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 really enjoyed this show by Australian artist Noel McKenna showing at Two Rooms in Arch Hill.Unlike a lot of gallery art, it's neither large painted works or installation art, instead small personal sized paintings and drawings that you have to get up close and personal with and follow a narrative sequence. They remind me of sketchbook paintings or urban sketches in that way.
The works are the result of a 1 month Auckland residency, where McKenna has recorded his daily progress across Auckland from One Tree hill to Half Moon bay in his own unique style with wry and often hilarious notations added.
I really enjoyed his ironic deadpan view of pretty mundane stuff. He's combined a visitors fresh take on the things we take for granted as a local with his own quirky view of the world, including odd-ball suburban gateways and houses, domestic animals, race horses at Ellerslie, signage and even rated the beers he's tried on a daily basis. It's on until the end of the month and well worth a look.
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