FIORDLAND, NEW ZEALAND – WATERCOLOUR SKETCH

I was really looking forward to visiting Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound. The pictures of the places were fabulous. Sunny blue vistas. I thought that at least one day would be good. What they don’t say is that they receive 7 metres of rainfall per year and two in every three days are wet or very wet.
So despite the wet weather they were magnificent. Sublime as the Romantics would say. Their sheer size overwhelms and the sun did flicker through on the final day briefly before more rain fell.
So I didn’t do any painting as I planned. This is a quick sketch of what I remembered, done when I got back to the hotel. At least I have some photos.

LAKE WAKATIPU AT QUEENSTOWN,NEW ZEALAND- WATERCOLOUR SKETCH

Another blue lake like lake Tekapo which has on its shores the town of Queenstown, with Kingston at another point on the lake. There seems to be a certain deference to the English – or should I say – Germanic and Greek monarchy in this country.
The mountainous area with many goldmining towns is very striking with its high mountains and steep valleys.
The town of Queenstown seems to be more geared towards the skiing set, but it was a good base to visit the fiordlands

JUNE AND MURRAY’S GARDEN, PORPOISE BAY, SOUTH CATLINS, NEW ZEALAND – WATERCOLOUR SKETCH

LIke many of the English, many New Zealanders love their garden and June and Murray were no exception. We stayed in their farmhouse and had drinks out on the lawn before nipping off to dinner and then watching the yellow-eyed penguins waddle back up the beach to feed their chicks.
In the garden were masses of blue hydrangeas as well as banks of flowering dahlias. They seem to be able to have many species overwintering without the adverse effects we have in the UK with geraniums growing into big bushes having lived through the winter.

MOORINGS IN THE CATLINS, NEW ZEALAND – WATERCOLOUR SKETCH

the Antartic

Right in the south of New Zealand with only water between us and the Antarctic. There was a community hall just up the road from where I painted this in Porpoise Bay which was about to hold an Art Exhibition. The called it the end of the world art show. Having said this the scenery is far from the end of the world and just around the bay we watched a community of yellow eyed penguins. Unfortunately the porpoises weren’t in, but the signs advised the does and donts of swimming with them and the locals were surprised that none were around. Far from the end of the world.

LAKE TEKAPO – WATERCOLOUR STUDY

Not a very good one, but the wind was blowing and I was holding on for dear life. Still it should have come out better. The hills and mountains were just scree and dry grassland. I thought that they might have appeared a bit more interesting. However, the lake, high up on the south island plateau has a bright blue colour when the sun is out due to the sediment washed out of the mountains.
Anyway, tomorrow might be better and photos I got in the early morning offer better alternatives.

CHRISTCHURCH BOTANIC GARDENS – WATERCOLOUR SKETCH

I was sitting under an autumnal beech tree in the botanic gardens in Christchurch and was taken with the patterns of light and shade created by the many trees and the sunshine. Compared to yesterday when I was sitting in bright light I had the shade of the beech, though at the end I was beginning to feel cold and was glad to get into the sun.
Later we got on a tram and saw the devastation of the city. Now there are the beginnings of rebirth with many interesting developments going on.

THE BEACH AT KAIKOURA LOOKING SOUTH – WATERCOLOUR SKETCH

The beach just south of Kaikoura on the eastern shore of South Island, New Zealand was a couple of miles long and was deserted. Just the bones of water smoothed pines littering the beach along with seaweed and stones. The hills in the distance changed as I worked. They darkened then lightened leaving the tops of the ridges to catch the light. At times the hills were deep, dark maroon, then blue, then green. I was working in direct sunshine which didn’t help, but the sound of the lazy pacific breakers hitting the beach made the task a little easier.

TOWARDS TONGARIRO FOREST – WATERCOLOUR SKETCH

After a couple of days rain at Rotarua at last the sun has come out. It has enabled me to try this sat amongst scrubland on the mountain slopes. Apparently they filmed the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings around here. Maybe there aren’t many hobbits around now but there are quite a few rabbits – almost the same.

BOATS AT DEVONPORT, AUCKLAND – WATERCOLOUR SKETCH

Made it to New Zealand, although didn’t like Auckland much, but slipped onto a ferry and went to Devonport. The weather wasn’t bad and allowed me to paint. The stacked boats seemed to sum up the place which seems to revolve around the sea and its pursuits . Since then it has rained so I haven’t had much of a chance to get out

MELBOURNE – ST PAULS CATHEDERAL – WATERCOLOUR SKETCH

So on to the land of Oz. It was bloody hot in Melbourne yesterday and the heat rising from the pavements certainly dried the paint. Today, when we decide to visit the beach, the weather’s changed. Might as well be in Liverpool, except that it is a little warmer here – but not much.
The light in Melbourne, when the sun is out is fantastic. The buildings go a smokey blue and here the old sandstone of the cathederal stood out in complementary majesty.
The art scene here is very vibrant. It pervades every aspect of city life from graffiti artists to painters painting on the waterfront to the fantastic galleries which also celebrate local art