Tekoteko

I'm thinking of designing a female tekoteko form.  I'll do some reading about tekoteko to make sure that's ok.

Today's zui

Our third Zui for the week.  We watched some videos while working.  We had another drawing session which was awesome.  We're all at different levels and Kawiti is happy for us to work at the level we feel comfortable.  The video tutorials are my best friend.  I enjoy the fact that I can pause, rewind, go over and over the drawing as often as needed.  Here's todays drawings:

I also spent some time carving my koauau and burnishing my hue puruhau.

Our mahi kainga is to look at some videos of whakairo artists (look at their practise and their creative process) and continue practising our drawing skills.  It would be a good idea to start thinking about my rangahau and finding two artists to compare.  A couple of books to look for are Otawhao (Pakariki Harrison) and Tohunga Whakairo: Paki Harrison by Ranginui Walker.

Progress with the Hue Puruhau

I am very pleased with my hue puruhau.  The mould worked and i'm thinking of creating a plaster cast for future use.  The wok served as good support while it was drying and I need to be careful not to let it dry out too quickly.

None of our kuia had moko kauae (that we know of - I've asked my kaumatua about it) but our many of our kaumatua had tā moko.  While doing some rangahau around whakapapa, I was intrigued by the stories of Taurau Kukupa who was Tirarau's younger brother.  I've used his tā moko to inspire the moko kauae I designed for my hue puruhau.  I love the contrast of the feminine form (hue) and the sound the hue puruhau makes (Kakapo boom sound).   I wanted to put a moko kauae design to make the connection of where to place your own lips to make the sound.

It was tricky carving the design into the clay because I wasn't sure how to use the chisels.  I'm glad the clay was leather hard because it was nice to carve.  I'm thinking of bisque firing the hue and then pit firing it.  I'll use red iron oxide to make the moko kauae stand out.  Plait the muka and use kukupa feathers to decorate around the neck of the hue. 

Zui tuarua...

Our 2nd Zui was at 10am and it was great to see everyone again.  Today's focus was on drawing and Kawiti had created some video tutorials for us.  They were super helpful and will be a valuable resource

Our first task was to have a go at drawing whakarei, pakati and niho taniwha.  I found it tricky and reckon my pakati look like aniwaniwa lol.  I loved the session though and knew that drawing was going to be a huge component of successful whakairo.  Practise makes perfect.

I decided to use my putorino to have a go at carving these practise designs.  LOTS of thinking but I enjoyed the process.  The clay was leather hard so easy to carve.

Kupu hou: 
Whakarei - decoration, embellishment

Ritorito/pungawerewere/waewae pākura - similar designs

Te Awhiorangi & Te Whironui - Toki (the kakau were made from Taupeka's legs - Right leg Te Awiorangi and Left leg Te Whironui) Te Toki me te Whao - The story and use of Māori tools Clive Fugill.

I'm really enjoying this way of learning.  It means I can listen to everyone's korero while learning.  I love sitting and focussing on drawing and still having the collaborative feel like in a classroom but even better because you can hear everyone's discussions.  You also have the freedom to take a break when you need to.  Today after spending time focused on drawing, I took a break and tidied my work bench, then jumped back in and did some more sketching.  I didn't think I'd enjoy the zoom class but I actually REALLY love it.

Whakairo Zui

Today we had our first zoom hui with our Toi Paematua whānau and it was so good to see everyone.  It was awesome connecting again and I've been inspired again by seeing what everyone has been creating during lockdown.  Some real talent amongst us and I can't wait to learn from everyone.

Today was about getting to familiarise ourselves with iAkoranga and Zoom.  We also had a sketching session with Kawiti, covering drawing proportions for Tekoteko - loved it!

Brothers with skills ;)

Amongst all the affects of Covid-19, a positive one is the amount of time we have all had at home doing home projects etc.  I am blessed to have a dear friend of mine make me some mallets from their pohutukawa tree on their papa kainga.  So to you Ralph Ruka... Ngā mihi arohanunui ki a koe e te tungāne xx  They sit nicely next to my mallet from Johnny Cash - Thank you my bros xx

Uku to the rescue.

So with many attempts with the dremel and carving/etching hue, I have found that for the results I want, more practise is needed.  Being the problem solver that I am and a strong believer in tino rangatiratanga, I decided to resort back to the media I know best... UKU!

I made the connection between whakairo and uku by pulling out one of my old visual diaries of my Applied Arts in Craft Design journey.  In looking at two of my greatest mentors Colleen Urlich and in particular Manos Nathan I gave myself the green light to go ahead and practise my whakairo skills using clay.

Manos Nathan a renown Uku AND whakairo artist was skilled in carving his uku taonga.  It was my passport to continue the journey in learning to carve using clay.  The epiphany came whilst watching Mike Matchitt's tutorials oh his Whakairo facebook page.  Mike started carving soap so we (beginners) could learn to use the chisel/knife and cutting techniques like 'check cuts'.  He explains that the cuts are similar to how you would use your chisel.

So I went and grabbed a bag of clay and had a go at using the clay.  What I have found in my haste is that I need to wait until the clay is leather hard before attempting to carve it so the cuts are clean - a fact I have ALWAYS known when working with uku.  But, I was so keen on having a tutu, I still found the process helpful in my learning.  My first attempt was at carving a raperape design.  I instantly made the mistake of cutting on the wrong angle.  So on my second attempt I made the changes I needed to so that it looked similar to Mike's tutorial.

 

So I've decided to work on 3 different taonga pūoro.  A contemporary koauau (contemporary due to its shape), a putorino and a hue puruhau - all using uku instead of traditional materials.  I am excited to be working with clay again and believe I can complete these pieces whilst gaining skills in whakairo.  Loving this journey <3.

 

 

Thank goodness for Dads!

I rang my Dad and asked if he had a dremel I could steal for a while so I could continue working on my hue puruhau assignment.  Of course, my Dad came to my rescue and told me to shoot out to pick it up.

Due to Covid-19 and the social distancing, I kept my distance from Mum and Dad even though I would have loved a hug from them.  It was kai for the wairua seeing them both safe and happy in their bubble out at Tangiteroria.  Also grateful that my son is staying with them during lock down instead of being in the rat race that is Tamaki Makaurau.

So I picked up the dremel and brought it to my workshop for a tutu.  I didn't realise how much work there was needed to prepare the hue, a process I really enjoyed.  While reading about Hine Pu te Hue, I grew a new respect for working with the hue.  I've always been fascinated by the form because I tend to be drawn to shapes that are feminine (like a puku) and is a continuation of my mahi toi during the 1990's.

 

I found the mask an essential part in prepping the hue, the dust is quite potent and as soon as it touches your lips leaves a kawa taste in your mouth.  After watching a video on ETV I found that the mould found on hue can be hazardous.  Another reason to respect the hue.

 
So at this point I am playing around with the different burs and bits and the marks they make.  Using the dremel is also a skill in finding the right speed and rotations to use for each bit.  While searching on the web, I also came across Veranoa Hetet's favourite lamp that her pāpa made for her.  I've decided to make one also.  The hue I'm prepping is my 'practise' pieces before starting my taonga pūoro.

So, I'm happy getting acquainted with ngā hue <3

Broke the dremel...

My first taonga pūoro project is on hold due to me breaking the dremel lol.  ACTUALLY it was a dremel that some of my kids used during classtime and the brushes were haddit.  I can't just shoot down to Bunnings and buy new brushes even though I see them as essential, so I thought I'd have another practise creating kowhaiwhai patterns because I will be using the dremel to carve these designs into my hue puruhau.

So I found some pods to paint:

 

Messenger and the bro...

I've been hounding my bro for some korero and tips around whakairo and thankful that I have him to ask.  He, my sis Donz and their tamariki/mokopuna are currently living just out of Brisbane and we keep in touch digitally.  I wish he was home because I know I'd learn so much more from him.  I'd probably be a hoha lol.  Anyway, I've been talking to him via messenger and asked him yesterday if he could create some video tutorials for me.

Unaunahi & Pungawerewere

 


He made his first video tutorial yesterday with help from my niece and has created a folder in his google drive so I can upload them to my drive.  A valuable taonga as it's the next best thing to having him here in my garage to show me.  Helpful because I can pause, rewind and watch it as many times as I need or want.  We also had a korero around some of the tools to use and we tried to solve the problem I've been having with my cheap rotary tool.  One of the first things I will do post lockdown is go and buy me a decent rotary tool.  I'm hoping to use it to create my taonga pūoro - Hue Puruhau.  I have a couple of practise pieces to try and we talked through the 'best' dremel bits to use for the carving/etching.

I feel blessed to have him to ask and after a couple of korero online I had more knowledge to 'noho puku' (sit and let it all digest).  Ngā mihi aroha ki k koe e tāku autāne Johnny xx

Whanaugnatanga with the chisels and wood

I've enjoyed getting to know the relationship between chisels and wood.  Like any other successful relationship, it's going to take patience, understanding and time to become a great partnership.

I'm trying not to be too hard on myself and to focus on enjoying the process.  I guess because I've been such an admirer of whakairo for a long time and have a brother in law whom is my whakairo 'hero', the connection between vision and current skill set is a harsh reality.  As my chisel and tapping try and move in a rhythm by following the path of my pencil marks, I've had many 'aha' moments when creating curve, spirals and even straight 'cutting/hollowing' (not sure the right term yet lol),  Aha as in "cool" and aha as in "oops".

The third face of the fence pou inspiration came from "Ko Mahuhu o te Rangi te waka".  Particularly the design on its taurapa - Hoeroa (3 waves) and the karuhiruhi (shag)  My matua Weretapou Tito was involved in the building of this waka and I have an off cut from the mid-section of the waka in my studio.

Mid section of Mahuhu o te Rangi waka

Sketches for design

My designs are VERY 2D at the moment and my cuts are very 'cautious' and I guess that's another trait of a beginner.  My works look more like a wood cut rather than whakairo (in my eyes anyway).  But at this time I'm focussing on the 'courtship' part of the relationship.  One thing I do know is that I'm loving every moment in this new relationship.

SOMETHING is better than nothing... Totara and my first attempt.

So, today was the day to have a tutu with Totara.  I really disliked playing around with the MDF off cuts I had lying around and thought "I'm gonna have a go on some Totara".  I pulled out my 'woodcut' chisels to use because I don't think my larger tools are sharp enough.

I picked up some old Totara fence batons from a farm in Tangowahine about a month ago and have an idea of what I want to use them for (watch this space).  Using my electric sander, I roughly sanded parts of the pou to have a go.  As soon as my chisel hit the wood, I instantly preferred carving this compared to the MDF.  Having smaller tools the cuts were very light (which suited me just fine) as I wanted to ease into the skill of carving.

My first design idea was like any other mahi toi that is new to me and based my design concept on "Ko Tangihua te Maunga".  Being a contemporary artist I enjoy creating the visions in my head and my own interpretations of ideas.  I used a maunga-scape shape of Tangihua to create a kind of silhouette first and then thought of incorporating the unaunahi design.

I like to combine traditional with contemporary designs and ideas.  I'm enjoying experimenting with the tools and the different shapes.  I figure if I can use the smaller tools, I should be able to get an idea of what the larger chisels will do.  Loving the practise

 One thing I realise is that if you get the cut clean on the first attempt, you don't need to go back and tidy it up afterwards.  I also realise that good skill saves time so I need to keep tapping away.  I actually like the smaller intricate work but am guessing that may change as my confidence grows.  I was also surprised at the way the piece can talk to you sometimes, for example when I flipped the fence pou over, a design popped straight into my head and I went with it.

A few observations I have made during this first attempt at whakairo are:
1.  I enjoy the 'korero' between the wood and the chisel
2.  I like the relationship between the wood and the chisel, particularly the way the chisel can make the wood shine.
3.  I really love working with Totara.

Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed my first little whakairo experience and look forward to continuing.