 |
Kanaka Maoli Ki'i Carving Class |
TR
Member
Joined: Dec 13, 2005
Posts: 5 |  Posted: 2006-01-05 3:19 pm Permalink
My uncle decided that it was time to pass on his 190+years of carving knowledge and I was fortunate enough to become one of his apprentices.
Attached are images of my first ki'i, which stands about 14". I strayed from the traditional face and went with my own ideas. This was carved from a soft wood called Black Hau ("How"). This was carved with a couple of flat chisels purchased from the local hardware store.
I am currently working on my second piece a 24" piece of Koa (Pacific Mahogany). I am going to stick with a more taditional face. I will post pics.
Really good to see so many people enjoying the art of carving. It has quickly become one of my favorite hobbies. Right behind fishing, of course. How many times can I edit this before the moderators tell me to stop playing with it. 
[ This Message was edited by: TR 2006-01-05 15:20 ]
[ This Message was edited by: TR 2006-01-05 15:21 ]
[ This Message was edited by: TR 2006-01-05 16:18 ]
|
Benzart
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 09, 2004
Posts: 10309
From: Port Saint Lucie, Florida
| Posted: 2006-01-05 4:45 pm Permalink
Welcome to Tiki Central TR, we are Glad to have you, so pull up a chair and hang out for awhile.
I fixed youe pic's for you. What you diid is what Everyone does the first few posts. You copied the properties of the Thumbnail from Shutterfly. Open the picture First and Then get the properties and you will see a big pic.
Excellent tiki for your "First" and especially with Only a few Flat chisels. You are Fortunate to have such a great teacher.
Keep us posted with pic's of All your stuff and progress shots too if you have them.
_________________
FACEBOOK
|
TR
Member
Joined: Dec 13, 2005
Posts: 5 | Posted: 2006-01-05 5:18 pm Permalink
Thank you for that posting tip, Benzart!
I will definitely post some more pics tomorrow.
I do feel really fortunate to have such a great opportunity. I plan on carving for the rest of my life.
Thanks again
|
surfintiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 30, 2004
Posts: 1566
From: S. Chatham, MA
| Posted: 2006-01-05 5:20 pm Permalink
Those are great! I like seeing yet another style here on TC. Is that a relief crack you made I see on the back?
_________________
s U r F i N t i k i
|
Basement Kahuna
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 14, 2002
Posts: 3588
From: Jawja Province, Isle of North America
| Posted: 2006-01-05 7:13 pm Permalink
Nice piece...definitely one of the best firsts I've seen. I was wondering about your name..There was a great movie called Suburbia made back in 1985 that had that reference..any connection?
|
hewey
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 14, 2004
Posts: 4270
From: Sydney, Australia
| Posted: 2006-01-05 7:38 pm Permalink
Awesome piece for a first timer! Obviously you got some skill and that uncle can teach too. Nice work, looking forward to seeing more.
_________________
www.kustomkultureaustralia.com
|
MooneyTiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 28, 2005
Posts: 578
From: Jensen Beach,fla
| Posted: 2006-01-06 08:00 am Permalink
Aloha TR!!!!!
That is a great first or experence carving my friend!!! You have a great wealth of knowledge with your uncle and it looks as though you have been listening and watching well and letting the flow go through and into your carving! Keep having fun and creating those nice carvings. Aloha your friend ,,Mooney
|
kaha ki'i
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Dec 13, 2005
Posts: 277
From: Laguna Beach California
| Posted: 2006-01-06 08:51 am Permalink
Aloha cuz!
Howzit? Nice Ki'i brah! Ive used hau before and it can be fickle, but for your first carving its Pono! Just wait until you get the flow going brah...Youll be carving like a master in no time! Just a note though bruddah, you called Koa (pacific mahogany) and although it is an acacia which alot of the pacific Islands have, Koa is endemic to Hawaii and grows nowhere else (only maui & big island!). Most kanaka's call it "Hawaiian mahogany" as opposed to "pacific". theres alot of "false" koa out there and other chang kine woods people claim to be genuine Koa so you dont want people to be huikau brah!
Anyway! Its really a great first carving bruddah!
Keep up the awesome work!
Malama Pono!
_________________
For miki'oi Authentic Hawaiian Makau, check out my website! You no find mo bettah! www.cabanillamakau.com
|
TR
Member
Joined: Dec 13, 2005
Posts: 5 | Posted: 2006-01-06 10:49 am Permalink
Thanks for all the kind words, looking forward to contributing to the forum.
The crack on the back of the Ki'i was due to the wood drying out. It was not intentional. I was carving it while it was wet and as it dried it would crack right in front of my eyes. After I soaked the log in salt water for 3 days the crack almost completely disappeared. But I didn't tell you that.
The name is Tim Reis (T.R.)no reference to any movie. Love you stuff BK.
Thanks for clearing up the Koa thing, Kaha Ki'i. I am still learning. I have a nice bone fish hook I bought from the Yellowfish Tading Co. on Hanalei. Could that be one of your pieces? I loved it so much I bought one for my lady, who is an avid fisherwoman!
Here is a picture of me with my first ono (wahoo). Just to put a face to the name.
Here is a pic of the ki'i I am currently working on. The log had a slight bend to it and I thought I would be able to make it work. It has turned out to be nothing but trying to correct mistakes due to the bend, but I am really pleased with the way it is turning out. This was as of about 2 weeks ago. I will take more recent pics tonight. The Koa is a lot harder wood and it is a completely different carving experience, from the soft Hau. Gotta love the color and the grains. No wonder everyone loves the Koa.
[ This Message was edited by: TR 2006-01-06 10:49 ]
|
kaha ki'i
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Dec 13, 2005
Posts: 277
From: Laguna Beach California
| Posted: 2006-01-06 12:31 pm Permalink
Aloha again brah!
Hey cuz, that ono is makalapua (damn beautiful!). Nice catch! The Koa carving is looking good brah. Koa does have the most beautiful grains of any wood on the planet! (in my humble opinion!) And you have a nice chunk there brah, shoots!
Acacia Koa was considered sacred by the kahiko Hawai'ians and before a tree was felled for making wa'a (canoe), Ki'i, weapons etc. it first had to be blessed by the priest or ali'i 'ai moku of the district or "moku" which have small split up land divisions called ahupua'a.
Because of the rarity and the endemic qualities of the Koa tree, there are now many organizations across Hawai'i who have replanting programs where Koa seedlings are placed in specific regions to protect and maintain the species...
But, be careful of the ho'opunipuni kine woods brah, there are many chang kine sellers throughout the islands selling regular mahogany or stained teak claiming it to be genuine Koa. So you need to watch out for these unscrupulous sellers...
As far as the makau you bought on Kaua'i brah, Im pretty sure theyre not mine...I only sell to hula moon in Hanalei and End of the rainbow in Haena. Id love to see what kine you bought brah, I may know the kanaka who made them for you!
Anyway cuz, keep up the good work and keep posting & viewing here on TC. There's choke talent on this site and If you ever have a question, theyll be plenty of bruddah's out there to give some great kokua!
Malama pono!
_________________
For miki'oi Authentic Hawaiian Makau, check out my website! You no find mo bettah! www.cabanillamakau.com
|
tiki beat by marcus thorn
Grand Member (6 years) 
Joined: Jun 01, 2005
Posts: 696
From: A Little Island called Australia
| Posted: 2006-01-06 12:47 pm Permalink
welcome Tr excellent first tiki keep the wood chips flying
|
Loki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 04, 2005
Posts: 541
From: Boca Raton, FL
| Posted: 2006-01-06 12:56 pm Permalink
Looks like another talented carver has made his presence known...I'd better step up my work... 
_________________
"He who does anything because it is the custom makes no choice."
|
TR
Member
Joined: Dec 13, 2005
Posts: 5 | Posted: 2006-01-06 3:29 pm Permalink
Here is a picture of me and a Kagami that I released. I am sporting that hook I bought. Sorry for all the fishing pics, I know this is a carving forum.
Fortunately for me, my teacher/uncle is a recognized cultural wood carver(I would say practitioner, but that could be taken the wrong way).
He is able to get permits to harvest fallen trees. We went about a month ago and brought up 3 nice logs, 2"-4" / 16-18" diameter. He showed me 3 big Koa trees that the hurricane took down in 1991. The buggas are seasoned. No need worry about that wood cracking.
Thanks again.
|
Tikiwahine
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 09, 2003
Posts: 3288
From: Ontario, Canada
| Posted: 2006-01-06 3:58 pm Permalink
Nice first carvings TR!
Koa is so beautiful, I have a small monstera leaf pendant carved from it so now I'm addicted to the wood. I can't wait to see your koa tiki finished.
_________________
 
Great Minds Drink Alike
|
JohnnyP
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 23, 2005
Posts: 1689
From: Attica, MI
| Posted: 2006-01-06 4:13 pm Permalink
Your work is wonderful. You have a very good instructor. Most of us here have stumbled through to learn on our own, but you are off to a soaring start.
JP
|
