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 spotted the Phil Warren 2 on the ramp at Westhaven yesterday. It was a stunning morning and I was running early, so I figured I'd quickly sketch it. I've read about the incredible work they do cleaning up the Waitemata harbour, it's tributaries and the islands of the Hauraki Gulf so I reckon it's worthy of a sketch.
My sketching caught the eye of skipper Ben Harris who wandered over for a chat. He was getting it ready for a mission up the Whau River – the estuary that runs up past Lincoln Road to Glendene and Kelston and he would be meeting a group of locals up there for the morning's clean-up.
Ben says anyone can help out, so head over to their website for more details. According to their website, volunteers collected nearly 90,000 litres of litter in the first six months of 2011 alone
I'm planning to lend a hand at some stage – and take the sketchbook of course.
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