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...
I was confused about this long narrow cafe on K-road. Previously the apocalyptic looking Brazil cafe, I will always remember it as the Norman Ng fruit shop, however it was once also an entrance to the Mercury Theatre on Mercury Lane. Added to the older theatre in the 20's to provide access from K-rd, in a neo-greek art deco style! It is certainly striking with uplit vaulted ceilings coated with what looks like a distressed gold foil and a large lead-light window in the ceiling at one end. The lighting and guilded colouring I found impossible to capture. Go here for more history.
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