The painting is a large piece of medium weight canvas, using 3 large contemporary patterns to represent ritorito (the protection of the parents – two outer koru, to the sibling – middle koru). The inspiration was to create a sense of security and growth and to enforce this i included the whakatauki (Maori Proverb), Whaia [...]
This painting is based on the kowhaiwhai pattern, i enjoyed doing this piece and like the bright colours and textured background using heavy coats of gesso. I painted this as a learning curve so i could get used to the feel of painting. I can’t paint landscapes or people to save myself so i am [...]
The featured Manaia figure illustration was developed for a war veterans website http://www.ngatoa.com. The Manaia figure is a side-faced and sometimes birdlike figure, may be found in Māori carvings. Easter Island is known for its distinctive Manaia, made up of a side-faced man with a bird-head. read more here… The illustration was drawn with ink, [...]
Im not a big fan of carving 21st keys, so when someone approaches me to do one i usually try and change the subject or say “nah i don’t do 21st keys” An alternative is a carving that can almost look like a key but isn’t. I was in luck when my step brother in [...]
My Brother Abel has been hard at it experimenting with glass etching. The process involves sand blasting the glass to create the etch effect, you can use an acid etching liquid but not really that keen on using that stuff. After some practice he is ready to etch some more intricate Maori patterns. Here are [...]
(Wh)unky Wheku Ok, found a wheku drawing lying around so i thought i would bring it to digital life. My youngest daughter added some nice funky scribbles to it too, but its all good as i can remove them in photoshop. Thickened up the outlines more with a ball point pen just so it would [...]
Heres some images of a Purerehua or bullroarer that my brother and i have been working on. This one is for our mums birthday, the patterns are contemporary Maori patterns that enjoy drawing, then they were carved in using a haehae or V chisel.
Frosted Maori Window Art I had the opportunity to do an art piece on the front doors of a very big house in Maungaraki hills, Lower Hutt. The windows measured around 1 metre wide and 4 metres tall. The process started by finding out what the client wanted to represent on the windows. We talked [...]
I dig the grungy rustic look with koru patterns, so i went for it in the background on this painting which was a gift for a newly wedded couple. I asked my sister in law who is studying for a diploma in Raranga (Maori weaving) to weave me some mini harakeke (nz flax) baskets to [...]
Te Whanganui a Tara – version 1 This piece is titled, Te Whanganui a tara which is based on the Maori legend of how the wellington harbour of New Zealand was created. The two taniwha from left to right are Ngaki and Whataitai, the three peaks in the middle represent the three islands in the [...]