As a child, the patterns of nature fascinated me. I would be amazed and energised by the unfolding of a fern frond. Could anything be more perfect? So these shapes were firmly imprinted and I appreciate their beauty and simplicity. They inspire me…

The koru is a strong feature in my work. Because it is derived from nature it tells my stories and it tells my ancestors’ stories. My Māori language is very poetic and this word has many meanings. It makes reference to the rippling vibration that are seen and felt when a stone touches water. Or an earthquake that sends ripples over the land. This is Ruaumoko – Earthquakes making his mark, who is present in the word koRU.

The koru form is healing and it is balance; it’s shape flows in and flows out with soft lines, often I am lost in it…

I’ve been painting koru within my rock designs for 23 years and in my travels around the world I’ve realised there are many cultures who use this symbol in their own art. So these koru, although derived from my connection to nature, are also universal symbols.

Over the years my Hand Painted Rocks have changed in their form and design. No longer are they just Koru but whatever patterns and shapes reveal themselves in the moment. In saying this, my paintings on rocks have always been intuitive and have meaning for those who come in contact with them.

KOHATU – ROCK

The Māori word for rock is kohatu. But these are not just any rocks and our conceptual Māori language gives real meaning to the word. The word ‘koha’ means ‘gift’ or ‘to gift’ and the word ‘tū’ gives emphasis or importance to the gift. So for me, they are special gifts. The rocks that I paint are gathered from Taranaki, Aotearoa NZ and are volcanic. They carry the energy or mauri of the land from which they come and have their own stories as well as the stories in the designs that I place upon them.

A ROCK a DAY for my CREATIVITY 2011

On Dec 31st 2010 I decided that I would paint a rock every day for 2011. If I did this, I would be nurturing my creativity and I would be able to share these special gifts, every day, with the world. What seemed like a simple exercise has become more than this. The rocks and their stories have been connecting me to people and places all around the world. They have been the inspiration for the sharing of more stories by those who connect with them and many of the rocks are spread all around the world. You can follow my rock a day project here

Fast forward to 2021!

I am currently working on a new series of painted kohatu using earth pigments and plants. Over the years, I’ve explored many mediums and have decided that I will only be using materials that come from the earth. This means my paintings on rock will reflect this too! An exciting time ahead!

Arohanui,
Jo 🙂