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...
Rarotonga – what a place to sketch.
It's not just that we've been confined due to Covid-19 for over 2 years, Rarotonga would always be superb. It's tropical, warm, has fantastic beaches, friendly locals and it's only 3 hours from NZ.
We were lucky to get a week there once flight restrictions stopped, it was still a drama with loads of forms to complete and tests to take but all was worth it.
I've bound a super-long hard-cover concertina sketchbook of sketches capturing everything from a sketch from a kayak on the reef, a sketch up 'The Needle' on the cross-island walk, the beach at Vaimanga to tropical fruit, franjipani, teuila and the characters on Captain Tama's cruise.
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