Studio Tapu - New Bone Pendants

 

Some new bone carving I have made recently. The first one is actually made from Buffalo bone I picked up at a Native American market at Balboa Park. The texture is a little grainier in places but otherwise i think it is hard to tell the difference.

Antique Key Bone Carving - Studio Tapu

I made this for the newest addition to our ever-expanding family. It was very difficult because I attempted to create an actual replica of an old key from bone as opposed to a one sided carving. The biggest problem is maintaining the straight lines. It seems like anything that was manufactured by a machine is very difficult to reproduce as a carving but it was still fun to make and I'm happy with the result.

www.studiotapu.com

Studio Tapu Sculpture - Hruby Flame Memorial, Bone

This is my first real sculpture and I made it to commemorate my father-in-law who recently passed away. He had actually commissioned this piece about a year ago after seeing the above concept sketch and suggested with a few changes it would make a nice sculpture. I wanted to document the process to show the family how the sculpture came to be. I couldn't find the sketch that he made over my design but it looked more like what I created than the original concept. Mark was a huge loss to our family and he will be missed. I like the idea that this flame will stand as a reminder of the light that he brought into our family and the lives of many others.

Studio Tapu - Bone Carvings - Old and new

From top to bottom:
1. 5-Point Deer Antler, 2010
2. Sea Spirit, 2008-09
3. Deep Sea Squid Tentacle, 2010
4. Taniwha, 2008
5. Victory Bell, 2008
6. Wisom's Eye, 2008
7. Drifter, 2008

Available on www.studiotapu.com

Deer Antler Pendants - Bone

I started doing these a long time ago but I got tired of waiting for Lauren to do the bindings so I am just going to post the actual carvings. The designs are inspired by deer antlers but I let the form take shape depending on the piece of bone I am working from. That way they will all be a little different. These are the two designs I have so far. The one at the top hangs from the hole vertically and the second one hangs from the center horizontally.

These pieces are fragile and I broke several throughout the carving process but I like the idea and I think although this kind of imagery is common and trendy these days, it is still appropriate to see these designs manifest in actual bone rather than metal, wood etc. Besides, I always wait until trendy things become unpopular before I jump on the band-wagon.

Available on www.studiotapu.com

Studio Tapu - Wave Carving #1

I actually started carving this piece nearly a year ago for myself and it sat unfinished for all this time until my friend asked me to make her son a carving for his birthday and she chose this one. It was from a time when I wanted to maintain aspects of the traditional hook but also keep it modern and minimalist. I have always really liked the wave as an image but it is so overdone that it can be hard to create something unique. This shape just came naturally one day after a surf so I have a special connection with it as I hope Eddy will.

I'd like to carve more along these lines and hope to set up the Studio Tapu site soon so people can order carvings on a commission basis. Thanks for the business Nicole and Eddy, you guys are awesome and happy birthday Eddy.

Adze - Bone Carving

I have always liked the form of the adze and finally made a carving of one with a contemporary look. They are a little easier to make than I am used to and I was able to make it very quickly. I plan to make a few more along these lines and I have already started on some larger ones.
Available soon on www.studiotapu.com