“As a member of Te Atiawa, legend has it that our people are descended from the sky. I try to remember this in my work; to craft great worth, make everything well, see unlimited potential, make good choices, challenge myself, and love what I do. I'm an artist with a background in design and education. I'm continually drawn towards learning and mastering new techniques as architecture and design is a real passion.
I'm a visual person so the proportions or lines seen in good architecture are a draw for me. I'm a furniture maker, product designer, painter, metalsmith and jade carver. My work as a whole tells a story about the journey of mastering the use of different mediums. I try to create pieces that speak to others about the beauty in life and the world around us. My work is a reflection of my life in a moment past, a snapshot of the present and/or a snippet of the future. It speaks not only for me, but for all those gone before me, and those who will come after me. I love working with the strength of pounamu and the feel of it between my fingers as I shape and mould it into something someone treasure and value.
A lot of my designs are inspired by the natural world around us and movement and form within it. I'm fascinated by the details found in nature and how geometry and design are embedded within it. I have always thought that Mother Nature is the ultimate of all designers, the way she puts colours together, her proportions, textures, elements, her detail in everything and most of all, the beauty within her delicate shapes and forms. As I move and take in the world around me, I doodle/sketch and dream up new ideas. A lot of time is spent exploring and planning out the best proportions and shapes for my pieces.
Surrounding myself with things that are well designed helps to keep my mind settled and ordered. It gives me pleasure, helps me feel serene, and makes me feel at peace. I hope to bring those sense of calm and peacefulness to those who own or view my work. When someone pauses by a piece of my work and takes a moment to view it, I know I have succeeded.”