Toa Bone: From the Screen to the Workbench
My carving journey began simply at Primary School, when a teacher showed me how to work a piece of bone, we actually started with soap. Even as a kid, that feeling of creating with my hands stuck with me.
For the next twenty years, I worked as an award-winning graphic designer, spending my days behind a screen. Carving remained a quiet nighttime hobby—a way to step away from the digital world and stay connected to the traditional Polynesian designs I had always admired.
A few years ago, I left design behind to pursue carving full-time. It has been a massive learning curve, translating the precision of digital design onto bone and shell. I now spend hours studying museum pieces, re-creating ancient shapes with deep respect for their cultural origins. I am a perfectionist about how a piece feels; if the finish isn't perfect in the hand, it doesn't leave the bench.
Lately, I’ve also been learning silversmithing and metalwork. It involves a lot of trial and error, but I’m excited to blend silver and brass with the traditional bone designs.
I don’t have a massive corporate mission. I just want to make quality pieces that people feel proud to wear.
