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...
This house on the corner at Hepburn and Smith Streets in Freemans Bay was sketched on site in 2014. I sat in the front yard sketching the dilapidated old building thinking she was likely to ultimately end up demolished.
It's a white house and sketched in summer the bright light made it look even whiter, also, drawing all those twiddly details had done my head in and taken so long that I decided not to colour it. I'm pleased I didn't because today I've coloured it according to it's colourful history rather than it's actual colour. A lot more fun I reckon, wonky perspective and all.
It does have some history too, apparently owned by a mayor of Auckland at some stage, it was a lodge for Maori girls for 70 years (called Te Kainga Aroha), and the current owners have moved it sideways 15 metres before restoring it. I guess it;s going to be around for a while longer yet.
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