Kahurangi Jade Matau

I've just done this beauiful Kahunrangi jade matau with a tawhairaunui (red beech) burr base, flax cord and Kahurangi jade sinker.

NEW LIFE

I've just finished a beautiful sculpture/carving made out of this old narled bit of red beech covered in burrs (about 6 ft tall). The grain of the tree seemed to swirl around the burrs, so I used that feature to carve koru (fern fronds). Using a little trick using different oils and different layers, I highlighted to korus so they stand out from the rest, looking new emerging from the narly old wood. Koru mean "new life" in New Zealand, which is also appropriate because, as well as the korus emerging, I've given new life to this old bit of wood

STUNNING MARSDEN FLOWER JADE

I've purchased some beautiful top gemstone quality Marsden flower jade lately. This is New Zealand greenstone from the Marsden district in the South Island with a characteristic orange coloured rhind. I believe it's the only place in the world that you get jade of his colour. The green in the top quality jade is either dark kawakawa colour or beautiful emerald green. Somtimes it is mixed with other shades of green, which is both interesting and beautiful.

I have just started carving it with spectacular results. Watch this space! :-)

The piece in the window I got cut really thin to show off it's beautiful translucency.

I have also carved a beautiful inanga heart, which was natually formed in the stone, and set it in again a naturally formed red beech (Tawhairanui) burr heart. Inanga is a lighter shade of green jade fom the sacred Arahura river.

Enjoy.

Wildflowers Sculpture exhibition

Bit late writing this one, as it's already over. Really nice event, south of Hastings in a beautiful garden.Fundraiser for Cranford Hospice. Just sold the matau, and had a lot of great comments about them all, so the exposure was good. As well as my whale that I've written about before, and "Aroha Pounamu", I had done three new sculptures for it. One's an amazing coffee table made from a puriri root which is almost black, with a glass top, so you can see all the root structure. Another beautiful whale tail, a bit over a metre high, made from totara. I put an exterior varnish on this one so it can be kept outdoors. Same as the new matau (fish hook) with a rope and greenstone sinker. This one was made from beech which is full of holes (sea worm or huhu grubs?).

The unsold pieces have helped fill my gallery at home which is looking really good now. Doesn't look so good when it's empty. I have a lot of other pieces including new ones for sale as well, so do call in and have a look if you're able to.

Thanks to the Wildflowers team. Good working with you. You did a great job.

Paddy.

Uenuku

I've just sold an "Uenuku", a rainbow God or Guardian. It was commissioned by someone who is going to give it to a friend for his wedding present. I've done another one as well which is for sale. About 1200mm high.

NZ ART SHOW ENTRIES

I've just finished creating my entries for the NZ Art Show. I thought I'd give them something different this year. Firstly I've carved a fin in the style of a dolphin fin out of NZ pounamu/greenstone (jade) with a beech base. It has amazing grain in it, and looks stunning in natural light, and even more so with a spot light shining through it. Secondly, there's a stunning red beech burr bowl, beautifully shaped, which had a hole in it, which I've filled with another piece of greenstone from the same block. Again, it looks especially great with a light shining through it. Finally I did a matau/fish hook and carved an eye through which I looped a platted flax cord. I carved a notch around a piece of greenstone like Maori did in the old days to create a sinker and tied that on to the other end of the cord. I think the hook is pohutukawa. Very hard to work, but has amazing grain. So they will be down at the NZ Art Show in Wellington (TSB Stadium on the waterfront) which runs from the 30th July-1st August (opening night on the 29th).

MY FIRST GREENSTONE JADE HEI TIKI

I've just finished my first tiki! A hei (meaning it is worn) tiki is a traditional Maori adornment which represents the first person, so it has some features similar to a baby - especially the big head. This may also be because the head to Maori is tapu, or sacred. No one knows really; people can only surmise what it might mean, but tikis are as meaningful to New Zealanders as the kiwi are. Many nowdays are made from plastic, but I wanted my one to be the real thing. Also, because many people carve greenstone (New Zealand green jade), I want any of my carvings to be different. Firstly I found my favourite really deep green kawakawa jade. Then I got a nice thick slab cut. I wanted it to be really 3D! I wanted to give him a big Budda belly, have his tongue poking right out, as the Maori do in their haka, and give him a spine! (my other job includes a lot of massaging, especially peoples' spines; most tikis have a flat back). Mostly I wanted him to be pretty. Watdya reckon?