francisco, California is the oldest cable car line still in operation. It first opened for business in 1878 to service the downtown area. Since 1952, the Municipal Railway of San Francisco has maintained this transportation system, whilst preserving a beautiful piece of the city’s heritage. Erickson’s poster captures a snapshot of the  1930′s  with a view down California Street toward the San Francisco Bay.

“Tahiti, Oceanic Steamship Company”

The San Francisco based Oceanic Steamship Company began operations in 1879. Around 1926, they started offering passenger services to Tahiti, New Zealand and Australia to encourage more tourists.Erickson’s poster reflects the advertisments that would have run in the 1920′s for the ocean liner.

For more information or to purchase Kerne’s amazing work, please visit his official site by clicking here.

Sam ♥

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