Kākāpō

In Puke Ariki museum again; this time drawing a Kākāpō. It's a New Zealand flightless parrot and as of today, there's only 142 left. Click here to find out more or to donate to their recovery!

Texas & Michigan

The Dinky Drum Co entertaining the Houston Museum of Fine Art patrons outdoors - 35C

Items in the Houston Museum of Fine arts.  The mayor of Grenoble commissioned a bronze of Napoleon (because his second entry to France from Corsica came up through there).  However he changed his mind so much, this Marquette is all that is left, bought by a French officer who carried it in a special box from garrison to garrison.

Henry Ford museum of Innovation - Detroit.  The German Dr just shipped his $34,000 Italian beauty to China before Hitler took over, then just shipped it out to Canada before the Japanese entered China...

Weird cross between a traction engine and a train.  Who knows what goes on at night in the museum.  There were many trains in there.

Nuku Tewhatewha @ The Dowse

The Wellington group sketched at The Dowse Art Museum in Lower Hutt recently.  I sketched Nuku Tewhatewha, an elaborate pātaka, Maori store house.  It is of national significance because it is one of seven pātaka commissioned by North Island chiefs symbolising support for the Kingitanga movement.  It was built in 1856 in Naenae, a suburb in Lower Hutt.

Drawing at Wellington Museum

Sketchers in Wellington met last Saturday to draw in and around Wellington Museum. We had a good turn-out with approximately twelve people attending.  Thanks for coming everyone.

These replica items of crown jewels and other regalia on display in the museum caught my eye.  They were fun to draw and reminded me of 'Game of Thrones' and there is a seat conveniently located right in front of the display.

Not far from the museum are some unusual public loo's. I really like them, they look organic and interesting.  Designed by Studio Pacific Architecture.

This wool store drawing was drawn inside the museum by fellow sketcher Maria.  I like the warm tones.  You can see more of her sketchers here.

Wellington's Cable Car Museum

I enjoyed meeting with other sketchers at the Cable Car Museum on Wellington Anniversary day.

The cable car was built to transport people from the city centre to the proposed residential subdivision in Kelburn.  It started operation in 1902 and still runs today.  The line is 785m long, rises 119m and passes through three tunnels.

The museum is located in the old winding house, the original winding gear is in the basement.  This gear became redundant when a new cable car system was installed in 1979.

An engineer (mannequin) working on the winding gear.

Grip Car No 1.  One of the original 'Red Rattlers'.  I like how it has seats on the sides facing outwards.  It reminded me of the cable cars in San Francisco.  These were replaced by bigger (and safer) carriages in 1979.

The view of Wellington city and harbour from the lookout at the Kelburn terminus.  The terminus is a short walk from Wellington Botanic Garden and the Carter Observatory.

Auckland Museum, a great place to draw in winter

Pah Homestead

Sketch results form last weeks Big Draw meet at Pah Homestead in Hillsborough. Pah Homestead is the home of the Wallace art collection and is always worth a visit for the always changing art on show as well as the restored grand old building and grounds that it is housed in.

On this visit the public took my interest as interesting subjects to sketch. There were plenty of bemused expressions at some of the works, clearly some people were more into the art than others. If only they'd stand in one place a little longer!

Hard Helmet Diving Suit

Brian's post reminded me of Red Rackham's Treasure, five years ago when I too spotted Tin Tin in that same suit approaching the Unicorn.   I wondered if he had moved over the five years.  Thank goodness he had, the right arm no longer has that awkward pose and is now stretched out gesturing towards the treasure.

Hard Helmet Diving Suit

New Zealand's had a lot of rain last weekend with quite a few places becoming flooded. Even with the rising levels of the Huatoki Stream beside it, one of the most dry places in Taranaki for sketching was in the museum in New Plymouth. I started to draw this 1950's hard helmet diving suit since I found it interesting and I was amazed that it was still used until the late 1960's. When I finished this drawing, I wondered if the staff might have to use it soon. It's supposed to rain again this weekend.

Hamburg, Germany

In mid-January I was invited to participate in an exhibition about pop-up books at the Museum der Arbeit Hamburg (Museum of Labour). I had been chosen to showcase an older work of mine, a pop-up book I did during university. 

Anyway, I seized the opportunity and went on a winter weekend short trip to Hamburg. I've only been there once before, so I was pretty curious. I booked a room in a hostel, went to the exhibition and walked around St. Pauli, the most famous neighborhood. Of course I also visited the impressive harbor but it was just too cold to draw outside. Next time I will!

The "Generator" hostel close to the train station. I had to share a room with 5 others but didn't actually 

get to see them...

This is a sketch I did in the Museum's courtyard. They show a very colourful antique excavator on display outside. 

The original name is Menck Seilbagger from 1937. It's bright blue & red!

I spent the evening sipping coffee at the "Early Bird Coffee House" in St. Pauli. Their mascot is a quirky skull

with the slogan "You may sleep when you're dead but before that you drink coffee". I loved the pretty columns 

right in the middle of the room and the high patterned ceilings!