My name is Karaitiana and my creative outlet is making beautiful artwork from gorgeous Aotearoa Pounamu (New Zealand Nephrite Jade), alongside a wide variety of other materials.
I own and operate Mārika Pounamu.
I began carving as a means of self-care through challenging times – so my art has been formed through real life.
This shows most strongly through the stories and emotions that many of my pieces are imbued with.
What I love most about carving is the ability to capture the essence of a feeling, a situation, or a character, and immortalize that through what I consider the perfect gift.
There is no denying that carving, in a word, saved me. I found my passion, and it freed me from so much.
Things too deep for words.
So I use my outlet of carving as a way of giving back to the world something unique, something positive.
Having carved since 2017, it has been through the generosity and support from others that I have been able to keep going. I am now teaching a few awesome Men, sharing the knowledge that I have acquired over my short time creating.
Please enjoy looking through the works of my hands, and even some created by those I have taught.
Thank you for your support.
Ngā mihi mahana,
Karaitiana
