~Imaginary Trip to New Zealand~

I took another Imaginary Trip with Laure Ferlita....this time we went to New Zealand.
This trip surpassed my expectations!

My Art Journal~Imaginary Trip to New Zealand

This is the cover of my journal.

Most of our lessons were timed so that we would get the idea of painting on location.  We were usually given 40 minutes.  Unless noted, all my pages took more than 40 minutes.

First stop~ Auckland on the North Island.  Auckland Domain is Auckland's oldest park.

Beautiful view of the Manukau Lighthouse on the west side of the North Island.  I love painting lighthouses.

Then over to the east side of the North Island~north of Auckland. Another 40 minute lesson.

I painted this from a photo I found on Wikimedia.  It's Lake Taupo.

  I painted this not as a timed sketch. It was more an exercise on painting rocks.

This page was done in 40 minutes.  I opted to use my time sketching and not painting.

These sites are on the North Island~south of Auckland.  I was just amazed at the diversity of the island.
Karangahake Gorge

Now we've crossed over to the South Island.  The Kaikoura Penisula, on the northeast coast of the South Island is a haven for wildlife.

When I think of New Zealand, I think Maori. I became fascinated with the carvings and face paintings. Everything has a meaning.

Central part of the South Island. High mountains and many lakes.

In this lesson we were to make 3 sketches and only paint the "point of interest"

Scenes along the coastline of the South Island.  We were to make our sketches on scraps of watercolor paper, then mount them into our journal.

Fjords and monstrous boulders.  The spectacular sites are never-ending.

If I had done this virtual tour 30 years ago, it would definitely be on my "bucket list". Magnificent, diverse and breathtaking sites!

I wonder the next Imaginary Trip will find us.