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...
This Impressive 7 metre tall Christian Nicolson figure (titled; 'In Search of Barebottomland') casts a surreal figure along the Fort Takapuna ridgeline during NZ Sculpture Onshore. Here he stares nonchalantly out to the islands of Rangitoto, Rakino and as far as the Coromandel peninsula.
The exhibition featured 89 works by sculptors many of them perched dramatically along the ridge. The kids were more interested in the works by North Shore primary school students exhibited underground in the old fort tunnels and gun emplacements - something to keep everyone happy.
Works by Dion Hitchens (above) and Charlotte Fisher (bottom). Rangitoto island behind.
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