Sunday 28 June 2015

Auckland Writers Festival

In May I presented a workshop and a Family Day session at the Auckland Writers Festival. It was great to be in the middle of so many young writers and readers, talking about myth, stories and comics, and showing the first part of Otea: Rock of Ages to a wide audience. 

At the packed workshop for Year 7-11 students, I presented some ideas on character design inspired by mythology, and then the kids had a go at creating their own mythological creature. There were some cool and innovative designs created!


 Some student work created on the day - fantastic designs and character profiles.
Photographs copyright Zak Waipara 2015.


I also had a great time being involved in the Family Day - it was really fun, with parents and children chatting afterward while I signed comics!


 Presenting the Maori Myths session at Family Day, Auckland Writers Festival 2015.
Photograph copyright Tama Waipara 2015. 

Sunday 21 June 2015

A Review

A thoughtful review that appeared on the NZ COMICS Facebook Group by Eric Cresswell (aka EHC Art)


"Awesome read of te hoa's first comic book "Otea, Rock of Ages" by Zak Waipara. The art style feels as though you're looking through the eyes of our protagonist Kurutai, a child’s perspective - simple and abstracted as he interprets his new surroundings. There are nice graphical elements dispersed throughout the panels. But my favourite feature of this comic is the tale itself, it is almost poetic, especially the dialogue between the animals. Kurutai's innocence and unawareness makes for humorous effect. Also for those non te reo speakers or those unfamiliar to Maori mythology you get a bit of a 101 on Maori words and phrases used throughout a lot of the book. You can tell Zak has put a lot of time and effort into this mahi, all the more Tautoko to the bro for creating a comic that not only children will enjoy, but still has enough depth for older readers also. Seeing as it's kinda a prologue we're left hanging waiting for the next installment and the continuation of our characters’ adventures. Mauri tu, mauri ora, mauri moe, mauri mate!” 

Tena koe Eric!