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.