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 in Palmerston North last week, chained to a mac for 10 hours a day helping out on a project. I did manage to sneak out early one day though and grab a quick sketch in the square that I coloured that evening back in the motel.
It was really early, cold (for a soft jafa anyway) but quite pleasant. That tower with the glowing lights that make it look a bit like a giant Jim Speers artwork was working it's magic while it belted out chamber (?!) music to the ducks and their ducklings sheltering from the current duck shooting season.
This building stood out as interesting, if not a little surreal, and appears nestled in flax, cabbage trees and line of pou whenua from this angle. I've since discovered it's considered in some circles as one of New Zealand's ugliest buildings, but I'd disagree, it seems to suit the eclectic square nicely, even though it looks like it might lift off with a cargo of human specimens at any moment.
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