Gordon Wells
Jade Carver, Nephrite Jade Sculptures, Wearable Jade Arts
The special places I like are the mountains and the bush, lakes and rivers, sand and sea, I disappear into them at every opportunity for peace and quiet. I also love getting on big jets and flying off to distant lands and exploring the many different cultures and history esp ancient jade carvings and the peoples who worked and sculptored stone.
I grew up on the West Coast of the South Island New Zealand in a farming valley named Kowhitirangi which has the Southern Alps as a beautiful backdrop.
I began my jade carving career at age 16 yrs in December 1978, after my art teacher Mrs Sanson sugguested I try jade carving as a job choice during the school holidays, she arranged the job at West Coast Jade Ltd.
If I didn't like the job I could always return to Westland High School and study English so I could pass School Certificate. Well I liked working with jade and I left school and continued working for West Coast Jade Company in Hokitika until the factory and shop closed down in about 1984.
Since that time I have worked at many different jobs, from working on sheep and dairy farms to rock quarry work driving diggers and breaking up rock, from a retail furniture store salesperson and delivery to insurance selling.
In 1987 I started carving from my own studio in the garage part time while still working at my day job. I set up my first outlet at Willow Crafts Gallery in Hari Hari South Westland and still sell carvings there today.
In 1994 I joined the Hokitika Co-operative Craft Gallery, by this time I was carving full time and selling in shops all over NZ.
Around June 1996 I diversified and created a new venture, combining jade carving, a backpackers hostel and a jade carving experience for backpacker tourists.
By 2002 I had learned computers and started building websites and selling jade carvings and sculptures to the world online.
I grew up on the West Coast of the South Island New Zealand in a farming valley named Kowhitirangi which has the Southern Alps as a beautiful backdrop.
I began my jade carving career at age 16 yrs in December 1978, after my art teacher Mrs Sanson sugguested I try jade carving as a job choice during the school holidays, she arranged the job at West Coast Jade Ltd.
If I didn't like the job I could always return to Westland High School and study English so I could pass School Certificate. Well I liked working with jade and I left school and continued working for West Coast Jade Company in Hokitika until the factory and shop closed down in about 1984.
Since that time I have worked at many different jobs, from working on sheep and dairy farms to rock quarry work driving diggers and breaking up rock, from a retail furniture store salesperson and delivery to insurance selling.
In 1987 I started carving from my own studio in the garage part time while still working at my day job. I set up my first outlet at Willow Crafts Gallery in Hari Hari South Westland and still sell carvings there today.
In 1994 I joined the Hokitika Co-operative Craft Gallery, by this time I was carving full time and selling in shops all over NZ.
Around June 1996 I diversified and created a new venture, combining jade carving, a backpackers hostel and a jade carving experience for backpacker tourists.
By 2002 I had learned computers and started building websites and selling jade carvings and sculptures to the world online.
Around May 2008 I had closed up the Just Jade Experience in Hokitika and sold Drifting Sands Backpackers as it took away to much of my creative time and I started carving free form ideas and sculptures.
In June 2008 I moved to Japan in the Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo and in March 2009 set up a jade carving studio, where I will carve for about 9 months a year.
On 15 November 2009 I had my first public Jade Exhibition in Japan at the Yoshikawa-shi Annual Festival, 1000's of people from Yoshikawa-shi and nearby cities were able to veiw my lastest works carved from my new Studio. During the festival I presented a special sculpture 'Yoshikawa Catfish' to the Yoshikawa City Mayor.
I held my first ever International Exhibition 23-26th January 2013 at the 24th International Jewellery Tokyo Show held at Tokyo Big Sight. Alot of Japanese and overseas buyers visited our stand during the days of the show...
Whales are creatures I enjoy carving most, especially whale tails and waves. I also enjoy carving Dolphins and also twists and other traditional NZ designs. Driftwood features allot with my sculptures, but in Japan I will be carving wooden bases for my new sculptures, as driftwood is difficult to find in Saitama. I prefer to hand polish every piece, which brings the stone to life although it is very time consuming and slow. Every jade boulder has within it carvings that have been hidden, locked away for millions of years, and it takes an artist like myself to finally free them for all to see.
In June 2008 I moved to Japan in the Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo and in March 2009 set up a jade carving studio, where I will carve for about 9 months a year.
On 15 November 2009 I had my first public Jade Exhibition in Japan at the Yoshikawa-shi Annual Festival, 1000's of people from Yoshikawa-shi and nearby cities were able to veiw my lastest works carved from my new Studio. During the festival I presented a special sculpture 'Yoshikawa Catfish' to the Yoshikawa City Mayor.
I held my first ever International Exhibition 23-26th January 2013 at the 24th International Jewellery Tokyo Show held at Tokyo Big Sight. Alot of Japanese and overseas buyers visited our stand during the days of the show...
Whales are creatures I enjoy carving most, especially whale tails and waves. I also enjoy carving Dolphins and also twists and other traditional NZ designs. Driftwood features allot with my sculptures, but in Japan I will be carving wooden bases for my new sculptures, as driftwood is difficult to find in Saitama. I prefer to hand polish every piece, which brings the stone to life although it is very time consuming and slow. Every jade boulder has within it carvings that have been hidden, locked away for millions of years, and it takes an artist like myself to finally free them for all to see.
Back to Home Page In Stock Jade Carvings Jade Carvings Jade Slideshow Jade Carving Experience Japanese
Gordon Wells Weka Studio Jade Carving Experience
Yoshikawa-shi Saitama Japan
Mobile # 080-3152-5861 ( English Spoken )
Yoshikawa-shi Saitama Japan
Mobile # 080-3152-5861 ( English Spoken )
Copyright © Gordon Wells Jade Carver & Sculptor of Fine Wearable Designer Jade Arts & Jade Display Sculptures.
Jade Twists, Jade Koru's, Jade Manias, Jade Maui Fish Hooks, Jade Eternity Pendants, Jade Dolphins, Jade Whales, Jade Birds, Jade Animals.
Commissioned Jade Orders, Greenstone, Nephrite Jade, New Zealand Pounamu, NZ Greenstone, Jade sculptures and Jade designer carvings
Best viewed on 1024 x 768 pixels or higher.
Jade Twists, Jade Koru's, Jade Manias, Jade Maui Fish Hooks, Jade Eternity Pendants, Jade Dolphins, Jade Whales, Jade Birds, Jade Animals.
Commissioned Jade Orders, Greenstone, Nephrite Jade, New Zealand Pounamu, NZ Greenstone, Jade sculptures and Jade designer carvings
Best viewed on 1024 x 768 pixels or higher.