I love the way something you buy, whether travel mementos, or presents received or given, stand as markers in one’s life. Take the ceramic teapot I’ve decided to sketch (below), which was the first present I gave my husband not long after we’d met. It was April 1992, and I had the great fortune to travel to Nepal on a 29 day trek with three other women from New Zealand; such a fantastic experience. (Link above takes you to a post from a few years back). The day I returned to my hometown, I helped out a friend with an exhibition opening at our art gallery, and there Kerry was, also helping out. We chatted for ages before parting ways, thinking maybe we just might get to chat some more – sometime. And, surprise! surprise, by the end of the year we were chatting a lot.
I am lucky to have a husband that enjoys gardening and is chairperson of our local Ngataringa community organic gardens (affectionately known as NOG). A week back he brought home some Seville oranges with the intention of making marmalade and might have, had I not said, ‘I’d like to draw those,’ as the orange of the fruit contrasted perfectly with the green leaves still attached by short stems. I hauled out my very heavy drawing easel ( circa 1960s! with a metal base) and started to arrange pencils and paper needed for the job. Three closely drawn pieces of fruit takes a while, so I started, hoping not to have many delays.
This year has been one of friends’ dealing with difficult health issues, and deaths, and I was very much affected when learning of each. Just two weeks ago, we were set to holiday on Vancouver Island, and were looking forward to this, when we learned a brother of Kerry’s had died following a long illness. That same day we learnt the health prognosis for a very old friend in Melbourne was far from great. Instant panic, as we cancelled hotel bookings and postponed the Canada flights, while Kerry booked to attend the funeral down south, and we booked another flight for Melbourne a few days later. We had made the right, and best decisions we believe. With other family living in Melbourne we shuttled between various houses, and the 10th floor suite in the CBD where we were based.
But our main purpose in Melbourne was to see our unwell friend. He has been very busy putting together a volume of his poetry over the past weeks, which had been published and arrived in time for our visit. So good to know that he had this positive project to focus on throughout his treatment, for it has kept his spirits up, that’s for sure, and we are now very pleased to have his book. We enjoyed our time with our friend very much and were so pleased to have moved our holiday plans to later in the year.
A day after our return I learned my brother had fallen and broken his femur, and was due to be operated on in a few days’ time. The operation was done, his hip pinned and he was transferred to the hospital near his home to recuperate. The following day I heard he was in ICU on oxygen and given strong antibiotics for the pneumonia he had contracted. Now, this is when I had to dig deep, to find something that might help me relax and lift my spirits. So, first I did what I know always helps me, and that is to walk. Look to the sky, the trees, the birds, say ‘hi’ to strangers that kind of thing. But once home I didn’t feel like doing anything, but did plan a project for the next day, a sketch.
Another view to the Auckland CBD and Devonport naval base.
I heard my brother was improving today and that was the incentive I needed to finish my sketch. The mediums used: water-soluble colour pencils, ink, watercolour, and graphite. PS, the small brown ferry building (centre) was once one of the tallest buildings the waterfront!
I hope you like the sketch Bob (brother) and Barry (friend).
This week I’ve been unsettled as I wait to receive my manuscript back from the editor, so I can go over my work for the last time. I have all the extra bits of writing required for sending off to publishers, even the dratted synopsis, waiting in the wings. The synopsis was scrutinised by my husband, daughter, and members of my writing group, and finally I was happy with it.
While pacing my study, I looked at the two beautiful persimmon I was given the other day languishing on my desk and knew what would help me relax. I would draw the fruit!
I sat down to begin a pencil sketch this morning, but was diverted by some cloud drawings I found in the sketch pad, so … I decided to put these together for this week’s post. Just a brief description of the mediums used, and not so much of a story this time. The top six sketches are from the Devonport area near my home, the seventh sketched on Waiheke Island, and the eighth done in Port Douglas Australia.
I usually sketch out the scene quickly, returning to fill out detail. I so love sketching clouds.
It certainly can. Last Friday I joined my daughter Lara on a road trip from Auckland through to Wellington. It was so good to be away from the city and the cars that crowd our highways as we drove the back routes with few people on the roads. We skirted Hamilton, past Waitomo and onto Tauramunui, the weather truly perfect for this special ride. We stopped often to take photos of the countryside.
A view of Mt Ruapehu (my photo)
Lara had hinted at a stop-over a day or two earlier, but kept it a surprise. She kept me guessing the destination all the way, hinting at Raglan at one point, where I’d thought, ‘nice, haven’t been there for a while,’ and then past Otorohanga, where we’d both seen Kiwi some years ago. But no. We pulled over for lunch, and filled up the car, and turned back to join the Forgotten Highway, a place now popular with sporty types who like to go biking in forest terrain. There’s a railroad alongside the road which runs trips for tourists using rail carts. The long road stretches between Tauramunui and New Plymouth and takes in hilltop views and ocean vistas amongst its many splendours.
I have written a few times about our native Pōhutukawawhich we call our Christmas tree, because of its vibrant red blooms tipped in gold which look like decorations, and it always blooms around Christmas time. Last year the flowering was not so spectacular, but this December because of more constant rain, the flowering has been superb. Most of you who follow me will know that I have been working on a new novel, and have been writing like crazy to complete the first draft. It is almost there. So, before I embark on the last pages, I thought I’d relax with a little sketching. I have chosen to do a close-up sketch of emerging pōhutukawa flowers. Hoping it will look okay.
Dear bowl, I love you, with or without fruit. That is because you are both a vessel and an artwork. Some years ago I had the good fortune of working weekends at Palmerston North’s regional art gallery, where local artist Fran Dibble was exhibiting large boldly-painted bowls. What was even more special about these objects is that her potter mother had made the bowls for Fran to paint. Another great combination.
Last post I was dealing with a crook back. Improving now, thank goodness. I was also recovering from a cataract operation, and that I found even less conducive to looking at a screen for writing, or a sketch pad for sketching. However, I can exercise again, and can see without peripheral bright light flashing, finally enabling me to do the post I’d planned. For two or more weeks I’d thought about drawing this old wooden barrel, which is a perfect container for loose tea. It did start its life as quite a different object which I’ll get to by and by.
An expression meaning many things, but here I use it literally. The past month is almost a blur, with a second trip to Australia to see the youngest daughter, who lives some way out from Brisbane. I had in tow her sister and brother, he from Melbourne, she from Dunedin and me, Mum from Auckland. That explains my busyness, and lack of posts. It doesn’t explain my latest blip which was putting my back out, and although I have been doing regular exercise, I also need to sit down more. Perfect for getting a sketch done!
ARTISTRY 