Merry Christmas!

After all the hooha this year over Christmas parades and Santas I, like most Kiwis, are feeling pretty jaded about the big red dude. 

First there was the funding of the Auckland Christmas parade, then the fuss over the fired Auckland parade Santa over his comments on the dim prospect of a female Santa ever headlining the parade some day. Then, a Māori Santa appeared at the Nelson Christmas Parade, he was draped in a red korowai rather than a red cape and he set talkback radio and news media alight even more!

There was also the funding of the Farmers Santa, with building developers Mansons eventually stepping in to help fund this one above (sorry Mansons, I left your branding off so I could show Santa's boots in best effect).

The debate is still bumbling on with calls to reinstate the below Santa's winking eye and come hither finger action – features that were removed years ago as they were deemed creepy.

My Last attempt to draw this Santa was way back in 2010 and like the all the drama around Santa each year, I'll probably be back to draw him again too. He's just too big, red and spectacular to ignore.

Christmas Eve Shopping

It was Christmas Eve. I didn't have any more shopping to do (that's why I was drawing). It seemed like tons of people still had a ways to go. The stressed, hurried pace made it hard to capture the last-minute shoppers. Looking down this passageway between some shops I could see the 25% off signs in the shop across the street. I was standing there holding a book and using a ballpoint pen. People were nervously walking by me as I sketched. An older woman even admitted to me that she was quite relieved when she realized that I was drawing and not soliciting or taking a survey. It was Christmas Eve and there was no patience to deal with that.

Last sketches of 2013

Mount Maunganui on an overcast and cool summers day, I think there were only a couple of people in the surf that day. The sketch was preceded by a brisk walk around the Mount with refreshing light showers. Fortunately the summer weather returned a day later.

Some of the kitchen action on Christmas morning below. The turkey stuffing is being prepared, as you can see by the expressions it's a serious business. It all paid off though with probably the most tender and delicious turkey I've eaten (naturally all this work was followed by some pretty serious consumption).