Post #462867 by Paipo on Thu, Jun 18, 2009 4:50 PM

Thanks conga, seeks, TK, laojia, Ben, Tama, Jonesey, Lake, pdrake, jabtiki, GROG & prairie jade! You fellas are too kind. I'm glad this one found such an appreciative audience, and although the time it took was frustrating, it will pay off on the next piece (which is quite similar) now I've already figured out the hard stuff.
GROG, I'm gonna hold off on posting the wood stuff for a little while. Partially because the progress is really slow until I get tooled up at home, and also because I'm enjoying the quiet, steady and contemplative nature of the work. It's refreshing to be making without thought to having to sell or even put the work into the public arena at the moment. I don't even take my carving out to look at between classes! I hope this doesn't come off as too precious but it is what it is. Once I get some chisels and get started on my own path at home you'd better believe there will be some wood tikis gracing this thread - hopefully some BIG buggers!
Back in stone land, work is well advanced on the next piece - another large profile style manaia/figurehead in argillite. I think he'll be done in the next day or so, but in the meantime I reshot #68 as promised. I also made my first-ever 4-plait cord for this piece and man did it take FOREVER! Thanks to Tama for showing me the ropes way back when, in such a way that it stuck in my mind. It only took 10 years!