Each Gecko in Paradise starts as a blank, five-foot-long fiberglass-polyester "clone" of an original gecko sculpted by Master Artist Rochelle Lum.

Decoration of each gecko is to be done by artists picked by the Geckos in Paradise Artist Selection Committee, composed of professionals representing Hawai'i's art community. Uniqueness, originality and excellence are the committee's selection criteria.

A minimum of 75 finalists were selected and placed on the Approved Artist Roster. Selection to the Approved Roster does not guarantee invitation to decorate. Each artist's expenses, up to $500, will be reimbursed.

Selected artists are encouraged to use any media to embellish the gecko form, including paint, collage, drawing design, textiles, ceramics, mixed media, audio/video components or assemblage. They are also allowed to modify the form in any method they wish and add sculptural elements, appendages, props, fabrics, objects, mosaics, etc. The gecko can be cut and reassembled to be displayed in any pose.