Carving - by Stewart Wright

I enjoy working with bone – as the unique texture lends its self to detailed carving design, that is both beautiful and highly tactile in nature. The pieces shown below are made from reclaimed bone that has been cleaned naturaly, in-ground, over a period of years.

The first image is one of my intitial ventures into green stone (“Pounamu”) carving. A challenging material due to the cracks and often unseen microfractures found naturally in many stones.

“Spiralshell”

The weight and texture of the stone spiral is comforting to the touch and will warm naturally to the wearers body.

(Green stone - pounamu) (Click on picture to enlarge)

“Celtic Kiwi”

My latest greenstone carvings below are a remake of Trinity that was origianlly done in bone and a second mix of trinity knots and Koru, both reflecting my Celtic Kiwi roots.

(Green stone - pounamu) (Click on picture to enlarge)




“Trinity”

This carving reflects my Yorkshire heritage and the three points of this Celtic design represent the natural elements of earth, air, and water. It was also originally thought to symbolise life, death, and rebirth before the Celts adopted Christianity in the 4th century AD and thereafter, with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost). The centre stones are turquoise on silver Needless to say it has also now been adopted by my wife Sandy.

(Beef Bone, turquoise, silver) (Click on picture to enlarge)

“Strider”

Like other water-dwelling creatures, the octopus represents purity, creativity and deep psychic emotions, as well as its more obvious traits of intellect, grace and flexibility. The fishbone clasp that joins the braided cord together is one I desgined to complement the nautical theme.

(Beef Bone )

(Click on picture to enlarge)



“The Monarch”

This piece was designed to capture the delicacy of a monarch butterfly.

(Deer Antler)
If you look closely you can also see my take of The Vitruvian Man (Click on picture to enlarge)

“Fantail Pendant”

This pendant was claimed by my wife, Sandy, when it first started to take shape. Now fully complete, it captures the grace and elegance of this acrobatic bird, in flight.

(Beef Bone )

(Click on picture to enlarge)


“Butterfly Pendant”

The idea of using interlocking butterfly wings to create a longer pendant, for myself, came to me while watching a couple of monarch butterflies fluttering around the swan plants in our garden. However, it also seems to have been adopted by my wife, Sandy and I think I’m beginning to spot a trend.

(Click on picture to enlarge)


“Seahorse Pendant”

This pendant was carved as a gift for my mum, Betty.

As a child, I gave my mum a clay seahorse that I made at school. It still hangs on her wall at home, so 50 years later it was only fitting to make her another.

(Beef Bone )

(Click on picture to enlarge)

“A is for Alison”

The design of this piece uses the shape of two leaping dolphins to form the letter A. It was carved as a gift for my sister, Alison.
The braided black cord has been incorperated into the overall design to create a natural space between the two animals as well as being functional.

(Beef Bone )

(Click on picture to enlarge)

“Feather Touch”

Inspired after finding a feather in the garden, I wanted to see just how thin I could carve bone and still maintain enough strength for a pendant.

(Beef Bone )

(Click on picture to enlarge)


Design and Composition

The unique textures of a background – are integral to the overall design of an artwork. The original painting shown below, is called ”Hidden Gem” by Stewart Wright and uses acrylic and plaster medium on paper to create the illusion of movement and depth of a forest. The painting is one of two entered in the local event called the 100 x 100 exhibition, the name being representative of the both the number of artists exhibiting and the dimension of each work in centimeters.

“Hidden Gem”

An abstract creation inspired by walks in the bush that surrounds our property in the Bay of Islands

(4“ x 4“ Acrylic and Plaster Medium on Paper)

(Click on picture to enlarge)

“Tui in the House”

The second of the pictures in the 100 x 100 exhibition.
Stylised Tui and Kowhia

(4“ x 4“ Acrylic on paper)

(Click on picture to enlarge)


“Something Special”

An abstract impression of the sunrise views from our balcony.
Waikare Inlet, Opua.

(12“ x 16“ Acrylic and plaster medium on canvas)

(Click on picture to enlarge)