Thursday, 30 April 2020
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.
Wednesday, 29 April 2020
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tuesday, 28 April 2020
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!
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!
Sunday, 26 April 2020
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)