This is a trademark brand name. If it doesn't have this trademark on it, it is not a Tamsen Fox original.
Tamsen Kealohamakua Fox
"I live an inspired life. The process of creating these works of art is what makes my heart sing. As I am in the zone, I feel like my soul is smiling. I can be working for hours and not notice anything else going on in my world. So I can truly say that making art is a full expression of my spirit. It delights me to move through what seems like a timeless journey. The creation is the JOY, and the finished piece has served its purpose for me. That's where your process begins. Hopefully, it touches something in you that triggers a response that will take you on a journey of your own. If you decide to purchase anything I create, it is my exquisite pleasure to honor you with a part of my heart and soul. ENJOY!!!"
~Tamsen Kealohamakua Fox
Featured at Martin & MacArthur Now is this Collection
Update for Mauna Kea Fundraiser: Pau
Kū Kiaʻi Mauna: These designs on gourds and jewelry represent Mauna Kea, our beloved mountain. We protectors believe that this is sacred ground and should not be desecrated any longer by adding another telescope to the line-up. Please join hands in solidarity (the Xʻs on the gourd represent holding hands in solidarity). Thank you for purchasing one of these gourds for $250, I pledged HALF of that to be donated to the cause. Thousands of protectors were on site at the mauna and I did my small part to contribute kālā $$$. Contact me at [email protected]. Māhalo! ~Tamsen Kealohamakua Fox
Ipu Necklace $40
Fox In The Media
GALLERY
Hukilau
This is my award winning creation (Hawaii Craftsman 2018) depicting four Hawaiian fish embossed in copper. The background has local petroglyphs spanning the entire gourd etched into it. Embellished with puka shells, carved gourd fish, and coconut floresence on the rim with woodburned tapa designs. Click on images to enlarge. $old.
Scarves
RAYON SCARVES are 11" X 68" with a lovely flowing feel. Washable in cold water. Click to enlarge. Click on images $32 each
Bark Cloth Pot Holders
8" X 8" Pot Holders are made of Hawaiian design bark cloth. Washable. Click on images to enlarge. $19 each
Hawaiian Time: A Legacy
This very large gourd is about 25" x 25" in size. It tells a story with symbols, shards, 3 kinds of sands the islands produce, and depicts petroglyphs, and a myriad of Hawaiian motifs. Many techniques are used including wood burning, inlay, painting, etching and engraving, and objects used are lava rock, ceramic, bone, green sand, black sand, and white sand, opihi shells, kukui nuts, copper, paper inlay, gourd cutouts, and clay. You can enlarge the bottom images by clicking on them. $4500
Monstera
Pinao (dragonfly) Dance
This is a huge gourd 25" x 25" and opens up so you can use it as a luminaria by putting a light inside. The lid has hundreds of holes in it to shine the light through. Or it can be used as a bowl for fruit or other things. The sky's the limit! The dragonflies are painted with metallic acrylic paint and have dichroic glass eyes. The bottom pics can be enlarged by mousing over them. $2000
One Paddle, two paddle...
In July 2014, selected artists were given a paddle to express their art on. The paddles were donated to a fundraiser for the Hōkūleʻa. This was my creation. It is my intention to offer this type of design or any other design to those who perhaps have retired paddles who want to make them mementos of their paddling experience by memorializing them in an artful way. I would be delighted to do that for you!
In July 2014, selected artists were given a paddle to express their art on. The paddles were donated to a fundraiser for the Hōkūleʻa. This was my creation. It is my intention to offer this type of design or any other design to those who perhaps have retired paddles who want to make them mementos of their paddling experience by memorializing them in an artful way. I would be delighted to do that for you!
Billed Palm Bark Fish
These are palm bark fish cut from the frond bark of a Royal Palm tree. They are made to order and start at $200 (3ʻ) to around 6ʻ for $300.
Kiss A Fish
Kiss A Fish are little coconuts painted as fish. The eyes are Job's Tears found in the Nuʻuanu Stream on Oahu. They are $25 each. Contact me for a picture of current offerings.
Project Reforesting Koa Forest
I am honored to be a part of a major reforesting project happening in Hawai'i.Jeff Dunster, Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods, LLC CEO, has bestowed upon me the great honor of making the gourds which water the new Koa seedling trees. The Koa seedlings are being planted on a 1000 acre parcel of land on the back side of Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawai'i and other sites as they become available. What an incredible joy it is to me to be a part of this magnificent undertaking.
Check out the website hawaiianlegacyhardwoods.com for your opportunity to help out! Plant a tree in your name or in someone else's name, and you get a certificate with the person's name dedication as well as the coordinates of the tree so you can Google Earth it and see how it's doing in the future. These gourds will carry the water to the site where you can plant your tree. You will wash your hands over your planted seedling, and the water will be poured over your hands to let your DNA wash into the little tree bonding you with it for eternity! It's a wonderful way to be a part of the reforesting effort in the islands. There is a lot of fascinating information on the website for you to glean.
Majestic Heliconia
This stunning gourd is 16" tall by 13" wide and is cut out all around the leaves and heliconia. It was born out of a Hawaiian grown gourd that got stung by a fruit fly, leaving an ugly blemish that I had to cut out. The way I cut it out led me to seeing this design. Many gourd artists say that the gourd tells you what it wants to become. It is indeed uncanny but I confess, it's true. An ugly gourd became something of beauty and birthed a new line of cut-out luminaria-type gourds which can become functional if you place an electric or battery operated candle inside.
The design is made with woodburned lines, dyed with transparent dye so the natural markings of the gourd show through the color, and I cut out the negative space, and then pyro-engrave the edges of the part cut out. This gives it a depth creating a more 3 dimensional effect. This piece took approximately 50 hours to create.
The images below can be enlarged by clicking on them.
$1200.
Ulu Goddess
"Ulu Goddess" is a basketball-size cut out gourd and is a luminaria. You can put a votive candle or waxless oil lamp, or battery operated light within to illuminate or cast shadows on the wall and ceiling of its location. It is lovingly carved from a Hawaiian gourd, grown on Oahu in Hawaii. Each "ulu" (breadfruit) has pyroengraved sections and then is painted with a combination of dye and gold leaf powder to give it the luminescent quality seen in the picture. The beautiful leaves are etched with the vein and left without color, but leaving the natural patina of the gourd. The cut out area is then cauterized with the wood burner to create the darkened surface area going inside the gourd. Inside, the piece is treated with black shelac so that bugs and worms which like to eat gourd cannot penetrate it and would not like the taste if they did. Shelac is a very successful way to protect gourds and is used in all of Fox's gourds. SOLD
Hula Silhouette
Hula Silhouette is a tall gourd (12" x 8") with silhouettes of different dancers doing the hula around the gourd. The dancers are pyro-engraved in relief on an etched out background with the natural color of the gourd surrounding. Sold $800
See other views by clicking on the small images below.
See other views by clicking on the small images below.
Monstera Luminaria
This stunning gourd is transformed by our (Hawaiians) beloved monstera motif. The leaves are carved around them to make them pop out in relief. The pukas (holes) are cut out so the candle within can shine its light out. The reflection is magical. This is about 8" x 8" x 8". Sold $1000
Pawehe Gourd
This is a beautiful crisp example of the ancient Ni'ihau Method. To understand more about this method, see the page dedicated to this process. The dye used here was Hawaiian Sandalwood Bark which gives it a reddish brown tint. Click on any photos to enlarge. This gourd is in the private collection of Sam Jonas of CO.
Ulu Manoa
14" tall x 16" wide, this monster gourd is its own natural color pyroengraved with ulu (breadfruit) and leaves that interlace and surround this gourd. Leaves cut out and match the contour are added for another dimension. This piece took over 50 hours to complete. Each area that has been cut out, has been painstakingly burned on the edges. An electric candle or a light can be put inside to make this a sensational luminaria. It has an energy of its own and can be seen with its many faces below. Sold $2500
Check out the detail by clicking on the photos to enlarge each view.
Check out the detail by clicking on the photos to enlarge each view.
Aloha Spirit Boxes
These are little 5" by 3" or so boxes made out of canteen and cannonball gourds. The design is batiked on the gourd, dyed, and finished with lacquer. Charming for treasures or mementos. When you open the box, you are pleasantly surprised by the word ALOHA which means LOVE, inscribed with Hawaiian sand in the bottom. Designs include: Hibiscus, Anthurium, Plumeria, Heliconia, Orchid, Bird Of Paradise, Monstera, Honu (turtle), Hawaiian Tapestry, Pueo (Hawaiian owl), Humuhumunukunukuapua'a fish, mermaids, and Petroglyph designs on these as well as other traditional Hawaiian designs. $65
The Legend of the Aloha Spirit Box
The Aloha Spirit box comes fully infused with the
Divine Power Hawaiians call Mana. The loving
use of this incredible power is the SECRET to
healing the planet at this time of need.
The intention for the Aloha Spirit Box is to take on
a "kuleana" or responsibility to spread the spirit of
Aloha around the world. The grains of sand within the
box are like fully charged crystals. Wherever this box
travels to, is where you will weave the Spirit of Aloha
into the fabric of the community, as we Hawaiians have
so humbly done in these islands for thousands of years.
As you share this energy, you become attuned to the
Divine Power and help others to do so as well.
Warm Mahalo for being a humble messenger of Aloha.
The Legend of the Aloha Spirit Box
The Aloha Spirit box comes fully infused with the
Divine Power Hawaiians call Mana. The loving
use of this incredible power is the SECRET to
healing the planet at this time of need.
The intention for the Aloha Spirit Box is to take on
a "kuleana" or responsibility to spread the spirit of
Aloha around the world. The grains of sand within the
box are like fully charged crystals. Wherever this box
travels to, is where you will weave the Spirit of Aloha
into the fabric of the community, as we Hawaiians have
so humbly done in these islands for thousands of years.
As you share this energy, you become attuned to the
Divine Power and help others to do so as well.
Warm Mahalo for being a humble messenger of Aloha.
I'iwi Lehua
This sweet cutout gourd is adorned with the sacred honey creeper called the I'iwi. This bird, endemic to the Hawaiian Islands is on the endangered species list and we love to see it thriving on the Ohia blossom called the Lehua. Found mostly on the Big Island of Hawai'i and here on this gourd memorializing its glory. This piece is about 12" wide by 8" high. The lehua blossoms are cut out of the gourd and placed on the surface as a relief, while the cut out parts allow a see through effect that creates mysterious "other" dimensional effect as you look through to whatever is in the background. Sold $800
Mangofest
Mangofest is 13" by 10" and is painted with acrylic (mangos) and dyed with transparent dye (leaves). This is a cut-out ipu so you can put a candle in it to make it a luminaria. Sold $800.
All photos can be viewed enlarged by clicking on the photo.
All photos can be viewed enlarged by clicking on the photo.
Bamboo
This almost perfectly round gourd has designs of bamboo all around it. It is about 7 inches high by same wide. It opens to a chamber into which magical things can reside. Click on images below to enlarge photo. This piece is now in the collection of Alan Braddock.
$250.00
$250.00
Ammonite Fossil Vessel
The ancient ammonite fossil is the center of the spiral design which is continued with pyro-engraving and etching the design following the beautiful natural pattern. 7" x 7" $350
Magical Menehune Wish PotsTM
Legend of the Menehune Wish PotTM
Whisper your wish into pot, then replace cork.
Place by your bed so menehune can come in the middle of the night to cast their magical spell on your wish. In the morning, you can open your wish pot and allow your wish to come into your life. Make a new wish every night.
I am now offering these for wedding favors with the name and date of the bride and groom on the back. They are something different that no one will have ever had as favors for their special day. I give a discount when ordering 100 or more.
These very magical pots come with the legend, in several Hawaiiana designs to include Hawaiian humuhumunu-kunukuapua'a, hula mermaids, honu (turtle), geckos, breadfruit (ulu), laua'e fern, pueo (Hawaiian owl), Waikiki, botanicals, squid, flowers, pineapples, sail boats, petroglyphs, to name a few. They come with magic seeds inside so you can grow your own!!! $25
Hawaiiana Ornaments
5When tis the season, I make these tiny colorful Christmas tree ornaments so you can have an all Hawaiian tree! Or just hang them in the window or wherever you want to remind you of paradise!! Made with tiny 1" gourds, these come with hangers. $25
Hatband
Have you ever seen one of these? Well now you can add something totally unique to your hatband collection. This is the first of its kind. Twelve square gourd tiles each pyroengraved with a Hawaiian flower or leaf adorn this hat on a piece of ribbon. Special order item. Each one a one-of-a-kind. I am creating a series of hatbands including Hawaiian birds, Hawaiian fish, perhaps Hawaiian petroglyphs, and other things that celebrate our culture. The hat was woven by Kuuipo Kalahiki-Morales. If you want a custom made "papale" or any lauhala product made for made for you, email me.
Click on images to enlarge for detail. Other designs are available like Hawaiian Quilt designs or Hawaiian Fish designs different botanicals, shells, and more. Please feel free to ask for what you want. Special orders for hat bands are $250.
Click on images to enlarge for detail. Other designs are available like Hawaiian Quilt designs or Hawaiian Fish designs different botanicals, shells, and more. Please feel free to ask for what you want. Special orders for hat bands are $250.
Hawaiian Fish Papale Lei
Fish in this hatband are as follows: Ulua, kaku, kole, paku, manini, paku'i ku'i, palini, mu, puffer, ta'ape, po'ou, and maiko. $250
SOLD
Oil Lamp
Dress up your table with one or two of these delightful oil lamps. The oil vial holds about 4 ounces of lamp oil. Be sure you use indoor oil if you plan on using it indoors. Other designs are available. Email me at [email protected] for photos. $75 each.
Mahina's Gift
During the Native Hawaiian Convention 2011, a beautiful gentleman approached my booth seeing that I use the Ni'ihau Method in my repertoire of techniques to decorate gourds. He also knows one needs green raw gourds to do this most ancient process. He was growing gourds and had several left from his latest batch and asked me if I needed them for my cultural offerings. I delightedly said, "YES," and he bestowed upon me 2 green beauties which morphed into this one first, then another one second. $1000
Mahina's Second
This is the second one I did with the raw gourds that Mahina brought me. Both of these were infused with iliahi bark dye I made and left in each gourd for 8 weeks. The "Ni'ihau Method" is a beautiful way to decorate the common gourd.
See the page on Ni'ihau Method for more detailed information on how to create this 400 year old process. SOLD
See the page on Ni'ihau Method for more detailed information on how to create this 400 year old process. SOLD
Hawaiian Mana Box
The Legend of the Hawaiian Mana box is that you write out your dream on paper and fold it up, place it in the mana box, and let it manifest. You can bring it out daily and read it to add power to the manifesting of it. When you do this, visualize already having received it and feel the emotion of having it show up in your life bringing you magical sacred Hawaiian "mana."
Theses boxes have four ancient petroglyph designs going around the box. The honu (turtle), the sail boat, the fish, the paddler. $85
Theses boxes have four ancient petroglyph designs going around the box. The honu (turtle), the sail boat, the fish, the paddler. $85
Laua'e Calabash
This beautiful bowl is 15" wide and 7" tall. It is pyroengraved and etched around the leaves of this popular Hawaiian fern. The leaves are raised in relief and you can feel them as they jump out from the gourd. Sold $500
Monstera Coil
This canteen shaped gourd is embellished with the popular monstera leaf motif as well as tattoo designs painstakingly pyro-
engraved with the negative space etched (carved away). An Ohia vine is coiled around the opening to add to the overall design of this piece. It is dyed green. 6" x 3".
SOLD
engraved with the negative space etched (carved away). An Ohia vine is coiled around the opening to add to the overall design of this piece. It is dyed green. 6" x 3".
SOLD
Miscellaneous
Talk Story
This functional object d'art is 15" x 7" tall and is adorned with embossed copper tiles attached to the gourd with copper wire. Each tile has a Hawaiian petroglyph design depicting different images. Sold $350
Petroglyph Luminaria
This has three different scenes cut out going around it. One has 3 people; another has a fish bone motif; and the third is of a sail boat. All these designs are traditional Hawaiian petroglyph designs taken from our lava fields in the islands.
When the candle inside is lit up, the glow projects the cut out motifs onto the wall for a unique illumination effect. The rim is pyroengraved with a Hawaiian tattoo design. Create a romantic effect with these unique luminarias. Signed on the bottom. 6" x 6". Sold $95
When the candle inside is lit up, the glow projects the cut out motifs onto the wall for a unique illumination effect. The rim is pyroengraved with a Hawaiian tattoo design. Create a romantic effect with these unique luminarias. Signed on the bottom. 6" x 6". Sold $95
Pele, The Fire Goddess
This sacred gourd is of Pele. Described as "She-Who-Shapes-The-Sacred-Land" in ancient Hawaiian chants, the volcano goddess, Pele, was passionate, volatile, and capricious. In modern times, Pele has become the most visible of all the old gods and goddesses. Dwelling in the craters of the Big Island's Kilauea Volcano, she has been sending ribbons of fiery lava down the mountainside and adding new land around the southeastern shore almost continuously since 1983.
This gourd bowl is powerful and full of mana. It would be a good wind gourd (for ashes of a loved one) or a conversation piece. For the collector of Hawaiiana, Pele would bring much honor to the collection. Sold $500
This gourd bowl is powerful and full of mana. It would be a good wind gourd (for ashes of a loved one) or a conversation piece. For the collector of Hawaiiana, Pele would bring much honor to the collection. Sold $500
Humuhumunukunukuapua'a
These fish are about 14" long and 5" high and come in many different color combinations as you can see from the gallery of fish below.
The back side of the fish has tattoo designs or alternatively, Hawaiian petroglyph designs on it. These hang, can be connected to each other to twirl in the wind, or can hang on the wall. This Hawai'i State fish is very territorial and will protect your territory like a watch dog. Click on the images to enlarge them for viewing in greater detail. These fish are made from palm bark from the Royal Palm, a wonderful and durable fiber. Painted on bark with acrylic paints then treated with a clear acrylic gloss finish. Can be outside or inside. Email me at [email protected] for current pics of what I have available. Each time I paint a bunch of them they are different but you get the idea here. Order yours today! $65 each.
These fish are about 14" long and 5" high and come in many different color combinations as you can see from the gallery of fish below.
The back side of the fish has tattoo designs or alternatively, Hawaiian petroglyph designs on it. These hang, can be connected to each other to twirl in the wind, or can hang on the wall. This Hawai'i State fish is very territorial and will protect your territory like a watch dog. Click on the images to enlarge them for viewing in greater detail. These fish are made from palm bark from the Royal Palm, a wonderful and durable fiber. Painted on bark with acrylic paints then treated with a clear acrylic gloss finish. Can be outside or inside. Email me at [email protected] for current pics of what I have available. Each time I paint a bunch of them they are different but you get the idea here. Order yours today! $65 each.
All images are copyright protected by Tamsen Fox. © 2021 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Tamsen with the fox graphic is a brand name and is my Trademark. Each art piece (with the exception of the wish pots and ornaments, the palm bark fish, & the kiss-a-fish) is signed with this logo, usually on the bottom of the piece or on the back. Without this mark, it may not be a Tamsen Fox original.
Feel free to request custom-made designs created exclusively for you.
Feel free to request custom-made designs created exclusively for you.