Occasionally Auckland Sketchbook escapes the city to somewhere interesting — and close. This time the sketchbook got a workout in The Bay of Islands . Only 3.5 hours by car and a world away from work. The sketch above was made in down-town Paihia, it doesn't look it, but it is literally behind the main street. The view is the back of an old homestead called Williams House . I was attracted by the orchard of very old fig trees on the left that had me imagining eating juicy ripe figs. Sadly they weren't in season but it must be a fun place at harvest time. Right over the other side of the bay you will find his falling down old house on Matauwhi Bay. For a while there the water had a turquoise glow until the sun went into hiding. This is Pompallier House and Clendon Cottage in Russell sketched with my back to the sea. I may have used a little too much artistic licence in moving them close enough together to fit on my page so don't look too closely. Anyway, I have sketched Po...
If you're like me and feeling disconsolate because your budget doesn't stretch to Lisbon for the USk Symposium, don't worry, you can follow it online! Follow the symposium online here, follow the blog to 'Meet the Instructors' who include some of Portugals finest sketch and reportage artists (amongst many others), and follow the daily blog posts during the symposium. The blog will feature daily updates by fellow Urban Sketchers contributor Joao Pinheiro of Brazil.
For some strange reason, the Portugese seem to be particularly good with a pencil, so check out some of my personal favourites, Jaoa Catarhino here and Eduardo Salavisa, here.
The symposium will be taking place in central Lisbon, where history exudes from the very pores of the place - from the winding cobbled alleyways of the Roman and Moorish Alfama, the Rio Tejo (or river Tagus), faded azulejo walled palaces, castles and cathedrals. So be prepared to be treated to some superb sketches!
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