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 challenged to join the 5 Day Art Challenge on Facebook recently by Maki Tanaka and Gabi Campanario. Even though it was my first week back at work I figured why not give it a go. It turned out to be quite an incentive anyway and I banged out 3 new images most days in the small Moleskine sketchbook, supplemented by a few old ones). Here are a few of them below, the result of a cycle along the waterfront on a hot afternoon...
The waka Haunui is in Orakei at the moment (along with the Tongan waka Gaualofa) for some work. I did a super quick sketch of them back in 2011 here as it departed Auckland on it's voyage across the pacific. I think you would have to be pretty brave to sail one of these to North America!
The cruise liner Voyager of the Seas was heading out of the harbor, but it wasn't hanging around so I had to work pretty fast. I took a shot on the phone so I could fill in some details later. I know there are bigger vessels out there, but this one blocked Devonport completely from view!
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