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...
With kids you're always on the lookout for interesting parks to let them blow off a bit of steam. We found J.F. Kennedy Park on the 'Shore', it's perched on a cliff and the kids tell me the view from the top of the climbing tree over the Hauraki Gulf is fantastic. I had about 15 minutes to sketch before they demanded I spin each one in those red cup looking things toward the bottom of the picture, trust me, they're terrific for bringing a greenish tinge to your childs face...
Comments