Nissan Micra's Big Day Out

I actually came here to sketch the intersection. There was a street bench with a nice view up the hill that I had scoped out the day before. On the day, a Nissan Micra was parked right in my perfect view. (I guess there was no car parked here the day before.) 

So I thought, if this car was, say, a Maserati I would have no trouble starting my drawing. I thought, even though this car isn't an extreme luxury auto, it could be someone's treasured little car. Maybe it even has name (like Rupert, even)! 

So in the end, I decided to show this little runabout a little love and feature it right in the middle. He's probably really enjoying his day out in downtown New Plymouth. 

Westown.

Today we went sketching in Westown. The forecast was for cloud and showers, but we ended up with clear blue skies and a gloriously sunny day.
I sketched the view across the roundabout with Mount Taranaki in behind the shops.

Here is my sketch:

 

I did this one with artline pen and watercolour pencil. I haven't done this for a while and I quite enjoyed the change!

Taranaki across Lake Rotomanu.

Last weekend we went to Lake Rotomanu and Te Rewa Rewa Bridge. It was a beautiful fine winter's day, and the views were stunning. There were even some hardcore jet skiers on the lake!

But they were far too fast to sketch!

Te Rewa Rewa Bridge and Mount Taranaki.
You know you are home when you can see the Mountain!

Maurice's Sketches.

Here are three sketches by Maurice:

The first two were done on the 40th Worldwide Sketchcrawl Day

 Bridge at Fountain Lake, Pukekura Park.

Japanese Torii Gate, Pukekura Park.

Taranaki Cathedral.

California

Blue skies, no wind, 28C every day....

Caltech Campus Red Door Café

Pasadena City Hall

Crystalaire Soaring academy tow plane on edge of Mojave desert.  Towed us up over the back side of the San Gabriels

Glider

Chevy's at Ojai

Venice Canal

Art Deco/Mission style Union St Station - Down town LA

Ynez Valley Model T outside vineyard

San Buenaventura Mission

The Getty Center

The View From Trevor's Window.

This week the weather wasn't up to much so we went to Trevor's new house which has wonderful views and sketched out the window.

We have sketched this house before. Last time Scott was up a ladder to see over the trees. This time we were much more civilized as we got a great view out of Trevor's window.

Cheers!
Tricia, Trevor, Liz, Eileen, Brian, Jackie and Mary.

Wednesday Art Group

Sadly today was our last day with Jane, so we took her out sketching and then to lunch in Okato.

This is the Stoney River Swing Bridge on Old South Road. It is at the start of the Stoney River Walkway.

Tricky, but fun to sketch!

Worldwide Sketchcrawl Day

This is Trevor's sketch done in the fernery at Pukekura Park.

Tropical Fernery

Warm winter sketching in the tropical glasshouse of the Fernery in New Plymouth.

40th Worldwide Sketchcrawl Day.

Today is the 40th Worldwide Sketchcrawl Day. SketchCrawl is a global drawing marathon: taking a day to journal and draw all that is around you. Our theme this time was local parks and reserves. It was a bitterly cold day. I initially went up to the Kunming Garden, and drew the Spring Wind Pavilion.

I then went and met the others in Pukekura Park. I was so cold by that time I decided to go to the fernery and sketch there. A lot of us were of like mind. It's lovely and warm in there, plus very peaceful.

I had a go at the fish:

The challenge was to get the effect of water and the mist floating across it.

You can throw coins into the pool and Make a Wish. The money is used to buy fish food. A lot of people must make wishes as the fish are quite fat!