Permian Period

Puke Ariki Museum has a moving, growling exhibition attracting hordes of kids (and kids at heart) - the period before the dinosaurs, the Permian Period 260 million years ago.

My mum was as usual more prolific with her sketches than me

Summer's Closed

We've been having such great summer days that it's hard to find time to see the indoor exhibitions at Puke Ariki museum. We went to the show, "At the Beach: 100 years of summer fashion in New Zealand" on the last weekend before it closed and was refreshed by a new exhibit. The next day, we got tons of rain, here in New Plymouth, from a front of a cyclone. The day after that, we lost power for four hours due to strong winds. So... can we have an extension on the show and get our summer back?

Paepae & Perepere

Our province continues to yield many treasures from the swamps.  Only this year a farmer friend dug up a ceremonial bowl on a shaft.  Both items below were found similarly, the first one back in 1904.  Unusually both sets have ears.  Otherwise the spiderweb puwerewere decoration, serpentine look, and pointy heads are all distinctively from our region  Paepae typically adorns the front bench of the meeting house where the top dog speakers sit before oration.

This feminine Perepere would have been positioned in front of a storehouse.   Less fierce than many and with an almost a surprised look. The weather drove us into Puke Ariki our local excellent museum.

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.

Devon Street Homework

Back in 2012, I did this drawing from the bar across the street. Over a beer, and more importantly, a big bowl of wedges and sour cream I happily sat here for a while and sketched. In my blog, on the original post, I wrote:
"Just an older building on the main shopping street here in New Plymouth. I have a feeling that I may end up colouring this one since I took my time on this one and that the building in the centre is a bright red colour."
At the beginning of 2014, I kept my word to myself and digitally painted this one, walking by several times in those weeks to see what colour everything was. I took my time and then entered it into a large art show in this part of New Zealand. With the large number of artist entries, I was honoured that it made the show selection. You can see it on display until August 24 at Puke Ariki. On June 25th (from 6.00 to 7.30pm) there is a meet the artists event and I plan to be there with my original sketch. And a couple months later, on August 16th (1.30 to 3.00pm), I'll be giving a presentation about Urban Sketching and getting everyone to have a go. A mini-sketchcrawl. If you're in New Plymouth that weekend, grab your preferred art supplies and come down to do some drawing!

Original 2012 sketch

Link to the exhibition website

Puke Ariki 10th Party

In New Plymouth we are fortunate to have world class museum, Puke Ariki, a kind of mini Te Papa.
It does tend to be a favourite fall back position if plein-air sketching is out.

 Today they were celebrating their 10th with a karakia, pipe bands, glee club, brass band, kapa haka workshops of pois, singing, hakas... sushi ninja, rock n' roll, reggae, story telling, make a card, weaving, knitting and anything else you wanted to poke a stick at.

We went up to the Te Takapou Whariki by the Maori section and watched the kapa haka workshops.  Much singing, dancing, stick-work and general fun

 

Then we went back down to hear the Gumboot Tango.  The full repertoire of foot stomping from 'Rugby Racing & Beer', Country Calendar, the Chesdale Ad, Crunchie Hokey Pokey Bar Ad, the old kiwi rendition of 'Nature' and more.

 



We were sorry to leave the party.

As an addendum, I was pleasantly surprised to see last week, my book on Tombow sketching had reached the ethereal heights of the Japan Tombow Pen & Pencil Company Facebook page.  Not that I understood totally, as it is all in Kanji.  However below is a copy of their promo picture.  You may faintly know almost all of my drawings utilise Tombow ABTs (Art brush twin) as a kind of 'Clayton's' water colour.

In a blatant self-promoting move, here is the link to the book http://www.blurb.com/books/3782653-a-pen-full-of-light.

The big market for Tombows is scrapbooking, although some artists seem to have a handful, especially greys for graphics.  I noticed Urban Sketcher & painter Adebanj (Alade) regularly uses greys.  I've been promoting Tombow ABTs for their sketching ability.

I was disappointed to hear the Australian/New Zealand Agent - Pelikan Artline are no longer intending to distribute them.

Although the book has reached eight countries, I don't think I can quite give up my day-job yet.
However I had fun compiling.